Minutes of Meeting Regarding the Attlebury School House

November 4, 2009 - 3:30 p.m. – Middle School Conference Room

Pine Plains Central School District

ATTENDEES:           Linda Kaumeyer, Superintendent of Schools

                                    Michael Goldbeck, Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance

                                    Bruce Kimball, Board of Education Trustee

                                    John Shea, Board of Education Trustee

                                    Gareth A. Howard, Manager, Rocky Reef Farm

                                    Dr. Mark Stern, Stanford Historical Society Representative

                                    Margo May, Esq., School Attorney

The following materials were distributed to the participants at the meeting:

1)                 A copy of the minutes from the May 6, 2008 meeting along with a copy of the survey of the property on which the school house is located;

2)                 A copy of the most recent building condition survey report concerning the Attlebury School House.

The group discussed the options for making it possible for the Historical Society to repair and restore the school house.  Liability, insurance and other concerns make a prompt repair of the building or a lease of the building impractical, so long as it is owned by the district.  For example, the bidding and construction approval requirements of the State Education Department would still apply to any repair so long as the school district owned the building.  As a result, the group turned its discussion to what would be necessary to prepare for a referendum at the annual meeting in 2010 to either sell or donate the property to the Historical Society.

The following action steps would be necessary:

1)                 Further discussion by the Historical Society board and a formal letter to the school district expressing their interest in taking over ownership of the property;

2)                 An updated title search and survey;

3)                 An appraisal;

4)                 A formal Board of Education resolution with a required public notice.

Dr. Stern agreed to discuss with the Historical Society the retention of legal counsel and insurance requirements.  Mr. Howard agreed to identify the living relatives of the previous owners of the building, in case consents are required.  Mr. Stern noted that the Historical Society was prepared to inventory the contents of the building and move the contents, if necessary, to another location.

There was some discussion of a reservation in the deed limiting the use of the property to “educational purposes or municipal use for office accommodations.”  The committee believed that “educational purposes” could include field trips, community education events, and the use of the building for living history presentations.

The committee agreed to meet again sometime in early January 2010 to update the group on progress toward meeting the requirements for a public vote.

Linda L. Kaumeyer,

Minute Taker

May 6, 2008 (pdf file - 11 KB)
November 4, 2009 (pdf file - 8 KB)

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