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Highlands board forms task force to advance Boys & Girls Club pavilion and MOU
Summary
At a July 17 workshop the Town of Highlands board and Boys & Girls Club representatives agreed to form a task force to draft a memorandum of understanding and lease for a proposed club and pavilion on town recreation land, while resolving site, zoning and procurement questions before fundraising and construction.
The Town of Highlands board on July 17 agreed to form a task force with town commissioners and Boys & Girls Club representatives to develop a memorandum of understanding and lease for a proposed Boys & Girls Club facility and outdoor pavilion on town recreation land, officials said at a workshop.
The task force is intended to produce a clear agreement and a site plan that will allow the club and the town to pursue fundraising, design and eventual construction. Carmen Waite, a representative of the Boys & Girls Club, described the plan as a public‑private partnership in which the club would take the lead on fundraising and operate the facility while the town would likely retain ownership of the building.
"One of the nice things about a public private partnership is that there may be some public funds that would be available that wouldn't be available to us," Waite said. She also said the club’s programs at present "are open to the public." Josh (town staff) said the state parks office has indicated it will want either a lease or at least a memorandum of understanding between the Town of Highlands and the Boys & Girls Club to ensure public access.
Board members and staff discussed several site and legal issues the task force must resolve: whether two adjacent parcels can be combined to improve circulation and parking; setbacks and potential need for a zoning variance; insurance and whether the town’s policy umbrella will cover the facility; and whether building ownership and construction oversight would fall to the town or the club. Josh said the town would likely own the building, which affects procurement and bonding requirements.
Board members stressed limits on commercial rentals and community use. Several commissioners said they want any rental rules to prioritize community and nonprofit events and to avoid turning the pavilion into a general event venue. Waite and other club representatives said they expect to allow community use of the pavilion when club programming is not in session.
Timing discussed at the workshop included drafting an MOU and having attorneys review lease language. Participants proposed a working timeline: a target to have an initial memorandum of understanding prepared by early November and a lawyer's draft of lease language by roughly Feb. 1, with fundraising and design work to follow; Waite estimated the project could take multiple seasons to fundraise and about three years before opening, depending on approvals and construction schedules. Board members also noted potential bonding costs tied to public procurement, citing bonding as an example of additional expenses the town or contractors may face.
The board captured an initial committee membership and coordination plan and agreed to move forward. The board agreed to appoint two commissioners, Joe and Eric, plus Lester and town staffer Josh to the task force, with Josh serving as the primary point of contact with the Boys & Girls Club. The board asked town and club attorneys to begin drafting a memorandum of understanding and to return to the board with updates as the task force develops recommendations.
Next steps include the task force producing an outline of terms for an MOU and lease; the town attorney and the club's counsel coordinating on legal language; and follow‑up reports to the board as drafts and site plans become available.
