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Select board approves one-year lease and joint sponsorship agreement for skate park funding; members warn of long-term fiscal responsibility
Summary
The select board approved a one-year lease renewal with Addison Central School District and a joint sponsorship agreement needed to qualify a skate-park project for a conservation grant; members said the grant requires a long-term easement or lease for full funding and that fundraising and maintenance obligations remain unresolved.
The select board approved a proposed one-year lease with the Addison Central School District (ACSD) for the rec-park parcel near Mary Hogan School and then approved a joint sponsorship agreement intended to position the town to receive grant funding for a planned skate park.
Staff told the board the long-term 25-year lease or easement usually required for the larger grant cannot be completed this month because a district-wide vote would be needed; the one-year (extendable to 36 months by district approval) lease paired with the joint sponsorship agreement preserves eligibility so the group can pursue the conservation grant now.
Board members pressed staff about who would be responsible if the grant is awarded: town participants said the town would be the applicant and easement holder and the town would become responsible for operation and maintenance if the project proceeds. Members emphasized that matching funds and fundraising will be required: participants discussed a 50% match requirement and cited inconsistent project-figure references during the meeting; the exact award amount and required match were not finalized at the meeting.
Timing and conditions: staff said grant language requires construction to be underway by 2028 to keep the funding. Board members said they expect future decisions about long-term lease, possible voter actions, and fundraising commitments to come back to the board.
Motions and votes: the board moved, seconded and approved the one-year lease (voice vote; meeting noted "Six in" on record) and subsequently approved the joint sponsorship agreement by voice vote. No formal itemized funding commitment was approved at the meeting.
