VHCB offers up to $140,000 for Putney Town Hall restoration; perpetual easement required

The Town Manager reported that the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) has offered a grant of up to $140,000 for restoration and renovation of Putney Town Hall, with the grant requiring disbursement by June 18, 2028. A condition of the VHCB offer is a perpetual easement that would obligate the Town to protect the building's historic character.

Selectboard members and the Putney Historical Society discussed the scope of easement rights. Sue Coakley and Lyssa Papazian described easements as commonly negotiable in municipal conservation agreements and noted that prior grant-funded work (example: a $100,000 window project) carried a 15-year easement. The Town Manager said the Town attorney will review the VHCB document before any final action.