The University of Maine System on Thursday defended its decision to sell the Hutchinson Center – once a community center in Belfast – to an evangelical church, arguing that taking the group’s religious affiliation into account could amount to illegal discrimination.

The university system’s decision to sell to Calvary Chapel in Belfast sparked controversy among locals and led to protests from the other two bidders: Waldo Community Action Partners and the Future of Hutchinson Center Committee. Both initial appeals were rejected, the university said in a statement Thursday.

“The university must not discriminate, including on the basis of religion. This would be unlawful and inconsistent with the university’s commitment to inclusion,” the statement said. “Longstanding public procurement policies and procedures at the state and systemic levels are deliberately designed to protect against bias and ensure the integrity of public entities in managing public resources and trust.”

One bidder said he had no problem with the property being awarded to a church, but with the procurement process itself, which was unclear. The university system said it offered an equal opportunity to submit proposals for the Hutchinson Center and the evaluation criteria were publicly available for eight months before officials settled on a buyer.

The system’s statement did not comment on the church’s specific plans for the site.

The church plans to use the site for its addiction treatment efforts and its cooperative home schooling program, according to a plan posted on its website.

Greg Huston, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel, quoted and praised the university’s statement on discrimination in an email Thursday evening.

“The process was fair and equitable,” Huston said. “We are very excited about the many opportunities we can offer Waldo County through our various services and assistance programs.”

He said the church does not yet have a timetable for taking over or renovating the center.

Samantha Warren, a spokeswoman for the university system, said the university hopes to complete the transaction by fall to avoid higher maintenance costs, such as for heating oil, during the winter months.

The university said in its statement that none of the protesting groups “presented evidence that would justify a revision of the original outcome.” It also explained specific differences between the church’s proposals and those of Waldo CAP, both of which had offered $1 million for the site.

The church’s proposal called for a $1-a-year, perpetual lease on a separate space that the UMaine system uses to operate an Internet access point, the university said. Waldo CAP’s proposal called for a similar lease, but at $2 per square foot per year.

The church also waived its right to inspect the property and offered a down payment of $250,000, more than five times what Waldo CAP offered, the university system said.

Representatives of Waldo Community Action Partners did not respond to calls and emails Thursday seeking comment on the university’s statement and attempting to verify those numbers.

According to University policy, rejected bidders may file a further appeal within 10 business days of receiving a written decision.

Normally, that appeal would go to the executive director of strategic procurement and planning, “but that person has recused himself from the appeals process” because he was involved in putting together the RFP, Warren said. Instead, appeals are forwarded to Ryan Low, the vice chancellor for finance and administration.

Shane Flynn, spokesman for the Future of Hutchinson Center Committee, the third group to submit a bid, said the group plans to continue its protest.

Group plans to appeal decision

In a phone call Thursday evening, Flynn said committee members “intend to exhaust all options available to them,” but said he was unsure how far they would go with the protest.

Flynn disputed the university’s claims that the procurement process was transparent. He said that while the committee knew it would receive a score, “we didn’t know how they would score it.”

“This process was anything but transparent,” Flynn said.

In its call for proposals, For some categories, the university sets specific, quantitative scoring formulas, but others are reportedly determined by a “consensus approach.” The RFP also states that decisions are solely at the university’s discretion.

Flynn said the Hutchinson Center, built by Delaware-based bank holding company MBNA and later gifted to the school by Bank of America, was intended as a resource for the entire Belfast community.

“The people of this community have put money on the line,” Flynn said. “And they are upset that something that was donated to the university can be taken away from the community.”

Flynn said the church’s religious affiliation was not an issue for the committee.

“What the chapel does, what their beliefs are and how they articulate their work is none of our business,” Flynn said. “We have a problem with the university and the process.”

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