Local partners sign non-binding MOU to pursue central parking to support Oddfellows restoration

The Oddfellows Building Committee reported progress toward restoring the Oddfellows Building for commercial use and increasing adjacent parking to support the village, school and businesses. Chairman Anthony Mento said architects and engineers concluded restoration is feasible if additional parking is secured in nearby sites.

Mento described a schematic site plan developed with community input and said participants — including the Oddfellows Partnership, the Kearsarge Regional School Board, Simonds School and local business owners — have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to pursue a "Central Parking Facility" aimed at improving safety, bus drop-off logistics and parking for village businesses and school users.

Committee lead Christopher Clouse outlined four work areas going forward: planning and engineering (including drainage study and preliminary cost estimates), identification of funding sources (federal and state transportation programs and matching requirements), marketing to identify tenants for the restored building, and stepped public communication (drawings, periodic presentations and increased outreach to the school board). The committee said the schematic plan is posted at the back hall of Town Hall and they will focus next on securing a funding package.

Mento invited public involvement and said meetings of the committee are open. The MOU was described as non-binding and intended to coordinate the multiple stakeholders while they pursue design and financing.