ATHOL — At a recent meeting, members of the Memorial Building Committee voted to nail down fees that will be charged for the use of Memorial Hall and Liberty Hall for events un-related to town business.
Head custodian John Duguay told fellow committee members fees need to be collected on a consistent basis. In response to a question from Chairman Ben Feldman, Duguay said the rental fee is $100 “across the board.”
“Since I’ve been here,” said Duguay, “I’ve seen it paid, I think, three times out of approximately seven rentals. Those were for private events and for big dinner evens we’re getting because of the Elks closing.”
“I guess the ultimate question,” he continued, “is how important is it for this building to be used as a resource for the community. As a taxpayer, how important is it for us to absorb the cost of making sure the rental is proper and that the building is left in proper shape? Do we have the renter absorb the cost of making sure the building is left in good shape and that the waste is taken care of after the event?”
“Number one,” said Feldman, “the taxpayer does underwrite the cost of this building. Somewhere in my taxes and in your taxes, we’re paying for the upkeep of this building; the heat and etc. So, we’re never going to make it up, certainly, on rentals. That’s number one.”
“Number two: there’s certain groups – the junior prom, the sophomore dinner dance – those things are town-related events that we do. I thought we had the theory at one time this was a money-making proposition, such as the YMCA dinner dance. Those people would be charged a fee. But the cleanup – that’s a real bugger. It’s the cleanup more than the money.”
“I’ve rented halls over the years for postcard shows and other things,” said committee member J.R. Greene, “and a number of them charge a $50 or $60 fee for cleanup. If you don’t adequately clean up the place, they keep the money; if they judge that you have, they will refund the money.”
“I’ve done some research of towns similar to ours,” said Duguay, “and I think what I’m proposing is close. I think our building is far more beautiful than (the others) that I’ve seen is the rental agreements. Just as an example: Orange has a rental fee of $150 if you don’t clean up. It’s $25 to open and close the hall, and it’s $100 to rent the hall.”
“I’m not out to pay for the daily operations of the building,” he said, “but to at least take care of what happens during the rental, or to make the rental space more appealing for other rentals.”
“Any rental money goes to the general fund,” said Feldman, “so, we don’t get to turn around and actually spend any of this money. Maybe we need to look at setting up a revolving fund.”
The committee ultimately voted to establish list of fees for hall rental. They include: $50 for non-profit youth events with fewer than 50 people; $100 for non-profit organizations and for private events for town residents, and; $150 for private events for non-residents and events held by for profit businesses. A dumpster fee of $50 was established, along with a kitchen-use fee of $20. Fifty dollars will also be charged if food is served at an event.
“It comes down to what’s fair for the taxpayer, for the people who take care of this building, for the people who love this building,” said Duguay.
Committee member and Town Clerk Nancy Burnham made a motion “that we ask the chairman of our committee to send a correspondence to our town manager to see if there’s a way to set up a revolving fund so that whatever fees come in can be used toward the upkeep of this building.”
The motion received unanimous approval.