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Town counsel says leases allowed if public access remains; committee votes to enter executive session on possible MRPS lease
Summary
Town counsel advised the committee that voters have authorized the town to enter leases if part of the building remains for public use; the committee voted 5-1 to enter executive session to discuss a possible FY27 lease with the MRPS Afterschool Program and took no further action after the session.
Roxbury Village School Committee members received legal guidance June 10 that the town may enter lease agreements so long as a portion of municipal facilities remains available for public use, and they voted to go into executive session to discuss a possible afterschool lease.
Town attorney Jim Barlow told the committee that because voters authorized the town to enter leases, the town can enter lease agreements provided it maintains public access and does not compete unfairly with the private sector. Barlow said the town can balance municipal ownership and commercial leasing by keeping spaces such as the Town Hall kitchen available for community use while leasing other rooms.
The committee then moved to enter executive session to discuss a potential FY27 lease with the MRPS Afterschool Program. The motion to enter executive session passed on a recorded vote of 5–1–0, with Bob Ketchel voting no. The committee entered executive session at 8:46 p.m. and exited at 9:31 p.m.; the minutes record that no action was taken while in executive session.
The meeting adjourned at 9:34 p.m. and the committee scheduled its next meeting — a retreat — for June 24, 4–8 p.m. at Roxbury Village School.
