Angus Council has offered a glimmer of hope that Brechin City Hall can still have a role in the community.
The council’s response followed a scathing letter from community leaders which described the planned closure as “reckless” and “a ruthless act”.
The local authority is now seeking a meeting with residents next week to discuss the options for its future operation.
Two SNP administration councillors also signed the letter against the April 1 shutdown of the hall which is said to be “due to a lack of funds”.
The city hall’s future has long been a worry for the town, with a questionnaire on that subject issued in 2013.
Alarm bells were raised again this year when the public was unable to book the four-storey building beyond March 31.
Fears were also raised by the public that the building was being left to rot with the state of the decor a major talking point.
The letter stated: “We wholly reject this process and demand a full explanation of how and by whom this decision was taken and that budget be found to maintain the use of the City Hall as had been indicated in previous communications with the community and elected members.
“This reckless (short-termist) decision flies in the face of Angus Council and Scottish Government policies of collaborating with the community to revitalise town centres.”
The letter was signed by Derek Harper, convener of Brechin Community Council; Bill Sturrock, chairman of Brechin and Area Partnership; Gordon Smith, president of Opus Theatre Club; and councillors Bob Myles, Jim Houston and Mairi Evans.
It was sent out following an informal meeting of Brechin Community Council which met to discuss the City Hall’s future.
The letter said a “basic courtesy of a communication to clarify matters to a statutory body like a community council seems to be beneath certain council officers”.
It added: “It’s this kind of disrespect and bad communication that erodes community’s trust and respect in Angus Council.
“It appears that the city hall has been discarded by Angus Alive (operating trust) to suit its own needs and not those of the community.
“This is a ruthless act by Angus Alive to leave current users of the city hall with no option but to use the Brechin Community Campus.”
A spokesman for Angus Council said: “We are seeking a meeting with members of the local community to discuss the options for the operation of Brechin City Hall and we hope this can happen next week.
“It is our intention to work with the local residents to try and establish a position where community use of the hall can continue.”