The Benson Park Advisory Committee continues to wrestle with longstanding obstacles as it works to move two major projects forward: remediation of the historic Hudson Train Station and final approval of its revised committee charter. At the August 20 meeting, members expressed frustration that both efforts remain stalled despite months of preparation, outside consultation, and repeated attempts to clarify next steps.
The committee’s most pressing challenge remains the lead paint and moisture remediation required at the Train Station, a project that has lingered for years due to the building’s age and its designation as a historic resource. The New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources (DHR) previously reviewed the town’s remediation plan, but the committee must now revisit the documentation to determine what additional steps are required before work can begin.
“We have to go through the documents and see what the next steps are,” said Committee member Jake Beauchemin. “While it won’t be in this forum, we’ll make a meeting to talk specifically about what needs to happen. We’re very close on getting the remediation started, so I don’t think it’s going to take a lot, just means reconnecting with DHR to learn what they need.”
Mold and lead contamination have kept the Train Station closed to the public, and because the building is historically significant, remediation must follow strict DHR guidelines to ensure no artifacts or structural elements are damaged. Committee Chair Sue Clement said she had reviewed the paperwork but agreed that a deeper discussion was needed. Committee member Steve Przystac offered to report back in the coming weeks with a clearer outline of the required steps.
While the Train Station project remains in limbo, the committee’s charter revision has also hit delays. The Board of Selectmen requested changes earlier this year, including the addition of a Treasurer position. Beauchemin said those updates were completed and submitted before the Selectmen’s July meeting, but the committee has yet to receive feedback.
“It’s done, I added that stuff in and sent it in to pass onto the BOS,” Beauchemin said. “I said to let me know if they needed any questions or further changes, and that was right before their July meeting.”
The charter has already gone through several rounds of revisions, including suggestions from former Selectmen Liaison Heidi Jakoby, who worked with the committee over the winter. Beauchemin said Selectman Kim Allan is now assisting with the approval process, but the lack of response has slowed progress.
“All the language is in there, along with all of the language we already refined and everything,” Beauchemin said. “I expected there to be notes, I wanted to put the notes in and forward it through, but I never received any notes on their end.”
Clement said she hopes the charter can be finalized before the end of the year. “I really don’t see why they would not approve it; we pretty much did everything they were asking for,” she said. “I’m hoping we can get this done and approved by the end of this year. That way we can check off the box, and the next thing we need to look at is the park Master Plan, which needs a lot of work. Step one for getting that done is getting this done.”
With both the Train Station remediation and the charter approval stalled, committee members acknowledged that progress has been slower than anticipated. Still, they expressed optimism that renewed communication with DHR and the Board of Selectmen could help break the logjam.