Historical society will see changes in its lease

GUILFORD — When the Selectboard votes to renew the lease for entities sharing space in Town Hall, one change in terms apparently is breaking in the Historical Society's favor.

Though no vote was taken, as the lease is still in a draft form, the Selectboard agreed Sept. 9 with Town Administrator Katie Buckley's proposal to exempt the Historical Society from responsibility for painting the building's exterior.

“I think that's a big burden. I think their fundraising would be better served in helping to educate, especially the kids of Guilford, but people in Guilford, and [providing] genealogy [services], and all the things they do,” Buckley said.

“It would be great if their funds didn't go into maintaining. Technically it's a maintenance issue: It is a town building, and how many times does the town have to paint the exterior of the building?” Buckley asked.

The lease was last signed for sure in 1993, the board recalled. Its language is up for vote Oct. 1.

Terms of the current lease still require the Historical Society to maintain the grounds, a provision Selectboard members noted but did not discuss amending.

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