Town council faces backlash over controversial property deal

During a recent town council meeting, public comments highlighted significant concerns regarding the town's financial decisions, particularly related to the controversial purchase of the Coors building and the subsequent agreements with its licensee.

Isabel Saracides, a long-time resident and vice mayor, criticized the council's handling of the Coors building acquisition, which she described as a \"bad decision\" that has burdened taxpayers with a $4,041 purchase price for a dilapidated property. Saracides expressed frustration over the council's justification for the investment, emphasizing that the community's commitment to youth programs should not overshadow fiscal responsibility. She pointed out that the current licensee is significantly behind on payments, with a debt of $160,000, and questioned the rationale behind amending the agreement to reduce future obligations to $96,000 annually. Saracides urged the council to hold the licensee accountable to the original contract terms, warning that the town's financial commitments to various youth and infrastructure projects could be jeopardized.

Randy Bossberg also addressed the council, seeking clarification on an ordinance related to affordable workforce housing units. His inquiry reflects ongoing community interest in housing issues, although specific details of his comments were not elaborated in the transcript.

The meeting underscored a growing tension between community expectations for youth services and the council's financial strategies, raising questions about the long-term implications of their decisions on local taxpayers and infrastructure development.