Dorchester moves forward with new hall lease

By Nathaniel Underwood

The Dorchester Village Board moved forward with a new lease for Memorial Hall at their monthly meeting last Wednesday. The new lease includes an increase in the fee to rent the community hall for the lessee, but also changes some of the language regarding the responsibilities of the village and the renter.

The new agreement now sets the rental price for the hall at $500 per month, but gives more powers to the renter, who will continue to be Jenny Hinker. The renter may now set their own prices for events and will keep any profits earned from such events, as well as not requiring approval from the village board on most functions held there. An exception to this rule states that the renter must still get village board approval for any “unconventional” events that have not been held at the hall before.

Additionally, a minimum requirement of events must still be held at the hall every year according to the lease, but the board believed that the renter would be incentivized to continue to host just as many functions as they will now keep the proceeds. Utilities would be paid by the renter. Who would be responsible for paying for garbage disposal services and insurance on the bowling alley was left to be decided at the time of last week’s meeting.

This differs from the previous agreement where Memorial Hall was rented to the lessee for minimum cost but most of the profits for events held there went to the village.

Village trustee Erik Klemetson said that the new agreement would ensure the village still gets its money from the hall while allowing Hinker more freedom to run it as she sees fit and cut down on some of the discourse between the village board and the hall.

“The village is guaranteed their money at $500 per month, or $6,000 per year,” he said. “This was what we came up with and we thought it was the best option because hopefully it will eliminate some of this back and forth stuff.”

Based on figures from last year, the village profited approximately $5,100 from events held at Memorial Hall over the course of 2024.

There was some discussion over the rental fee, with some on the board suggesting that it should be rented out for more than the $500 per month.

“I talked to two realtors, and commercial spaces are renting for one dollar per foot per month,” trustee Tom Carter said at Wednesday’s meeting. “Now, I don’t expect Jenny to pay a dollar per foot per month, but $500 is less than three cents per square foot. If we have a big bill at Memorial Hall that we have to take care of, how are we going to rebuild the fund?”

“You have to remember, she has a lot of free community events,” trustee Julie Goldschmidt noted. “Other businesses don’t have that.”

A rental fee of $2,000 per month was suggested by Carter, but others on the board expressed the opinion that that raising the rent any higher could potentially leave the hall without a renter, which would result in the village not making anything from it. Also, many community events currently held there would have to try to find somewhere else to go.

“Based on the majority that we heard from the taxpayers, from emails, letters and people have called me and talked to me, people seem very happy with how (Memorial Hall) is run,” trustee Keith Lageman said. “I mean, you’re always going to have someone who complains, but you can find someone to complain about everything.”

After discussion, the board decided to move forward with the new lease at $500 per month, intending to send it to their lawyer before full approval at next month’s meeting. Carter was the only dissenting vote.

Other business

■ ■ The board decided to use funds from the village’s Memorial Hall fund to reimburse the general fund for $1,165 in contamination and overage charges for overfilled dumpsters and garbage being placed in the recycling receptacle at the hall after events. There was prior discussion over whether or not the fund could be used for such purposes, but the board came to consensus that it was in line with what the fund was created for.

■ ■ During public comment, trustee Klemetson stated that he would no longer be running for reelection to his position in the upcoming elections after receiving a nomination at the village’s caucus last month.