Hubbardston accepts First Parish Unitarian Church gift after extended public debate over costs and stewardship

Hubbardston voters approved an article authorizing the select board to acquire the First Parish Unitarian Church property at 2 Main Street by gift, purchase or eminent domain and to accept a preservation restriction, the moderator announced after a voice/vote at the town meeting.

The motion to accept the building was moved and seconded from the floor and carried by the meeting. The town administrator told the meeting the parish plans to gift approximately $25,000 to the town after outstanding bills are settled.

The decision followed more than an hour of public comment. Supporters described the 18th‑century meeting house as a community landmark and urged the town to preserve it. Opponents and several speakers warned the cost of restoring and adapting the building could be substantially higher than preliminary estimates and pressed for clear protections on donated funds.

Why it matters: The meeting house sits on the town common and has historical and civic value to many residents. Accepting the property transfers responsibility for its upkeep to the town and starts a process that will require decisions about capital repairs, accessibility upgrades and use. Several speakers noted the building already carries an exterior preservation restriction tied to prior Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding; the town would assume that condition if it accepts the gift.

Support and concerns

Speakers in favor emphasized the building’s history and potential as community space. Rick Green, a member of the feasibility group, and others recounted long local use for concerts, youth programs and town events. Ross McDonald urged the town not to assume the only options were demolition or complete town-funded restoration and said potential partners and congregations might help reuse the building.

Others pressed for financial safeguards. Susan Flagg and other residents asked that funds left to the church specifically for structural maintenance be kept in a separate perpetuity or caretaking account, rather than being commingled into general town funds. The town administrator responded: “There is approximately, and I use approximately because they are still paying some bills, $25,000 that will be gifted by the parish to the town. That does not need to be voted on here this evening.” (Town Administrator)

Technical and funding questions

Members of the audience cited feasibility and inspection reports made available to the town: one preliminary inspection and a feasibility assessment were discussed publicly, and at least one commenter said the current high‑level estimate of needed repairs might be “upwards of a million dollars.” Town staff and working‑group members said those are order‑of‑magnitude figures and that more detailed engineering and historic‑preservation assessments would be required if the town accepts the property.

Officials said the town will seek grants and may use CPA funds where eligible. The town administrator said consultants are on retainer to help pursue grant opportunities and that selective grant management policies require select board review of grants with significant matching requirements.

Next steps

If the town accepts the building, the select board will manage the acceptance, review the donation terms and consider how any funds will be held and used; staff committed to making those deliberations public. Several speakers urged formation of a trusteeship or an oversight group to guide restoration priorities and grant applications. Town counsel and the select board will oversee whether existing historic‑preservation restrictions continue to apply and how CPA eligibility and any grant conditions affect work.

The meeting vote transferred stewardship responsibility to the town; more detailed engineering, funding decisions and any capital appropriations will require further votes or grant awards and are not determined by tonight’s approval.