Selectmen spent an extended portion of their Jan. 20 meeting discussing compliance with a Massachusetts requirement that elevators be tested under full load beginning in 2025 and how that rule affects the senior center elevator.

Town staff said the senior center elevator has a rated capacity of 2,500 pounds and that the building’s existing generator is unlikely to power the elevator during a full-load state inspection. The town administrator outlined three options discussed with the elevator inspector: remove the elevator from the generator circuit (so it would not run during an outage); install a battery-lowering device that automatically brings the car to the first floor and opens the doors if power is lost; or replace the generator with a larger unit capable of running the elevator under full load.

Board members pressed staff on costs and operational consequences. The town administrator said a larger generator would require repiping the gas service and a new concrete pad because the current pad would encroach on a neighbor’s property, and that total costs for a new generator and related piping could reach roughly $40,000 — substantially above earlier estimates of about $8,700–$14,000. Staff proposed testing the elevator under full load (using weight such as bags of road salt or gym plates) to confirm whether the elevator would fail under generator power before committing to any purchase; staff will reach out to the elevator company and the state to determine testing costs and availability. The town also noted that installing a battery-lowering device would make the elevator safe for occupants during outages (it would lower to the first floor and open), but that the elevator would not be able to return to upper floors during the outage.

Why it matters: The inspection requirement could render the elevator out of service if it fails a full-load test, which would affect senior-center accessibility and operations. Board members weighed the tradeoffs between safety compliance, budget impact and preserving generator capacity for heat and refrigeration during outages.

What’s next: Staff will attempt to arrange a full-load test with United Elevator or the state (cost unknown), check available weights with the DPW and public-safety gym to perform a local test if feasible, and consult the superintendent of public works about options. The town will also communicate with the senior center’s operator (Essex Council on Aging or similar) before a final decision. No vote to fund a battery device or a generator replacement was taken at the Jan. 20 meeting.

Ending: The selectmen left three options on the table and directed staff to pursue a definitive test of the elevator under full load and to report back with cost estimates and stakeholder input for a future funding decision.