Some community members think it should have been a simple decision for the Auburn School Board to reverse its decision on the community use of facilities policy at a meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

But the board wants to take some time to review the policy and decide whether they want to allow alcohol use at Auburn Village School.

Community members have come out in force since the School Board banned any alcohol consumption at the school last spring.

They continued to speak out during a public input session against what they feel was a “kneejerk” decision. Board members agreed to revisit the policy based on the community input, but with some conditions.

Last spring, the board voted to ban alcohol use at Auburn Village School following an incident involving police after a Lions Club dance. A man was arrested after police spotted him in the building. The allegedly intoxicated man is believed to have damaged the building and run from police.

Prior to that, the policy allowed alcohol consumption and sales for certain events on Saturdays after 7 p.m. with a police officer present, and there hadn’t been any other reported problems.

School Board Chairman Elaine Hobbs said the board decided to hold the community input session after receiving a petition with more than 130 signatures asking the board to reconsider.

About 25 people turned out for the meeting. No one spoke in favor of the board’s decision. “It is important that the town have a place we can come together as a community,” resident Nancy Mayland said.

“This is our function hall,” said resident Ernie Allard. Resident Shirley Delacoe said she felt the board’s decision was too quick.

“To be so drastic as to say there can be no functions of that kind ... seems a bit of an overreaction,” she said. “It just doesn’t seem fair.”

Other residents pointed to history, stating that the intent of building the gymnasium was to have a place for the community. The consensus was if it did not open to the community, it would have been turned down,” said resident Al Samson about the decision about 40 years ago to include the gymnasium in the new school.

But some School Board members want to review the policy more carefully. “There are things I would like modified before we reinstate it,” School Board member Kathleen Porter said. She added that “all you can drink until 2 in the morning to me is unreasonable.”

The Lions Club is the primary enactor of the policy holding two large fundraising dances each year at the school. Club president Norm Bouley said the club has taken great strides to make sure their events are safe as well as fun.

The club hires two police officers to be present for the group’s dances, offers van service for people who need a ride home, hires trained bartenders to serve the alcohol, and stops serving alcohol at midnight when the dance ends.

“The community has spoken both through petitions and attendance ... and there was no one who spoke in favor of the decision of the School Board,” Bouley said. “It should be a very simple decision for the school board to reverse their decision. All indicators point that that’s the right thing to do for the community.”

The board voted 3-2 to have a subcommittee revisit the policy and come back to the full board in March with a proposal. Resident Fay Hanscomb will participate in the subcommittee with board members.

Board member Alan Villeneuve voted against the motion, stating that he did not support the board’s original decision and thinks the policy should be reinstated as previously written.

Selectman James Headd said the Board of Selectmen supports the Lions Club and thinks the School Board should reconsider its position.

“Think of the community. The money that we make literally goes right back into the community,” Sean O’Leary, vice president of the Auburn Lions Club said.