A roof replacement project at the Asa Packer Mansion in Jim Thorpe will cost just over $350,000 according to a contract the borough awarded to a Lehigh Valley company at a special meeting Thursday.

Alan Kunsman Roofing and Siding Inc. was the successful bidder for the work, which borough officials said is being paid for out of grant money the municipality received specifically for the project.

Amos Valenti, of the Barry Isett and Associates engineering firm, said the mansion is currently in year 17 of what should have been at least a 20-year roofing system.

“Essentially, the last roof was not installed correctly,” Valenti said. “The second story has dampness and ventilation issues. The modifications made over the years may have hindered the ventilation of the roof.”

The gutters on the current roof, Valenti added, are what failed first, leading to the recommendation for a new roof.

“The existing gutter system is metal,” he said. “A few years ago we had to apply tape on top of the gutters. There is no indication the roof is actively leaking although they have had water in through certain areas.”

Council said last week it has $442,255 in grant funds earmarked for the project and that includes $300,000 from a statewide Local Share Account grant state legislators visited Jim Thorpe to announce last year.

The mansion was completed in 1861 and was home to Asa Packer, the founder of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. It has been open to visitors since 1956.

“It’s important to remember where we came from and the mansion has a lot of history,” Council President Greg Strubinger said at the time of the grant announcement. “Sometimes things in your backyard you take for granted, but this is a jewel we need to continue to take care of. The Packers have such a historic significance on a national level and we’re lucky to have this mansion right here in Jim Thorpe.”

Kunsman’s base bid for the roof replacement was $348,381, which Valenti said was around $27,000 lower than the next closest bid. The borough, however, opted to add alternates to the contract including a Weathertight warranty for $4,500.

Council discussed adding snow guards for $22,000, but opted not to add that to the contract at this point.

“The contractor did indicate that if we decided we needed snow guards in the future, they can come back and do that,” Councilman Mike Yeastedt said. “It is also possible to just focus on areas where people might walk under.”