11/15/2013

Council accepts library report, looks to establish building committee next month

The Town Council will be looking to establish a building committee as a first step toward implementing the recommendations of the Thomas Memorial Library Planning Committee's report, accepted by the council on Nov. 6, 2013.

The council voted to accept the committee's report with gratitude, and referred it to a Dec. 2 workshop where, councilors said, they would refine the charge of the building committee as they consider their goals for the coming year. [meeting supporting documents

11-14-13 State of Maine Government Projects Fee Schedule (1).pdf
Agenda for Town Council Workshop Meeting December 2, 2013.doc
Cape Elizabeth Town Council Goals for 2013 Progress November 6, 2013.doc
Library Report to Town Council 10302013.pdf
Library 11-14-13 Soft Costs pre Bid (2).pdf
Library Memorandum for December 2, 2013 Workshop.docx

]

The 29-page report recommends new construction and renovation of the current library located at 6 Scott Dyer Road. The committee is recommending the Thomas Memorial Library retain its current town-center location, within its current footprint. A concept plan for the new library adds a second story to the portion of the library that was once the Pond Cove School Annex. The connector joining it with the original 1919 library building, which now houses the children's collection, would be closed and library use discontinued in the older building.

The report is a product of a planning committee which met 29 times in 31 weeks, from April-November 2013. It recommends a bond of no more than $4 million for renovation and new construction, with an estimated $4,000 for needed for fixtures and furnishings to be raised privately.

The council accepted the report unanimously and enthusiastically, but stopped short of voting to establish the building committee at the meeting. "Let's figure out what the committee's going to be and what exactly we want them to do," said Councilor Caitlin Jordan. Frank Governali, councilor who also served on the planning committee, said he too thought having an interim workshop was a good idea. "The community ought to have an opportunity to at least ask some questions before we vote on this," he said.

Molly MacAuslan, chair of the Library Planning Committee who presented the report to the council, said she appreciated the council's care in defining the charge, but also hoped the new committee could be established and ready with a library proposal in time for a November 2014 referendum. "My only concern is that is a quick time line," she said.

The former Spurwink School building - which housed the original 1919 library and now holds the children's collection - is not included in plan for renovation. Architect Richard Reed estimated the cost of addressing deficiencies in the small building "in the neighborhood of a couple of hundred thousand dollars", but that cost would depend on the scope of desired use, he said. The report does recommend the building be used as a temporary facility during renovation, but that the Town Council decide the future of the historic structure.

The council is expected to approve a charge for a library building committee at its meeting Dec. 9.