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21.196 An Order to Surplus 56 Vernon Street and Lease for Continued Use as Head Start Daycare and Early Education FacilityCity of Northampton MASSACHUSETTS _________ In City Council February 18, 2021 Upon recommendation of the Mayor 21.196 An Order to Surplus 56 Vernon Street and Lease for Continued Use as Head Start Daycare and Early Education Facility Ordered, that Whereas, the City of Northampton owns a property located at 56 Vernon Street known as the former Vernon Street School, and shown on Assessors Map 31A, Parcel 112, Lot 1; and; Whereas, In 1977, Northampton Mayor Harry Chapman executed the first lease on the former Vernon Street School property at 56 Vernon Street to Hampshire Community Action Corporation (HCAC), converting the former neighborhood elementary school into a Head Start daycare facility; and; Whereas, Mayors Musante, Ford, Higgins, and Narkewicz, with the approval of the then-sitting City Councils, have continued that use, recognizing the value to our community and region of providing high- quality Head Start and early care and education services for low and moderate-income children; and; Whereas, the current lease with Community Action Pioneer Valley (CAPV) is set to expire on November 20, 2023, the building is in need of additional capital improvements, and long term control of the property is a condition of eligibility for federal Head Start capital grant funding; and; Whereas, the City of Northampton does not have a municipal use for the property and M.G.L. c. 30B, §16 requires a vote of City Council to surplus any interest in public property; and so Now therefore be it ordered that, The property at 56 Vernon Street is declared surplus to City of Northampton needs and is hereby transferred to the care, custody, and control of the Mayor for the purpose of leasing said property for thirty (30) years at a nominal amount with the restriction that the property can only be used for Head Start and early care and education and other related services by a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization on such terms and conditions as the Mayor deems appropriate, provided that and the lessee shall be responsible for all utilities, maintenance, repair, and replacement of all mechanical systems. The lessee shall be required to maintain the structure in a safe condition for its continued use as a Head Start facility.