FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners voted 2-1 Tuesday to pay $10,000 to the owners of Church Street Commons to compensate for lost rent, Clerk Julie Magoon said Tuesday.
The vote came after an executive session with building owners, Stephen Braconi and Joe Carlson, who agreed last year to hold the building pending the outcome of a Nov. 2 referendum.
Commissioners entered into a purchase-and-sales agreement to buy the building last year for $795,300 to house most of the county offices now in the courthouse. However, voters in all county towns rejected the $4.46 million bond question on Nov. 2.
Commissioners also agreed last May to authorize the county’s attorney to prepare an option to hold the property for $39,700. It was to be paid in two installments: The first after a satisfactory title exam, environmental assessment and Farmington Planning Board approval; the second due after the Nov. 2 referendum.
The option was to make sure property was held pending the referendum, John Cleveland, a consultant on the project, said at the time.
Chairman Fred Hardy of New Sharon said Tuesday that the county was supposed to pay about $19,000 within the prearranged time and it was paid.
His interpretation of the agreement was the second payment would have been due if the referendum passed, Hardy said.
“The referendum didn’t pass,” he said.
Hardy opposed the $10,000 payment that commissioners Gary McGrane of Jay and Clyde Barker of Strong approved.
McGrane made a motion to pay about $12,000 that the building owners had requested to compensate for loss of rent, but that wasn’t seconded, Hardy said.
Barker made the second motion for $10,000, which passed, Hardy said.
In other business Tuesday, commissioners voted to set the treasurer’s salary at $16,320, which was in the 2010-11 budget. Former Treasurer Karen Robinson of Wilton retired as of Dec. 31, 2010, and Mary Frank of Farmington was elected in November to succeed her.
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