Town leaders still playing ball with Hedlins

Town officials didn’t balk at renewing their lease on the Maple Avenue Ball Field but did make a strong pitch last week for talks that could lead to future purchase of the property from Hedlin’s Farm.

The Town Council, by a 3-2 margin, accepted the $7,000 annual lease fee asked by the Hedlins, but will seek further dialogue addressing prospects for a longer term deal or perhaps contracting on a lease-to-own basis.

Council members MaryLee Chamberlain, Jacques Brunisholz, and John Leaver comprised the majority.

Councilmen Dan O’Donnell and Bill Stokes dissented. Neither was comfortable with the $7,000 figure, though Stokes based his vote on a preference to buy the Hedlin property outright.

After an initial motion to accept the $7,000 lease fee request failed, Chamberlain suggested the town panel approve another one-year deal at that amount, but also consider long-range plans for the ball yard.

“I’m OK with $7,000 for this year,” she said, “but I want to see some long-term planning. I want further conversation related to elements such as exploring the lease-to-own option.”

More in the July 30 issue