12/10/2013

Budget, first appointments launch Library Building Committee

The Town Council on Dec. 9, 2013 established and appointed members to a building committee for the Thomas Memorial Library. [committee charge]

At the same time, by a 6-1 vote, the council approved a budget of $340,810 for the committee to develop a plan for renovation and new construction for the library in time for a November 2014 referendum.

The five-member committee includes town councilors Jim Walsh and Molly MacAuslan; and at-large member Frank Governali. Governali is a former town councilor who served on the Library Planning Committee; MacAuslan is a newly elected councilor was chaired the Library Planning Committee.

The School Board will also be invited to appoint a member, and the fifth member will be nominated from the library trustees and appointed by the council.

Total budget for the library project, if approved by voters next November, is $4 million. The $340,810 pre-bid, pre-bond cost will pay for planning such as architect's and engineering fees, Planning Board review, land and hazardous materials surveys, project manager costs, contingency and legal and bond issuance costs.

"We want the voters to be clear on what type of library they're voting on come November," said Councilor David Sherman. "That's the rationale for spending this money up front." One of the concerns voters had about the 2012 library proposal, which failed at the polls, was lack of a clear plan, he said. "So this is an effort to try and address that concern," Sherman said.

If the bond is approved the up-front cost would be repaid as part of the total project cost. "If the bond is not approved it would be a sunk cost," said Town Manager Michael McGovern.

Councilors approved the funds from the infrastructure improvement fund, $100,000; from undesignated fund balance, $240,810. [funding summary]

Voting against the appropriation was Councilor Caitlin Jordan, who called the situation a "true Catch-22". "I do not believe in spending so much money on a project that's not been voted on and approved," Jordan said. "At same time, I don't think the library would move forward without proper plans developed."

"I'm not sure that there is a better compromise but it seems to me unfair to ask the town to spend so much money without having a vote to spend the larger sum of money," Jordan said.

The $4 million project cost excludes money for furnishings, which officials plan to raise privately. It also excludes renovation of the original, Spurwink School portion of the library which now houses the children's collection.