March 28, 2024
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Discussion develops after Veazie facility rent hike

VEAZIE – A drastic increase in the amount that Graham School Senior Housing Associates LP is requesting the town pay for using the community room at the facility has created a need for further discussion of the issue between the two parties.

A number of years ago, the town helped to develop and work with an association to create senior housing at the site of the former John R. Graham School.

The town reallocated $200,000 of community development dollars that originally was designated for the demolition and remediation school site, and instead put the money toward the senior housing development.

In order to meet requirements of the project, the developers created a community space in the facility and a rental agreement was drafted in 2001 saying that the town would pay $500 per year for use of the building.

The only town-recognized function that occurs at the center is the Veazie Seniors Club weekly meeting, Town Manager Bill Reed said on Thursday.

In December, the town received a letter from the senior housing associates regarding the first anniversary of the rental agreement. The letter requested that the town pay additional rent to the tune of thousands of dollars.

“They were looking at the facility as costing $12,00 annually to run,” Reed said. Town councilors asked Reed to remit a letter back and review the original agreement with senior housing officials. Reed also offered the town’s attorney or a third-party attorney to assist in the arbitration of the agreement.

A representative from the housing association was scheduled to appear at Monday night’s council meeting, but did not attend for unknown reasons.

Town officials noted that are not pleased with the current situation and Reed is in the process of requesting a meeting between senior housing and town officials to discuss the rental contract.

“They haven’t remitted an alternative figure at this point in time,” Reed said. “The Town Council’s position was that $12,000 isn’t going to do it.”


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