Tonight's meeting of the Town of Crawford's Town Board could mark a significant turning point for the future home of many of the area's nonprofit organizations.

In the town of Crawford's March 20 board meeting, the board engaged in a lengthy discussion about what it should do about the town's Cultural Center, also known as the old town hall. The building, located at 62 Main Street, is owned by the town of Crawford and is home to many local nonprofit associations including the Pine Bush Chamber of Commerce, the farmer's market, the garden club, and the Town of Crawford Historical Society.

Should the town move forward with the building's sale, a process that Crawford Town Supervisor Charlie Carnes advises in still in the early stages, he believes that there would be enough room in Crawford Town Hall to house the organizations.

Thus far, historical society president Joann Keillor has been the most vocal opponent of the proposed sale. In a letter to members of the society, Keillor warned that the sale of the cultural center "would have a negative impact on the community of Crawford and Pine Bush."

Recently, the building's operating expenses have caused some on the board to reconsider the town's role in maintaining the space. Councilman Dan Flanick mentioned that a recent heating bill for the building was approximately $6,000. The discussion was brief but wide-ranging as some members raised the possibility of selling the building to alleviate any possible burden from town taxpayers.

The board has said that it would look into scheduling a walk-through to view the building's structural problems, which include the heating plant and asbestos insulation.

It appears that the board's March 20 conversation will continue tonight as the board will hear from Keillor directly about the scope of services and programs to which the building is home.

COMMENTS about this article (0)