Politics & Government

Selectmen Agree to Move Forward with Lighthouse

But they haven't agreed to actually participate in the auction yet -- just to secure the town's place as a potential bidder.

The came Wednesday to getting the town to acquire the lighthouse.

First Selectman and Selectman James Walsh voted to authorize Tetreau to fill out and sign the General Services Administration (GSA) bidder registration form, and to send the GSA a deposit to secure the town’s place in the auction -- but that’s as far as they’ll go for now.

Selectman Sherri Steeneck recused herself from the discussion and vote because she is on the preservation committee.

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Tetreau’s and Walsh’s vote means the town will officially register as a bidder for the lighthouse, send the refundable $10,000 required deposit (which was fundraised by the committee), and arrange for an inspection of the structure.

Whether the town will actually place a bid on the lighthouse will not be considered until after an inspection is performed and the selectman and RTM consider and approve placing a bid.

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The current bid for the lighthouse is $40,000. Preservation Committee Chair Sandye Mann said they’ve raised enough funds for a minimum bid, but would not disclose further information to avoid giving the other two bidders “our hand,” she said.

Mann told the Board that the GSA had valued the lighthouse at “well over $1 million,” and that many lighthouses are auctioned between $100,000 and $200,000 -- a “small percentage of the structure’s value,” she said. 

Tetreau was concerned about the committee’s ability to obtain funds for regular maintenance of the lighthouse -– and how much that would cost annually.

Mann said a concrete figure has yet to be determined, but the committee is reaching out to the , which restored and maintains the , for a comparable maintenance estimate.

She added the committee plans to maintain the lighthouse through fundraising and applying for state and federal grants, should the town acquire it.

If the town does participate in the auction and acquire the lighthouse, it must conduct repairs and renovations in accordance with the GSA’s “Historic Preservation Covenants.”

Basically, the town would be in charge of making sure the lighthouse retains its historic and distinctive charm while keeping the structure from falling apart. No neon lights, as Walsh jokingly suggested in a previous meeting.  

Mann said the plan is – if acquired – to replace the roof and windows, as funds become available, repoint the stonework, renovate the interior, and restore a marine dock to the island.

One thing the town would not be responsible for is maintaining the lighthouse’s navigational functions – the Coast Guard takes care of that, Mann said.

Before the town proceeds, however, the Board wants the committee to find the answers to a numerous questions, including:

  • What is it going to cost to maintain the structure each year?
  • What are the terms for the lease with the state for the bottomlands (the land the lighthouse sits on)?
  • What are the legal rights and commitments of the town, should it acquire the lighthouse – for example, if the GSA decided to take stewardship away from the town again? Would the town get the money put into the lighthouse back?

The auction began Sept. 28; Mann said she is working with a GSA representative to extend the period – usually 45 days – since the committee has to go through the various procedures of town government to participate.

 

 

 


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