Bill language would let Forests and Parks lease Goodell House at Little River State Park to Vermont Huts Association

The House Corrections and Institutions Committee reviewed language in section 13 of the capital bill that would authorize the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation to enter a long-term lease with the Vermont Huts Association for the Goodell House at Little River State Park, committee members were told on March 25.

Michael Grady of the Legislative Council told the committee that the section would give Forests and Parks explicit authority to enter “that long-term lease” and spelled out key requirements: an initial 20‑year term with options to renew for two additional 10‑year terms at the commissioner’s discretion, a fee or fee formula to compensate the state, defined boundaries for the land and structure to be leased, insurance requirements and an indemnification clause consistent with state standard contract provisions. Grady said the indemnification clause would require the contracted entity to “indemnify the state, pay the state for that liability” if the state is sued in connection with the lease.

Grady recommended a small statutory edit to avoid inadvertently undercutting the department’s statutory authority under 10 VSA §2606 and to retain an explicit “notwithstanding 29 VSA §166” reference where appropriate. He said the proposed language, as drafted for the capital bill, would authorize the department to enter the lease in fiscal year 2027; if the lease is not entered in FY2027 the standing authorization would not apply.

Rebecca Washburn, Director of Lands Administration and Recreation for the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, told the committee the agency has precedent for very long-term arrangements: “we have very long-term leases with our ski leases. In the ways that they have been amended over the years, some of them have extended for nearly 100 years.” She said the 20‑year initial term was tied to a grant backing the relocation and renovation of the Goodell House and that the agency would provide the committee with the grant amount and timing upon request.

Katherine Guessing, general counsel for the Agency of Natural Resources, said the renovation funding was routed through a congressionally directed grant administered via the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and described it as a one-time HUD grant to support renovation and related modernization projects; committee members asked staff to confirm the exact award amount and any expenditure deadlines.

Committee members raised process questions about approvals and renewals. Grady clarified that the section would authorize the department to enter the lease (including renewal options) without returning to the committee for each renewal.

The committee included the language in the draft capital bill and asked agency staff to provide the written grant agreement and the exact grant amount and timeline as the bill moves to the Senate Institutions Committee.