AUBURN — A city direction on the Great Falls Arts Center will have to wait until Dec. 20 at the earliest, councilors said Monday.

Councilors heard from arts group supporters, Realtors and former councilors Monday night during open session comment periods. All called the building, home to Community Little Theatre and other community groups, a boon to the community.

But councilors didn't make any move to alter a controversial decision they made on Nov. 15 to move all tenants out of the building and knock it down next June.

"I am disgusted by the people that represent me," said Chris Camire, of 1386 Minot Ave. He criticized councilors for voting to demolish the school without a formal agenda item.

"I feel the citizens have been represented improperly," he said. "We need to be aware of what you are doing. If we don't know, the city can change without us being able to do anything about it."

Former City Councilor Ron Potvin was more practical, warning councilors that their constituents were not happy.

"Everything you've done may be all legal and proper, but what's not being spoken of is the political process," Potvin said. "You can legally suspend your own rules, but remember that the voters can suspend you."

Councilors voted at the Nov. 15 meeting to demolish the building. That item was not on the agenda, but councilors suspended their rules of order to consider it. Councilors voted to demolish 4-3, with Councilors Mike Farrell, Dan Herrick, Ray Berube and Belinda Gerry supporting demolition.

The decision spurred discussion in the community, with Community Little Theatre offering Wednesday to meet with councilors to discuss paying $1 to take over the building. Before that could happen, the theater group needs to know exactly how much work the building needs and what property CLT would get.

None of those questions were on Monday's agenda. The only formal item concerning the building on the agenda was a workshop discussion about the deeds on the land.

The property was granted to the city in 1874 as home to Edward Little High School. That deed required the land be used as long as it's used as home to Edward Little High School. That was updated in 1961, letting the city use the building and grounds for other municipal purposes.

City Manager Glenn Aho said that could mean the city would be unable to sell the building. He won't know for sure until the city hires researchers to review the deeds. He recommended against paying for that research yet, however.

"If I call an attorney to start working on that, it costs $100," Aho said. "But why spend that money if it's not going to become an issue, or if it could be solved in another way."

City Councilor Ray Berube, one of the four councilors who supported demolition, said the city could retain ownership of the building, giving the theater group a long-term lease to cover costs.

"I'm convinced we could work something out with CLT that would make the people in this community very happy," Berube said.

Aho suggested councilors schedule a special meeting on Dec. 13 devoted to the question of the Great Falls building. All but two councilors, Ward 1's Farrell and Ward 4's Herrick, said they could be there.

Councilor Eric Samson said it didn't make sense to meet unless all seven councilors could be present.

"If this is going to happen, we need the consensus of all councilors," he said.

The next possible scheduled meeting is Dec. 20.

staylor@sunjournal.com