Resolution to terminate buy/sell fails

A resolution to terminate the buy/sell agreement for the purchase of the Whitehall Ambulance Barn was voted down at a Town Council meeting last week.

Resolution 2018-1, which would have terminated the buy/sell agreement with Cory Tebay of Western Veterinary Services for the building located at 207 E. Legion, failed by a 2-3 vote. Council Members Francine Giono Janik and Jason Good voted in favor of the termination. Members Montina Rawson, Gary Housman, and Barbara Gagnon voted against.

The Town Council voted November 20 to pass Resolution 2017-8 for the buy/sell agreement with a price of $288,000. The issue could possibly come to the forefront at the February Council meeting. Town Attorney Ed Guza said at the meeting the process does have an extension for this sale until February 28.

Prior to the January 16 vote against the termination of the prior agreement, Whitehall resident Maxine Samuelson asked the reasoning behind the new resolution. Mayor Mary Janacaro Hensleigh answered by stating there have been a lot of questions brought forward about the purchase, there never was an appraisal on the building, and it seemed to be somewhat of a fire sale put together by the past Council to rid the town of all the ambulance equipment and ambulance building.

“I’ve stated at four different meetings that I thought it was an extremely bad decision for the town to sell town property and a town building for less than half of what it cost the town to build it. It was an excellent opportunity for Mr. Tebay, but a very poor business decision,” Janacaro Hensleigh said.