The Main Street Program’s president says she was blindsided by the Ossipee selectmen’s plan to tear down the Main Street building, which the board discussed in public last week.

The Main Street Program, according to its Facebook page, is a non-profit organization with the goal of revitalization of the town of Ossipee, to provide support for the community, its businesses and its growth.

Selectmen on March 18 decided that they should explore tearing down the 800-square-foot building at 15 Moultonville Road in order to develop a parking lot and order tenants to vacate. Chairman Jonathan Smith said the building has a number of structural issues.

The decision came a week after annual town meeting.

Dallas Emery, a resident who frequents selectmen’s meeting, said at last week’s meeting he was taken aback that selectmen didn’t discuss the planned demolition of the town building prior to or at annual town meeting.

On Monday, Main Street Program President Lynn Clarke told the Sun that selectmen gave her group until April 1 to vacate the building so the town can move forward with demolition.

The town’s letter said that Main Street can move its monthly meetings to another town-owned building called the Freight House.

The Main Street Program got official notice of this decision in a letter from selectmen.

That letter was delivered by hand by Town Administrator Matt Sawyer to former Main Street President Pat Jones.

Clarke provided the Sun with a copy of her response letter. She said the Main Street Program is not defunct and continues to work on community initiatives.

“We are deeply concerned by the lack of communication and transparency surrounding this matter,” said Clarke.

“No official communication has been provided to the Main Street organization or to town voters regarding the request to vacate the building or the alleged disrepair that apparently warrants demolition for municipal parking. Furthermore, this was not brought up during public discussion five days prior during the Town Meeting.”

Clarke said the Main Street Program wants selectmen to produce a comprehensive list of what’s wrong with the building and minutes of past meetings mentioning concerns about Ossipee Main Street.

She said the building at 15 Moultonville Road has served as a “hub” for social and recreational activities since 2009.

She added that selectmen will not be meeting again until the April 1 deadline and also mentioned the fact that selectmen on March 18 decided not to give the Main Street Program the $2,500 that town meeting voters donated to it.

“This change effectively offers no opportunity for the public to be heard regarding this matter. Which is concerning given the significance of the decision being made impacting generations of families who helped create the park, investing invaluable sweat equity and time in the process of getting the building up to code,” said Clarke.

“There should be public input on the $2,500 allocated at town meeting, as well as public input to demolish the Main Street building. The town constituents voted to purchase the property and should be able to have public input regarding its demise.”

Clarke provided the Sun with a document that shows activities planned for 2024 to include a solar eclipse viewing, internet classes for seniors, walking fours, rubber duck race, a penny sale and a decorating contest.

She also said there are deed restrictions on the property which say that the land is to be dedicated to the memory of Earl J.Smith and Celeste F. Smith

“The property is to be used solely as a public park, and shall not be used for any private or other purpose, except as may be allowed on an occasional basis from time to time, provided the property remains as a public park. The building on the property shall be used by the Ossipee Main Street Program, or for recreational purposes,” states the warranty deed.

Selectmen see no conflict with deed, said Sawyer, who noted in his letter to Main Street that selectmen have been “weighing their options” concerning the building for “a long time.”

Selectmen are scheduled to meet again April 1.

Sawyer told the Sun Tuesday that selectmen instructed him to respond to the Main Street Program thusly: The water and power utilities will be moved and reconnected to serve the park. All other questions and points made are not under the purview of the board of selectmen.