By JOSHUA THOMAS

C-S-E Editor

CANAJOHARIE — During Tuesday’s Village Board meeting, trustees decided to take temporary ownership of West Hill School from Montgomery County following a detailed discussion and reports from Historic West Hill President Hein Kraak, and Hearn Agency representative E.J. Jacksland.

Attorney Charles Tallent also provided information and advice, free of charge, as the Village Board is adamant that they will spend no taxpayer money in taking, or transferring ownership of West Hill School.

The Village Board decided to take ownership now with the goal of transferring the property to Historic Fort Plain, Inc., as soon as possible. As Historic West Hill has not yet been established as a tax exempt entity, they will operate under the umbrella of Historic Fort Plain, Inc., who will technically own the property.

Kraak stated of the property’s rehabilitation, “we have a lot of people that are interested,” noting that Historic West Hill currently has 200 members. The group’s goal, Kraak said, is to get the building (which needs a new roof and 136 windows) in good shape so that it doesn’t further deteriorate.

Trustee Stanley Smith asked Kraak, “If this group was so interested in this building ... how come they didn’t go to the auction and bid on it at that time? What’s the village need to be put into this for?”

Kraak said that no group had mobilized in time to bid on the building, and at the time it was sold at auction, there were no funds assembled for the purchase. He also agreed that the project should be a volunteer project, “disconnected from the village.”

Liability and insurance costs were also questioned. E.J. Jacksland, of the Hearn Agency, stated that if the village takes ownership of West Hill School, the property would be added to their current insurance policy, falling under current liability. No cost would be incurred unless the village chose to put property coverage on the building.

There is concern though, that the longer the village owns the property, the longer they are liable. For instance, if somebody slips on the sidewalk during the winter and the village still owns the property, the village will be liable.

If the village signs over the property as soon as possible, “we limit any possible liability,” said Avery. “That we have no exposure is what I want to make sure of,” he continued.

The Village Board also discussed what Avery called a “clawback,” meaning that regulations would be outlined in the transfer documentation stating that if Historic Fort Plain, Inc., takes ownership of the property and disbands, or doesn’t make satisfactory progress, the village cold take back ownership.

Barbara Spraker passionately provided some property history, and noted that she would fight against a Fort Plain group taking ownership, stating, “I’m very proud of the history of Canajoharie ... I don’t think you can hand it over to people in Fort Plain. What do they know about us?”

Avery responded, “they’re three miles up the road. We’re going to have to stop our Hatfield and McCoy mentality. We’re going to have to be a region — It’s the only way we’ll survive.”

Smith wondered what would happen if the village decided to act upon the “clawback” stipulations, and ownership of the school was transferred back to the village, to which Avery said the village would either sell or demolish the building. The limestone, he said, should be worth something, and the option always exists to request that a demolition expert purchase the building as it stands.

“I think we owe the committee the benefit of the doubt, and if this is the way that the building can be renovated, I think this is our best chance, and if we’re not taking it, we’ll go down in history as the Village Board who lost West Hill,” said Trustee Ronald Dievendorf.

He then made a motion for the village to take temporary ownership of the building, stating, “being cognizant that the West Hill School committee presents the best chance for rehabilitation of the school, I move that village of Canajoharie accept the West Hill School from Montgomery County and that the property be conveyed to the West Hill School committee/Historic Fort Plain, Inc., as soon as possible.”

The motion, seconded by Trustee John Snyder, was passed, with one opposing vote by Trustee Stanley Smith.

A local law has already been filed at the county level authorizing the county to convey the property to the village of Canajoharie, independent of the decision made Tuesday by the Village Board.