09/27/2004 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Regular Council Minutes 9-27-04 Page 24 Mr. Chapman said we were approached last summer by Word of Grace with the thought that they might want to move for a period of 12 to 18 months from the Middle School into the new Civic Center. Their initial look suggested to them that they didn't want to move. Just 3 weeks ago they came back to us and said we'd like to look at it again. So in looking at it, we toured the facility with them. We talked to the Finance Department, the Recreation Department, the Building Department and we looked at our current calendar of events for use of the Civic Center. They are requesting a Wednesday evening use and a Sunday morning use. We discussed a payment of $14,400 per year. It is brought to Council as an area of discussion on whether or not we might approve this lease. There would be no signage placed out in front of the Civic Center other than on Sunday morning they would put a real estate sign out there that said Word of Grace and then move it immediately following services. Same thing on Wednesday evening. Mayor Rinker asked if it will be the same sign as they put out at Mayfield Middle School. Mr. Chapman said yes; that same sign is what they are requesting to put there. Much to my surprise, it worked out. Most of the classroom space they want is in the basement with the exception of one classroom that is upstairs. The balance is what used to be called the Sanctuary or the main area of the structure and what used to be called the Fellowship Hall which ultimately we have plans to renovate. We discussed a number of plans and details with them from what would they do while we are renovating, if we have renovation plans and they said we would be more than happy to work around that. They do have plans to construct and be in a new church facility in Chesterland in 18 months. They state that they have zoning approval and they would be more than happy to fora 12-month period initially on their lease and renew on a month-to- monthbasis following that. It looks like it is something that could work out to help offset some of our costs. For example, utilities and that sort of thing. They have agreed to hire a professional cleaning service to come in on each Wednesday evening after they use it; a professional cleaning service to come in on Sunday morning after they use it so that we don't have to put out any additional dollars or efforts to clean up after them. That is the proposal on the table from them. They have asked for an expedited review of it-whereas for a few months they didn't seem to be even considering it, suddenly they would like to consider it and to have us to consider it quickly. So we appreciate the opportunity to bring it here tonight and give you an opportunity to talk about it a little bit. As Patsy pointed out, Finance discussed it earlier and decided to table it in favor of getting a few more facts on a few issues. One of the issues that they raised is would there be any potential conflict relative to separation of Church and State; if a Church were to lease a facility owned by public entity such as ours. We don't have the answer for that and agreed to refer that to legal counsel. The Fire Department suggested they would like to take a look at the building and any potential code issues before we start using it even further for public use. Those were, my understanding, the primary issues under which it was tabled at this point in time. Mrs. Mills said I think we also have to consider some type of liability-and that would come of course in our lease agreement as far as making sure that the Village would not be responsible for anything that happened to any of the parishioners or anyone coming to their church. Mr. Chapman said someone did mention that long-term, they don't really have a full understanding of what we might use that building for. We discussed the fact that it is only 12 months and that certainly short-term is 12 months in many of our minds and long-term is probably a good deal longer than that. So that was another issue that was expressed. 1