Appeals, protests filed with UMaine over decision to sell Belfast Hutchinson Center to church
BELFAST — A group of Midcoast residents organized as the Future of the Hutchinson Center Steering Committee/Waterfall Arts (FHC-WA) are protesting the Aug. 14 decision by the University of Maine to award the Calvary Chapel Belfast the opportunity to buy the Hutchinson Center campus in Belfast. Waldo Community Action Partners (Waldo CAP) has submitted a separate appeal.
FHC-WA submitted an appeal in writing, meeting the Aug. 21 deadline set by the university for all appeals. In their appeal, they cite four points, and assign monetary values for each of them.
The nonprofit Waldo CAP said Aug. 20 that it, too, is appealing UMaine’s decision.
“Our assessment of the scoring system used to compare applicants supports that we provided the best financial offer, that our intentions for the facility align more directly with the University’s own mission and values, and that we would utilize the center in a way that would serve the diverse greater Belfast community inclusively and in the spirit in which the Hutchinson Center has existed to present,” it said, in a statement.
FHC-WA, which had secured support from the City of Belfast in its proposal, Calvary Chapel Belfast and Waldo Community Action Partners (WCAP) of Belfast were the three entities that submitted proposals.
On Aug. 14, UMaine announced that it had chosen the Calvary Chapel Belfast as top contender. The church said Aug. 14 that it would use the Center for education.
“We are in our second year of a successful homeschool co-op, with plans to build a resource center that is open to the community,” the church said, Aug. 14. “We see the opportunity for additional literacy programs and have a heart to build for the special needs community. Our plan also includes a hybrid and five-day school to give parents a variety of educational options that best fit their lifestyle. While we are a faith-based organization we hope to fill practical needs and desires of the community when mutually beneficial.”
The FHC-WA is appealing the decision made by a team of university evaluators that included the vice president of strategic partnerships, innovation, resources and engagement; executive vice president for academic affairs and provost; dean of the College of Education and Human Development; director of athletics; director of space and capital management; and director of strategic sourcing.
Ultimately, the sale of the Hutchinson Center must be approved by UMaine’s Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration.
“The members of the Belfast-based Future of the Hutchinson Center Steering Committee and their partner organization Waterfall Arts were disappointed at the August 14 decision by the University of Maine to not award FHC-WA the opportunity to purchase the Hutchinson Center,” wrote members of FHC-WA, in an Aug. 19 news release. “The group filed an appeal and request for information about the award process and selection criteria with the University on August 16 according to the procedures laid out. Based on information received, FHC-WA filed a Letter of Protest of the award on August 19.”
In that letter, FHC-WA said the, “other proposers each offered $1 million with no added value to the University.” FHC-WA’s proposal, however: “offers the University at least $1.9 million,” they argued. “This includes $1 million in cash and savings on the internet hub and at least $900,000 in strategic value that can pay real dividends to the University in the future. This is the essence of our Alternate Creative Real Property Offer. Our proposal clearly provides the greatest benefit to the University.”
The FHC-WA said it worked over the past year: “to engage the University in a transparent discussion that would lead to an award of the Hutchinson Center to this local group. Waterfall Arts became a part of this effort because of its financial capabilities and common vision for the Hutchinson Center.”
The group said it would: “operate the Hutchinson Center as the educational, cultural and civic hub of Belfast, Waldo County and the Midcoast, establishing a new center for non-profit organizations under the umbrella, ownership, and management of Waterfall Arts. In addition to providing new and expanded space for Waterfall Arts, many educational and artistic nonprofit organizations are eager to take up residency and contribute to the overall mission of inclusive education, art and culture in the Midcoast. Importantly, the Center would resurrect its role as a regional conference destination, which is critical for businesses, and a home for civic engagement.”
The proposals
According to UMaine’s scoring of the three proposals, Calvary Chapel Belfast submitted a purchase and sales offer of $1 million, with $250,000 in earnest money. It received 94 points.
WCAP submitted a purchase and sales offer of $1 million, with $50,000 in earnest money. It received 82 points.
FHC-WA had submitted a creative alternative property offer of $500,000. That received 76 points.
Included in all the proposals was the acknowledgment that UMaine intends to retain its internet infrastructure at the Hutchinson Center for connectivity across the state.
“This specific hub plays a vital role in facilitating internet access to numerous public and private educational institutions, libraries, and community centers spanning the greater Belfast, Camden, and Rockland regions,” according to UMaine.
UMaine said it would keep the technical infrastructure there but relocate it to a new utility building on the campus, with uninterrupted access.
The response
In its appeal, FHC-WA argues that its creative proposal amounts to $1.9 million in monetary value to the university. The university failed to reflect the substance of the alternative creative real property offer, said FHC-WA, and the full value was not reflected in the final score of 76 points.
“Two parties submitted proposed purchase and sale agreements with the same price of $1 million and slightly different terms,” wrote FHC-WA. “Both proposers are community-oriented but intend to use the facility for their own purposes. There’s no additional value to the University in their proposals; their values to the University are capped at $1 million. We believe, and the following analysis shows, that the value of our offer to the University is at least $1.9 million.”
The appeal continued:
FHC-WA is the only proposal that encourages UMaine to continue using its existing connectivity hub, and, “stop spending its time and money developing plans for moving the hub.” FHC-WA estimated the cost of moving the hub would exceed $500,000.
FHC-WA cited the lease agreement as potentially problematic for the Calvary Chapel Belfast because of the stipulation that the lessor shall not discriminate. FHC-WA said the church, “and its parent and sister organizations have advocated on their websites against non-male/female sexual relationships and marriage. CCB is free to express its beliefs under the Constitution, but it is our understanding that the university requires that the awardee warrant nondiscrimination under the lease agreement, which CCB simply cannot do.”
FHC-WA said that while it recognizes that UMaine is divesting the Hutchinson Center, “we all know well that educational priorities can change over time.... We have stated that we would be very receptive to any interest by UMaine to use the Hutchinson Center in the future.”
It assigned a $100,000 monetary value to that option.
It also assigned a $300,000 monetary value to using the Hutchinson Center as a venue for professional and industry conferences and sessions associated with the university’s current investment in offshore wind power, a project currently under development in Searsport.
“Accepting our proposal will help to build trust and a sense of partnership with the Midcoast community as the details of the Wind Port are negotiated,” wrote FHC-WA, in its appeal.
And, it noted that FHC-WA represents, “a broad range of citizens who collectively donated millions of dollars for the construction of the Hutchinson Center and have made further donations to the University because of the presence of the Hutchinson Center. Selection of our proposal would do much to honor past and future donors who will gain or regain the trust that the University will treat their donations with respect.”
A value of $500,000 was assigned to that point.
FHC-WA members are not the only ones protesting last week’s UMaine decision: Citizens have sent letters to the university procurement office, as well as the UMaine president, trustees and other administrators, opposing the transfer of a the taxpayer-supported campus to a church that intends to operate a religious school.
Northport resident Christine Anderson, who earned two degrees from UMaine, wrote to Rachel Piper, UMaine’s executive director of Strategic Procurement and Services: “Your July 15 news release refers to the UMS strategic plan for fiscal efficiencies, and also mentions the importance of enabling university assets to be repurposed for community benefit and/or to be returned to the tax rolls. I understand and agree that UMS property sales must keep sustainability in mind as bids are selected.
“However, this sale neither benefits the greater community nor does it benefit the Belfast tax rolls. Rather, it transfers through sale the gift of a public education facility to a narrow slice of exclusive believers whose religion opposes civil rights for all (ex: opposes the right to marriage by all). Please use this five-day appeal window to identify a bidder whose mission aligns with the intent of the donors and community members who made this wonderful community educational resource possible.”
Penobscot Bay Pilot has reached out to Calvary Chapel Belfast for comment, but the church has not responded.
Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657
