Selectboard approves short-term lease of Grange to White Birch Center and MOU for human services space

The Henniker Selectboard voted to lease the town’s Grange building to White Birch Center on a short-term basis — $1 per year from 08/05/2026 through 03/12/2027 — with the plan to present a longer-term agreement for approval at town meeting.

Diane Kendall, town staff, introduced the proposal and said the short-term lease was intended to bridge operations until a warrant article can be considered. A White Birch representative said the organization plans to operate youth and teen programming at the Grange and to take on ongoing operating costs including heat, electricity, water, sewer and alarm monitoring. "We got a grant from the Dobles Foundation to have a paid person, to do that," the White Birch representative said, describing staffing for supervision and program development.

The board also approved a memorandum of understanding that provides the Henniker human-services office with adjacent space in the renovated Cornerstone Building; staff said the renovation includes a larger food-pantry area, a LULA lift for accessibility and no direct cost to the town for the office occupancy. On a motion by Knudson, seconded by Tucker, the board authorized the town administrator to execute the MOU on the town’s behalf. The motion to approve the Grange lease (moved and seconded on the floor) also carried on a recorded voice vote.