GREENE – Selectmen made no decision this week on a request by the Greene Historical Society to use the 200-year-old Town House for meetings.

The board did decide to revisit the issue in December, after the fiscal year 2004 budget process is complete. At that time, selectmen may consider whether to direct Town Manager Stephen Eldridge to draft an agreement for the use of the building.

The issue has resurfaced at board meetings throughout the year. The Historical Society hopes to hold meetings in the former municipal building.

The Town House is the last historic building owned by the town. It is believed that the oldest portion of the structure was built in 1800. Other parts are estimated to have been built later, but before 1830.

Sally Hebert, representing the 110-member Historical Society, said the proposal calls for the organization to contribute $1,920 and the town to spend $5,805 of the cost of making the building safe and habitable. Annual costs would be $1,800 for the Historical Society and $1,400 for the town. The Historical Society is proposing to lease the building for $1 per year for 20 years.

Selectmen Timothy Doyle and Kevin Mower questioned whether the town should enter into a lease or a memorandum of agreement for purposes of insurance coverage on the building.

Selectman Maurice Levasseur said he supports the society’s bid to use the Town House, “but I wouldn’t want to be rushed into this thing,” he said. “It’s kind of late (in the budget year) to be paying $5,800.” Levasseur said he would only support minimal funding at this time.

“Some of the repairs they’re asking for need to be done anyway,” Mower said.

A motion to use the building maintenance fund to make the building safe and revisit the issue in December was made by Doyle and seconded by Levasseur.

Minimal repairs include patching the roof, replacing windows and a door. A furnace also needs to be moved.


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