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Select Board limits private rentals, proposes $150 cleaning fee for large events
Summary
The Nottingham Select Board said it will stop private rentals of municipal spaces and proposed a $150 cleaning fee for events of more than 50 people while preserving access for town nonprofits; final rules and fee language will be developed with rec staff and the planning board as needed.
At its June 22 work session the Nottingham Select Board moved to narrow community facility use, reaffirming earlier direction to end private rentals and to keep town spaces available for Nottingham-recognized nonprofits and civic functions.
Board members said meeting room one will be reserved for elected-official business only, while smaller meeting rooms and certain outdoor or field spaces may be used by Nottingham nonprofit groups that benefit the town. The board also clarified that non-resident nonprofits may use facilities only when a resident sponsor is present and that larger special events must receive board approval.
On cleaning and maintenance, members debated several approaches — charging event organizers a cleaning fee, hiring shared cleaning staff with the school, or using ad-hoc private cleaners. After discussing likely contractor rates and wear-and-tear (particularly on the gym floor), one Select Board member proposed, and others supported, starting with a $150 cleaning fee for events with more than 50 attendees, with the board retaining authority to waive the fee for town-benefit events such as the Scottish Tea or Harvest Supper. "If you're charging people to come in, this fee is definitely going to be applied," a Select Board member said during the discussion.
The board asked rec staff to provide input on implementation, to consult cleaning providers on available schedules and costs, and to consider alternatives such as using part of the rec budget or a shared custodian with the school. The proposed cleaning fee and definitive rental policy language will be refined by staff and returned to the board; any fee changes will be published and subject to board adoption.
Next steps: rec staff to report back with cost estimates, availability of cleaning contractors, and draft policy language for the board to review.
