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Select Board adopts temporary First Meeting House use policy for winter months
Summary
The Select Board adopted a temporary use policy for the First Meeting House to allow nonprofit and community groups limited winter use while a permanent policy and a sworn committee are formed; board asked staff to add a fire‑department occupancy limit and publish the policy online.
HUBBARDSTON, Mass. — The Select Board on Dec. 1 adopted a temporary facility‑use policy for the First Meeting House to allow local nonprofits and community groups to use the building during the winter while a permanent policy is developed.
Katie (Speaker 4), who presented the draft, said the temporary policy is intended to be a short‑term measure that the First Meeting House committee will refine in the spring. The policy includes basic conditions of use, guidance on cleanup and staff‑time fees for excessive cleanup, and a mechanism to require certain events to return to the Select Board for approval.
Board members pressed for clarity on maximum occupancy and liability protections. Members asked staff to obtain a certified occupancy limit from the fire chief and to add that number to the policy before broader advertising. The board discussed key control and a volunteer 'agent' model — a trusted town volunteer would check out keys and be present during events rather than require paid staff to be onsite.
A motion to adopt the temporary use policy as presented was made, seconded and passed by voice vote. The board directed staff to post the temporary policy on the town website and to include a maximum‑capacity number supplied by the fire chief. The board set a target of a permanent policy by spring (April–May) and assigned the committee the first tasks of organizing, appointing a chair and vice chair, and meeting to produce a permanent structure.
The transcript shows no recorded roll‑call on the vote; the board agreed the temporary measure would allow groups already notified to proceed while the committee finalizes permanent rules.
