Members of the Little Compton Town Council will ask state fire officials for additional time to address a host of deficiencies cited by the town’s fire marshal following a building safety inspection at the historic Grange Hall, also known as the Odd Fellows Hall, in early July.

In a letter dated July 23, Fire Marshal Randall A. Watt wrote that if the town is unable to address all 19 deficiencies within one month, an application for an extension would need to be submitted to the State Fire Safety Board of Appeal and Review.

Major items include repair of the front stairs, handrails on the front and rear exit stairs, and a fire safety key for the elevator. 

Built in 1840, the two-story wood frame building at 32 Commons is used by multiple community groups and town boards use the first floor of the building. The second floor was originally restricted for use only by the Odd Fellows but is currently used by Grange members for regular meetings.

Town administrator Tony Teixeira noted that some of the items listed could be taken care of internally, but for others, it would be necessary to bring in professionals. At least one item has already been resolved.

“What we can fix, we should fix right away, so we are putting a good faith effort into getting these things corrected,” councilor Gary Mataronas said. “But for some of these items, we will need an extension so we can do the whole building and get it done right, so it’s safe. I think it’s appropriate for the town to spend some money on the building.”

In addition to his references to the three major items, Watt’s list of violations include: a lack of horn/strobes on the exterior, failure to meet certain access requirements, and issues with rear exit lighting. Additionally, the boiler room contains an outdated heat detector and fire extinguisher and has violations relating to combustible materials. Also, the kitchens on the first and second floors do not meet fire code, and window treatments are non-compliant.