OAKLAND — The Town Council will discuss options for the two-century old former school building at 97 Church St. when it meets Wednesday night.
The building has been used for the last several years by Norm Vigue as storage for his neighboring business, Central Maine Hydroseeding, Vigue leases the clapboard one-story building from the town.
Town Manager Gary Bowman said Sunday the town has been approached by a woman who would like to buy the building and open an antiques shop in it, and the Oakland Historical Society has also asked about buying the building to renovate and preserve it.
According to the historical society’s Kelly Roderick, the building was used as a school from 1804 until 1924. She said it was subsequently used as a fire station and then as a storehouse for the town.
Bowman said Sunday that councilors will discuss the building and the interest surrounding it on Wednesday.
While he does not know what councilors are leaning towards, he said, “I’d be surprised to see the council agree to sell the building.”
The Historical Society approached the town five years ago about buying the building, but couldn’t raise the money. According to a post on the organization’s Facebook page, the historical society is still hoping to develop a plan to restore the building and is urging members to attend Wednesday’s meeting.
Even if the council decided to sell the building to either the historical society or a private buyer, no action could be taken until 2018, Bowman said, when Vigue’s contract with the town expires.
Vigue entered into a contract with Oakland in 2013 to use the space for storage at no cost. Vigue is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the building according to the contract, Bowman said.
Councilors meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Oakland Fire Station.
Lauren Abbate — 861-9252
Twitter: @Lauren_M_Abbate
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