CORNISH — The Stowell Library trustees’ use of a portion of a $30,000 donation for plans for a new library in the former Cornish General Store was within the trustees’ rights, the Charitable Trusts Unit of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office has determined.

The Trusts Unit cannot conclude that the money donated by the late Margaret Meyette in 2020 was used improperly when some of it was spent on architectural drawings to renovate the former general store into a new library, Mary Ann Dempsey, director of Charitable Trusts, said in a two-page letter read at a trustees’ meeting on Monday.

The Trusts Unit “does not believe the documentation clearly supports that Margaret Meyette’s donation in 2020 was restricted to making repairs and upgrades only to the existing library where it is presently located,” Dempsey wrote in her letter. “Given that the Town determined that renovations to the present library were not feasible, CTU cannot conclude that using the funds for plans related to building a new library is not an upgrade that fits within the intent of the Meyette donation.”

In her letter, Dempsey explained that her unit’s role is to “protect the public’s interest in charitable assets,” including protecting the donor’s intent.

The letter came in response to a question about the donation from the library trustees, which voted in August to seek the Charitable Trusts Unit’s opinion after Meyette’s son, Brian, asked that $15,000 be returned to the family.

Meyette, who died in March of this year, donated the money for construction of a ramp and a composting toilet at the George H. Stowell Library, which was built in 1910 and lacks indoor plumbing, according to a June 13 letter her children, Brian and Brenda, sent to the Charitable Trusts Unit.

The Meyettes have argued that it is clear their mother wanted the money spent on the Stowell because the offer to donate the former general store to the town was not made until 2021.

Brian Meyette provided the Trusts Unit with a copy of the $30,000 check, written in March 2020, with an accompanying note that said, “to update the library in memory of Joseph C. Meyette and Evelyn G. Lear,” as well as Selectboard minutes of March 9, 2020, which say that “Peg Meyette came in to ask about the plan for the library and made a donation toward the repairs and upgrades…”

After the former Cornish General Store was offered to the town for a new library, there was $40,000 in the Library Building and Operating Fund as of July 2022 and that included the Meyette donation. An accounting of the fund provided by the town, showed almost $14,400 was spent on plans to renovate the general store and legal fees associated with accepting the property, Dempsey’s letter states.

Dempsey also said Meyette was alive when the town voted to accept the former store at the March 2023 Town Meeting, instead of renovating the Stowell, and she was also aware that a portion of the funds she donated were spent on plans to renovate the store.

“Absent additional documentation as to Margaret Meyette’s intent that the funds only be used for the library located at 24 School Street, CTU cannot conclude that the Town failed to use them for the intended purpose set forth in the donation,” Dempsey wrote.

Finally, Dempsey said even if the Trusts Unit determined the money was spent improperly it would be returned to the library trust to be spent as the donor intended, not to the Meyette trust.

Reached by phone Monday, Brian Meyette said he was out of town and could not attend the meeting but was aware of the letter because he had received a copy.

“I have not talked to my sister about what we will do next,” Meyette said.

For their part, the trustees said the matter was closed and did not discuss it beyond reading the letter.

The Cornish Community Initiative, which is working to raise about $2.5 million to renovate the former store, has $1.2 million in cash and pledges, Merrilyn Bourne, a member of the initiative, said at Monday’s trustees meeting.

Bourne also said Howe Library in Hanover donated shelving to the town for use in the new library because Howe is getting new ones.

“They are in great condition,” Bourne said. “We are very lucky to get them.”

Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.