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Chebeague Island Community Center - A Partnership!

After nearly two years of work, the three organizations who occupy space in the Community Center -- the Hall, the Library, and the Council have forged a new Partnership Agreement to govern the overall management and operation of the Community Center -- one of the most- used buildings on the island. This Agreement replaces the “Ground Lease,” which was developed in 1990 with the addition of the wing to the building that houses the Library and the Council. The Ground Lease defined roles and responsibilities related to the operation and management of the building, including the management of an annual stipend from the Town –- to be administered by the Library –- to contribute to certain costs of operation and support Library salaries and operation. A Sublease between the Library and the Council, approved by the Hall in its capacity as “landlord” set forth the terms and conditions “to be used to promote and assist in the development of activities and projects designed to improve conditions important to the residents of Chebeague Island.” The term of both the Master Ground Lease and the Sublease was 99 years. Over time, the Ground Lease did not work quite as envisioned. With turnover on the three boards, communication faltered. The language in the Ground Lease lacked clarity, leading to increasing questions about which operating expenses were eligible for support through the stipend. Initial efforts to revise the Ground Lease were unsuccessful, and the three organizations decided in 2014 to start with a clean slate. An Interim Advisory Committee comprising two members from each of the three organizations and appointed by their respective boards has been working since early 2015. The Committee’s goal was to devise an agreement that would support the function and maintenance of the building in the long term in clear and succinct language. On the advice of legal counsel, the Committee quickly moved to the concept of a partnership agreement, recognizing that management of this building requires a high level of ongoing communication among the three organizations.

Through many months of discussion, the Committee presented several iterations of the Agreement to the three boards, each of which was designed to address questions and concerns raised. The Committee also developed a policies and procedures framework designed to capture existing practice as a starting point for the permanent Advisory Committee and posed some suggestions for future review. All three boards have now approved the Agreement. The Agreement supersedes both the Master Ground Lease and the Sublease. It makes no change in the ownership of the land and the building –-the Hall remains the owner. It provides a framework for management of the building which holds all three organizations responsible for sharing both the execution of management tasks and the expenses of maintaining the building proportional to the space each organization occupies. It creates an Advisory Committee, directing that it meet at least quarterly to facilitate discussions and decision- making regarding the Community Center and keeping all three boards up to date on related issues. This Committee is also responsible for developing recommended policies and procedures for review by the three boards. The members of the Interim Advisory Committee have based their work on a foundation of trust, mutual respect, a commitment to open communication, and above all, recognition of the vision and spirit of our predecessors who worked tirelessly to serve the Chebeague community.

Chebeague Island Hall: Sam McLean, President

Susie Stavropoulos, Secretary

Chebeague Island Library: Sally Capps Tubbesing, President Lynne Priest, Treasurer

Chebeague Island Council: Deborah Hall, President Ester Knight, Secretary

Memorial Day Service Monday May 30 th at 1:00 p.m. Chebeague United Methodist Church

Please join our Chebeague community in paying respect and tribute to our men and women who have served our nation, not only in war time but in peace. Our service will follow, with the placing of sprays on the graves of our Veterans. Together we shall keep this tradition strong! Thank you

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May 2016 CHEBEAGUE ISLAND COUNCIL CALENDAR