Voters in Keene have clearly instructed the city to sell property at 34 West Street. However, this property is still in the hands of the school district AND they are “giving away” the rent for $1 a year because they think they “hurt the feelings” of the surrounding towns…
They also went ahead and bought a house next to the high school with surplus funds, because they could.
Where are residents to turn when their government turns rogue and does not follow through on what it’s been told to do by the people it serves?
This explanation of the situation was written by a Keene resident. It is still accurate today.
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“We are a substantial group of Keene Citizens who truly believe that the Keene Board of Education has failed to hear or understand the large majority of Keene voters. The current board continues to make plans to keep the SAU 29 at 34 West Street and is currently in negotiations of a 20-year lease. These actions go directly against the voter’s wishes, and are not in the best interest of the Keene Taxpayers.
– The Keene voters have twice voted for the Board to sell the property and buildings at 34 West Street, and a previous Board also voted to sell the property. The voters have also voted not to spend any more money on repairs or upgrades to the property.
– The building at 34 West Street is currently estimated to be worth $600,000.00 to $800,000.00. Due to the age and current condition of the building, the cost of required repairs and code upgrades are estimated at $1,400,000.00.
– We the Taxpayers of Keene own this building. The outside towns pay no rent for their portion of the SAU 29 offices. They pay only a small portion of the operating costs, if they agree to do so. In the past, they have on occasion decided not to pay and the Keene Taxpayers get to pay all costs. If they don’t agree to pay for repairs, the Keene Taxpayers also get to pay for those.
– The 34 West Street building is approximately 17,000 square feet in size and the SAU currently uses 10,000 square feet. The remainder of the building is unused. The SAU Board was recently in negotiations for office space of approximately 7000 square feet in a different location until the Keene Board offered the 34 West Street building to them again.
– The City of Keene made a proposal to SAU 29 to lease space at the 350 Marlboro Street. We the Taxpayers of Keene also own that building and it is also only partially occupied. There is more than enough space for the SAU office at 350 Marlboro Street, but the Board never followed up on the offer and instead plans to burden the Taxpayers with not one, but two, taxpayer owned buildings, that are both only partially used. Any rent paid to the City for the space at 350 Marlboro Street is revenue paid to the Keene Taxpayers.
As a registered Keene voter, please tell the Keene Board of Education that we plan to vote again to sell the property at 34 West Street. We plan to vote again to reject any expenditure of taxpayer money to repair the building. We will vote to reject any multi-year lease agreements involving 34 West Street, and we demand that the Board find an alternative location for the SAU 29 offices. We also demand that the outside towns pay their fair share of all costs incurred for the SAU office and personnel including, rent, operating costs, salaries, legal costs, etc.. It is time the Keene Board listens to the voters and acts in the best interest of the Keene Taxpayers.”