While recent renovations have spruced up the Music Hall’s interior and exterior, hall supporters have asked Selectmen for more funds to enhance and maintain the property’s landscaping.

On Tuesday night, Music Hall Advisory Committee members Margot Stone and Tinker Saltonstall requested $8,000 from the hall’s endowment fund to finish the landscaping work. In addition to plantings, members would like a patio and benches installed. The committee also requested $2,000 from town coffers annually for landscaping upkeep.

Stone said the work started before October's Elizabeth Taber Gala weekend held in celebration of Taber, who donated money to construct the hall, and the building’s 125th anniversary.

Taber was a wealthy widow and Marion native responsible for the construction of several local prominent buildings and institutions, including Taber Academy and the town library.

The committee originally requested and received $5,000 for landscaping allocated from the endowment fund. Of that, $5,270 was spent.

Most of the landscaping was finished, but Stone said more work had to be done.

“We’re very excited about having a lovely exterior outside,” Stone said. “The DPW does a wonderful job of mowing the grass, but there’s more that goes into maintaining the gardens in order to keep the property as attractive looking as possible.”

Chair Stephen Cushing and other board members commended the committee for their efforts. However, he said endowment funds were rapidly being spent.

Over the past four years, the account dropped from $150,000 to $91,000.

“That is a concern,” Cushing said.

Stone said her committee made needed repairs and renovations to the neglected hall.

“I don’t think we’ll be coming back to you to ask for the degree of funds we’re asking for now,” she said. “We just want to make this building special…The whole idea is to bring the community together.”

Selectmen approved a motion to cover the $270 that exceeded the initial $5,000 approval. Board members also OK’d a request for $961 that covered a deficit related to the cost of funding the gala weekend.

Selectmen took the $8,000 and $2,000 allocations under advisement. Cushing said town counsel will review the request.

In other news:

Summer residents: Marion’s population doesn’t swell as much as some coastal communities in the summer, but there is a bit less elbow room.

Each year, Selectmen must provide a count of the town’s seasonal population to the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission for use in awarding liquor licenses. The year-round population is 4,973.

This year’s summer number is 5,838, an increase of 865, Selectmen announced on Tuesday night.

Winter woes: Looking to avoid last year’s road salt shortage Department of Public Works Superintendent Rob Zora received early approval for deficit spending when it comes to snow removal.

Under state law, cities and towns are allowed to deficit spend when it comes to the snow and ice removal budget line item. Normally, Zora makes the request in February.

Last year’s historic winter left communities scrambling for salt near winter’s end. To prepare, Zora said additional salt was purchased this year.

“Last year we had trouble getting salt near the end of the season so we ordered more this year. Sand wasn’t an issue,” Zora said.

Cushing said a mild winter would be welcome.

“Hopefully last year was an anomaly,” he said. “We don’t want to go through that again.”