Board authorizes superintendent to sign transportation lease with property owner amid member abstentions

The RSU 04 school board authorized the superintendent to sign a lease with property owner Louis Ouellette to house district transportation and maintenance operations in a new facility. Administration said the lease remains under negotiation and has been reviewed by district counsel and the insurance carrier; the authorization allows the superintendent to finalize and sign the agreement when the negotiated terms are complete.

Board members asked for greater transparency about several lease terms and expressed a desire to review the final draft. Multiple trustees abstained from the vote, citing lack of a final, shared lease document at the time of the meeting and community questions raised after a recent select board discussion. Trustee Nicole and others specifically said they wanted more information before approving final signature authority.

Administration said the move responds to capacity limitations at the district’s current public‑works location and that a signed lease would enable the district to operate maintenance bays and house tools and buses in a secure, appropriate workshop space. The superintendent said she is continuing to work with district counsel and the property owner and that an executive‑session review of the final lease would be possible if the board requested it.

The board emphasized that any final lease would include standard protections, such as insurance requirements and cancellation provisions, and that administration will continue to consult legal counsel on termination language and operational details. The motion passed; the board clerk recorded the result and several members said they abstained rather than vote yes or no because they wanted to see the finalized lease language before committing.