Rico board approves long-term lease for town museum with historical society

The Rico Board of Trustees voted to approve a lease with the Rico Historical Society for the museum located at 15 South Glasgow Avenue. Mayor Pat Fallon moved the motion after trustees discussed specific lease provisions.

Chauncey, the town's finance/staff presenter, walked trustees through the packet and the lease terms. Trustees noted the agreement is a 99‑year lease and asked whether the museum would pay monthly water or sewer fees; staff said the absence of monthly water fees is a carryover from a prior arrangement. Trustee questions identified a need to clarify subleasing language and responsibilities for exterior maintenance and the septic system.

One trustee asked whether the document allowed subletting; the board discussed adding explicit town approval for any sublease or relying on the clause that limits use to operation "as a museum." Crystal Hibbert, mayor pro tem, said she was "comfortable with it as it stands." Board members also asked whether section 4.2 represents a change in exterior maintenance responsibility; town staff indicated it is not a substantive change from the prior agreement though the town may not have kept up with obligations in the past. On septic responsibility (section 4.5), staff said the historical society will be responsible for cleaning, maintaining and repairing the septic but not for wholesale replacement.

After the discussion the chair moved to approve the lease; the motion was seconded and the board approved the agreement by voice vote. The lease now stands approved subject to any technical edits counsel recommends, and the board directed staff to finalize the contract documents.