By ADAM ATKINSON
North Country Now

CANTON -- The village of Canton confirmed Friday afternoon that they have declined a settlement offer from the attorneys for the Christian Fellowship Center regarding their use of the commercial property at 25 Court St.

“On Wednesday, February 27, 2019, The Village of Canton Board of Trustees declined a proposal received from the Christian Fellowship Centers of New York, Inc., which would have allowed the Canton Christian Fellowship Center (CFC) to immediately use the property at 25 Court St. as a church,” said the village in an official statement.

In response to the letter received from CFC's legal counsel, Gregg T. Johnson, a partner with Johnson & Laws, LLC, the legal firm hired by the village to handle the CFC’s lawsuit, wrote: "In light of the early procedural stage of the above-referenced action ... the Village is not in a position to agree to your demand within the timeframe you have prescribed. However, you should not interpret this letter as an indication that the Village forecloses any potential resolution."

An announcement by the CFC’s attorneys Mauck & Baker LLC of Chicago regarding the settlement offer’s decline is recounted in a story posted here on North Country Now earlier today.

The CFC was denied use of the lot by the village code enforcement officer to house its Canton congregation there because the property, which previously housed restaurants and was built in the 1800s as a gentlemen’s club, is in a C1 commercial zone which does not allow churches or religious organizations.

The CFC purchased the property at 25 Court St. which is zoned for commercial use, prior to securing a use permit for the lot, and after the initial denial, which was upheld by the village’s Zoning Board of Appeals.

The statement from the village continues:

“The Mayor and Trustees are grateful to the dedicated Village employees, including Code Enforcement Officer Jeff Murray, who work every day to make Canton a better place to live, and to the members of the Village Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals who so generously volunteer their time to preserve the safe, thriving community that has welcomed us all.

“Despite the significant effort and resources required to address the CFC lawsuit, the Village will continue to provide the vital services Canton residents require and expect from their municipality. It is our goal to promote the prosperity and vitality of our downtown Retail Commercial district while remaining committed to finding a space in our community where members of the Canton Christian Fellowship Center can worship.”