Palatka commissioners table New Town Museum MOU for legal and fiscal review

The Palatka City Commission on June 11 voted to table a memorandum of understanding with New Town Museum and Cultural Arts Center after commissioners raised questions about the proposed five-year commitment, funding mechanics and whether the city attorney had completed a final review.

Commissioner Davis moved to table resolution 2026-R107 to the July meeting; the motion passed after discussion. Commissioners said they supported the project’s goals but wanted clearer contract language on the $25,000 per-year allocation, an explicit contingency for the city if revenues decline and confirmation that the city attorney had approved the final text before the commission commits funds.

Mr. Cutright said staff and New Town representatives negotiated language and that Attorney West had made recommendations; Attorney West told the commission she had provided suggested revisions in an April 29 memo but that the packet before the commission did not appear to show a point-by-point incorporation of all of those suggested edits. Mr. Hill, a New Town representative, said the organization had worked with staff and expected the changes to address previous attorney concerns.

Commissioners asked for the following before the item returns to the commission: a copy of the final MOU with explicit annual-allocation language (and a clause permitting the city to reconsider annual funding if revenues do not permit), an operational timeline (next steps toward opening), clarified definitions of net proceeds for fundraising and a clear termination/contingency clause. Staff also agreed to ensure the city attorney provides final written approval of the contract language before resubmission.

The commission set the item to return at the July meeting so the documents can be fully vetted.