Opn. No.

Arthur T. Connick, Esq. Village Attorney, Ardsley

You ask whether a village may purchase a building for use as a public library and lease a portion of that building back to the seller, an American Legion post, for an initial term of five years with options to renew the lease every five years for seven additional terms (a total of 40 years if each option is exercised) at an annual rental of $1.00.

A village is authorized to purchase or lease real or personal property as its purposes may require (Village Law, § 1-102[1]). The expenditure of village funds for the establishment of a public library…