LEYDEN — Several items, including a refrigerator, a wooden hutch and kitchen utensils, were taken from the Town Hall kitchen on Saturday, according to the Selectboard.

“We don’t know for sure who [is responsible]. We don’t know what authorization they had. We don’t know for sure who owns the stuff that was taken,” Selectboard member Glenn Caffery said at a meeting this week. “Something should be done about it.”

The refrigerator and hutch are full-size and would need multiple people or a dolly and a truck to move, according to Municipal Assistant Michele Giarusso.

Saturday marked the Leyden United Methodist Church’s Easter egg hunt on the town common. The church has used the Town Hall kitchen for years, and many of the cooking utensils in its kitchen are the property of the church. The Selectboard was unsure what objects in the kitchen belonged to the church, and if the church owns the missing objects.

Selectboard members suggested that the missing objects were possibly taken by representatives of the church to bring to their own building across the street. When a reporter spoke with church member Mary Lou Barton, she did not hear of any church plans to take the furniture. Additionally, Selectboard members said they spoke with representatives from the church who did not know about the missing furniture.

The Selectboard stressed that, putting the issue of ownership aside, there are multiple issues with the furniture being taken. Caffery said the process in which the furniture was taken without notice was problematic.

“People went in during off hours and with questionable access, and removed the items without talking to anybody. The process is totally problematic,” Caffery said.

He also said this brings up questions about key access for Town Hall.

Selectboard member Katherine DiMatteo said whoever took the objects may have been taking advantage of the fact the building was being rented at the time.

The Selectboard has said it will write a formal letter to the church to inquire about the matter as well as file a police report.

“It is a shock to everyone that this happened” Giarusso said.

Bella Levavi can be reached at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.

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