CANTON – Approximately 15 people besieged selectmen Thursday at the Town Office, often disrupting the board’s discussions, because of its reluctance to sign over the deed to the old school to a nonprofit group.

On Nov. 12, residents voted at a special town meeting to turn the former Canton Elementary School over to an organization named the Old Canton School House Activities Group.

There was no deed produced at that meeting to explain the amount of SAD 21 property that went with the building. The first deed in 1965 had one plot of land, but in 2001 another parcel was added. When selectmen realized the extent of the land involved, they wanted to only deed the original parcel because plans had already been made to include part of the second parcel for conservation.

A lawyer consulted by the town said residents at the November meeting voted on an article that included just the 1965 parcel.

A spokesperson for the Old Canton group, Carolyn Matott, said the vote taken in November included all the land. “We don’t want any discussion. We are going to legal counsel if you don’t give us the deed,” she said.

Matott was supported by members of her group, who didn’t give selectmen a chance to speak. At times competing groups tried to speak over one another, and it was nearly impossible for selectmen to maintain order.

The board tried to pass a motion to provide the Old Canton group with the deed for the 1965 property, but the group would not allow the motion to be discussed. A second motion was made to sign over a deed that included an easement for trails, but the group refused this.

Several people spoke, saying the November vote was to give the group the land and nothing was said at the time about an easement. The board finally approved a motion to sign the deed with both pieces of property included.

Matott said Old Canton would be willing to work with people supporting the easement for trails.

Having the deed will allow the nonprofit group to apply for grants so it can add a library, art and photo gallery, children’s activity room, school museum, and craft room. It also wants to make meeting rooms available in the building.