SUPPORT FOR LIBRARY EXPANSION LACKING AT DISTRICT 3 MEETING

The Jones Library expansion project was the subject of significant debate between residents and Town officials at a District 3 meeting on March 1st. The meeting, organized by District 3 Councilors Dorothy Pam and George Ryan, drew approximately 50 people. Pam and Ryan invited Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Town Council President Lynn Griesmer to answer questions about the four major capital projects — a fire station, DPW facility, elementary school, and the Jones Library.

While other topics were discussed, including the poor repair of sidewalks, parking on Lincoln Avenue, and the affordable housing project at 132 Northampton Road, the majority of questions and comments focused on the advisability of moving forward with the Jones library expansion project. 

In his presentation, which was identical to that presented at public listening sessions in December, Bockelman said “the estimated cost to the Town and the taxpayers of new construction or major repairs for all four projects is more than $100 Million, and will require at least one Debt Exclusion Override.” (See previous Indy reporting about the financial details of these projects and how they might be paid for.)

A “capital project tool,” demonstrated at Finance Committee meetings last year, was designed to assist Councilors and the public in decision-making about the major projects but the tool has neither been released nor discussed in public meetings since Capital Projects Director Sean Mangano resigned at the end of last year.

An attendee asked how Councilors will know the degree of public support for each of the four major capital projects, noting that “it all seems rather anecdotal,” and suggesting that the question be put to a non-binding town-wide ballot for voters to rank the projects. Others supported the ballot question suggestion, adding that improved sidewalks should be a top priority, prompting a large show of hands in support. (Public opinion has been gauged, to date, at “Listening Sessions” about the capital projects. The published report from those sessions recorded far more comments opposed to the library project than in favor.)

The grant for the library is expected to be awarded by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) this July and the Town would then have 6 months to approve the funding. The total project cost was estimated in 2016 at nearly $36 million, hence the actual cost may be higher given inflation of construction costs. State reimbursement is expected to be almost $14 million, leaving a balance of $22 million. Jones Library Trustees have said they anticipate raising $6 million through a combination of a capital campaign and historic tax credits, however, the town would have to commit to cover the entire cost since there is no guarantee the Trustees’ fundraising efforts will be successful. The timing of the MBLC award puts a decision about the library far ahead of the other three projects.

One resident pointed out the dilemma of this timing issue. “Now we have a highly controversial library plan and we’re split, but it’s at the front of the queue,” he said. “If it is put out for an override and it succeeds, it jeopardizes the chance of a school override passing. And if the Council moves forward with the library project without an override, they are effectively taking money away from the other projects.” 

Another resident described the library project as “expensive, given all our other needs.” In response, Griesemer and Bockelman contended that the choice was not “do we do a project or not,” but rather, “do we do the project or fix the existing building?” Griesemer said, “Whether we build new, renovate or somewhere in between, it’s all going to cost about the same amount of money.” Councilor Andy Steinberg echoed Griesmer’s position. “We are getting close to having to make the decision to go forward with the library project or not,” he said. “If we don’t, then we will need to catch up with all the deferred maintenance. They could be very close in number.”

The local architecture firm Kuhn Riddle has been contracted to update a 2017 estimate of Jones repair work undertaken by Western Builders of Granby. The report is expected sometime in April. Whether the new estimate will include options for funding the repairs (e.g., a phased schedule of repairs, which would pose a lower burden on the capital budget) is not known. It was pointed out by a resident at the meeting that there is no requirement to do all recommended repairs, or to do them all at the same time. 

Some residents at the meeting asked for more information on the cost of each of the four projects and what impact it could have on taxes, but, other than for the library, no project-specific figures were presented. Estimates from previous feasibility studies had the fire station at $24 million and the DPW at $38 million.

Some present at the March 1st district meeting supported moving forward with the library project, with one resident saying she would “feel a lot of grief” if the Town turned down the state money and a renovation ended up costing the same amount. Another present said he was “in favor of it all,” and opposed a ballot for voters to rank the projects.

Others questioned the need for expansion rather than re-assigning existing space and/or moving some materials (books, documents, paintings) offsite. One person suggested moving the ESL program to one of the schools. 

Griesemer advised that there would be a meeting of the Council and Library Trustees once the Kuhn Riddle estimate was ready. In the meantime, the Town Manager reminded attendees that his job is to present a plan to do all four projects with one Debt Exclusion Override, and the Council will make the ultimate decision.