Committee ratifies earlier vote to buy airport hangar for $975,000 for Greater Lawrence Technical School; vote 7–1

The housing committee on Jan. 12 unanimously agreed to declare the prior hangar purchase item an emergency and then ratified the council’s previous approval to buy a hangar at Lawrence Municipal Airport for $975,000 on behalf of the Greater Lawrence Technical School (GLTS).

The clerk summarized the ratification motion: the city would purchase the hangar for $975,000, GLTS would repurchase the hangar from the city within five months for $975,000 plus any additional costs the city incurred during the holding period, and three caveats were appended to the motion — the council president would serve as a contact during negotiation, the parcel must appraise at or above $975,000, and the seller must obtain approval from the Lawrence Airport Commission prior to closing.

Several councilors urged caution. Councilor Mark LaPlante and others said they were uncomfortable with moving ahead if neighboring communities that are partners in the transaction (notably Methuen) had not completed their own approvals. LaPlante said he was uneasy with the pace of the process and urged waiting for final votes from partner communities before signing purchase-and-sale papers. Others proposed a friendly amendment that the city should refrain from executing a purchase-and-sale until Methuen's final vote is recorded; staff said the city can purchase now and postpone signing until partner approvals are confirmed.

Despite concerns, the committee took a roll-call ratification vote. The clerk reported 7 in favor, 1 no and 1 absent; the motion carried.

The ratified motion includes the three caveats noted by the clerk and the timeline that GLTS is expected to repurchase the hangar within five months. The committee did not change the caveats at the meeting; members asked staff to continue communications with the airport commission and with regional partners.