Vernon weighs community‑center renovation, grant shortfall and rental fees

Councilors revisited a major renovation grant for the community center and the resulting budget squeeze from required grant‑management and engineering fees. The clerk said an original grant figure of about $909,100, after required fees, left roughly $700,000 for construction and upgrades. Members said inflation and higher construction costs have already reduced project scope compared with earlier estimates.

Renovation work under discussion includes ADA‑compliant bathrooms, new ceilings, electrical and HVAC upgrades. The council debated how to set rental rates and deposits once the center reopens: several options were floated, including a $3.50 fee referenced in the workshop (the transcript did not specify the unit of that figure) and monthly or per‑event rents for leased rooms. One councilor urged a uniform approach: “If you if you're gonna do it all like that, do it across the board.”

Members also weighed how to treat nonprofit tenants in the renovated facility. The food bank operates multiple freezers and a cold room and was singled out as consuming 24/7 power; the council proposed reaching out to the food bank, Council on Aging and historical society to present figures and request contributions toward utilities before finalizing rental assumptions for the budget.