Community members spoke out against plans by the town to rezone a former firehouse for commercial use, saying officials failed to tell potential buyers that it was originally part of one of two historic local stone school houses still standing.

The building, at 535 N. Marbletown Road in the hamlet of Marbletown, was put up for sale by the town in August after the Marbletown Fire District was dissolved two years ago, and has an asking price of $379,000, according to its listing, which says it was built in 1960. Town Supervisor Rich Parete says the three offers that have been submitted so far are contingent on it being rezoned.

By advertising its history, the town could have attracted more buyers, particularly those interested in restoration, and enhanced the historic nature of Route 209 between Hurley and Stone Ridge, neighbor Ed Croswell said during a public hearing on the topic at the Feb. 6 Town Board meeting, in comments echoed by other residents. The schoolhouse was built in 1832, and other school houses and firehouses have been sold for commercial use.

Board member Ken Davenport had a succinct response: If members of the public want to preserve the building, they should buy it. The board didn’t take a final vote on the subject.

In other business at the meeting, board member Don LaFera was named as the town’s recycling manager, a new position that will entail supervising the Marbletown recycling program and conducting community education programs for schools and other groups. It’s a full-time civil service position that pays $25 an hour. LaFera starts Feb. 8, when he steps down from the board.

The board opening will be filled by appointment until a new candidate’s name can be placed on the ballot and voted on in November. The temporary position will be announced with application instructions on the Town of Marbletown website.

Parete also said at the meeting that the town had completed and signed a long-awaited agreement with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection that details compensation for community members whose wells may be impacted by the aqueduct repair near High Falls. A copy of the agreement wasn’t available by publication time.