NORTH ATTLEBORO - Selectmen have voted to hang on to a million dollar Russian masterpiece, rather than sell it - but where the painting will hang if returned to town is unclear.

The board unanimously opposed selling the "Afghans" painting by Alexandre Iacovleff, saying the painting belongs back in town.

"I believe this is a gift to the community, and I won't vote to sell the painting. I've been up front about that all along," Selectwoman Marjorie Kraskouskas said. "When you have things of value, you need to cherish them."

The school committee asked selectmen in April for permission to sell the painting, which could fetch up to $1.2 million at auction.

The painting was donated by by W. Charles Thompson in 1951, when he personally hung it in what is now the Community School. The painting hung there until February, when a local resident researched the artwork and discovered that similar Alexandre Iacovleff works were selling for millions of dollars.

The painting was spirited off to Sotheby's in New York City, where it remains today.

If the painting were sold, the school department has proposed using the proceeds to start a trust fund for school arts and music programs.

Relatives of the donor have urged the town to keep the painting, which swayed several members of the board.

"My clients are very gratified to know so many people want to see the painting returned to North Attleboro," said attorney Stephen Clapp, who represents the donor's family.

Selectmen Chairman William Moffitt reiterated the board's stance.

"From the beginning, my feeling has been that we need to honor the intent of the donors," Moffitt said. "This was not a gift given to the town or school department to do with as they choose."

What will happen to the painting next is not clear.

Selectmen cannot ask Sotheby's to return the painting because the auction house's contract is with the school department.

So, selectmen voted unanimously to send a letter to the school department asking for the painting's return and offering to use money from the Walter Lyons Trust Fund to pay for any costs involved. In addition, Kraskouskas said $65,000 in donations - including $50,000 from the relatives of W. Charles Thompson - have been pledged to pay for anything needed to bring the painting back to town.

However, the board offered no suggestion on where to hang the painting - or even store it temporarily.

"If it comes back, where do we store it?" Town Administrator Mark Fisher said. "If this thing comes back and is going to be on our doorstep, I have to put it someplace."

Moffitt said there is time before the next meeting of the school committee to work that out.

"We'd have to find a place for it," he said. "There's been a lot of talk about storing it at the police station, but there may be an issue with the size of the painting and the size of the doors at the police station."

The painting measures 7 feet, by 10 feet.