10/31/2013

Committee recommends $4 million cap for renovation, new construction at Thomas Memorial Library

The Library Planning Committee is recommending renovation and new construction for the Thomas Memorial Library to meet the needs of the community for the next 25 years.

The committee's report, submitted to the Town Council along with a report from Reed & Co. Architecture on Oct. 30, 2013, recommends the council appoint a building committee to develop a plan for renovation, with new construction, for a building with approximately the same square footage as the current library, and costing no more than $4 million.

"The Thomas Memorial Library is a well-used but underperforming asset in town, and as such it’s time for a significant renovation that will position the library to address community needs well into the future," the report says.

The council is expected to accept the report with gratitude at their next meeting Nov. 6, and to discuss it at a future workshop, possibly in December.

The report recommends a new building committee prepare a plan in time for a referendum no later than November 2014. By proposing a quick timeline, the committee is hoping to avoid a lengthy planning process that may have contributed to the defeat of a library building project last November. "We believe a concentrated time line will result in a design aligned with the interests of the community due to increased committee, council, and citizen engagement in the process," the report says.

An additional $400,000 of privately raised funds is also recommended for new library fixtures and furnishings.

Appointed last February

The council appointed the Library Planning Committee in February, following defeat of a referendum to borrow up to $6 million for library renovation and new construction. The five-member committee, composed of three town councilors, a member of the library trustees and a member of the School Board, was charged with preparing a plan for public library services and facilities for Cape Elizabeth for the next 25 years. It was specifically charged with developing a lower-cost plan than the one defeated in 2012, to seek public input, and to look at utilization of space for other library services.

A public forum was held, and an online survey received more than 200 responses.

The committee concluded that keeping the library at its the town center location best serves the public and is more cost-effective than moving services to other municipally owned buildings. The Town Council should, however, continue to explore shared services with other town departments and nearby libraries, the report says.

The report's final recommendation is for the council to consider separate funding and location for the Cape Elizabeth Historical Preservation Society. The society provides important services through programs and records preservation, the report says, but it is neither a town department nor legally connected to the town. "However, given the important activities of this volunteer group, it is our recommendation that the council should consider making space available elsewhere for the Historical Society’s holdings and functions," possibly in the Public Safety building, the report says.