SHUTESBURY — An open-air gazebo is being proposed to protect the town common’s historic guideboard, an artifact that dates to 1837 and continues to be refurbished and restored at the Williamstown Art Conservation Center.

While the Historical Commission is pitching a professionally designed structure for the guideboard when it returns to the green at the corner of Leverett, Cooleyville and Wendell roads, across from Town Hall and in front of the Shutesbury Community Church, the Selectboard at its Sept. 24 meeting received conflicting advice from the town’s Buildings Committee. That committee wants a less obtrusive gazebo, as well as possible use of Plexiglas to enclose the guideboard.

Historical Commission Chair Henry Geddes said the gazebo is being recommended as a way of preserving the guideboard, as significant money is being spent on the renovation, including $17,312 for paint analysis and stabilization. The commission wants to make sure the object doesn’t deteriorate.

“We on the Historical Commission feel we’ve done our homework,” Geddes said. “We’ve exhausted pretty much every possibility.”

Buildings Committee member Frank McGinn III, though, said his committee needs more information before it can recommend a protective covering. “It just didn’t work for us as presented,” he said.

At an earlier meeting, Buildings Committee Chair Stephen Dallmus said the concerns are that the guideboard would be overwhelmed by the gazebo and that traditionally such signboards are not protected, pointing to one in Montague Center that remains open to the elements.

The sign has long directed travelers to various outposts, including Prescott, one of the communities 6 miles to the east that now lies below the Quabbin Reservoir; Northampton, 17 miles to the west; Boston, 75 miles to the east; and Keene, New Hampshire, 40 miles to the north.

Town Administrator Becky Torres said the concerns from the Buildings Committee center on the gazebo, which its members sensed would be awkward and heavy on the top, and would take away from the guideboard. Buildings Committee members feel the better solution is Plexiglas on all four sides because it would keep the guideboard visible.

Such a measure, though, could lead to moisture buildup. “The option of putting it in glass is very problematic,” Geddes said.

Another idea being floated is to have the guideboard kept in storage and out of the elements, with a replica put in its place instead. But the Massachusetts Historical Commission prohibits creating replicas of an historical object or strongly discourages such an approach, even though there is some wiggle room, Geddes said.

“That seemed to be a solution, but we apparently can’t do that,” Geddes said.

Selectboard member Eric Stocker wondered why it’s not possible to put the guideboard back in place without any protective measures and let weather take its toll, as has happened for almost 200 years.

“What if you just did nothing and then figured in 30 years you’d need to rebuild it again?” Stocker said. “Am I crazy to think that?”

The refurbished guideboard, last fixed up in 2009, is not expected to return to town for another six to seven months, giving the boards and committees time to mull over a decision on a covering for it by next spring.

Highway super resigns

In other business, the board accepted the resignation of Steve Sullivan as superintendent of the Highway Department, about a year after he began in the role.

The board also voted to hire Matteo Pangallo as the town’s land use clerk and Abby Hernandez as administrative secretary.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.