Jones Trustees Stand Firm on Renovation Plans Despite MHC Concerns
Photo: https://www.joneslibrary.org/
Recommendations from Historic Preservation Agencies Resisted
Discussion at the February 27 meeting of the Jones Library Board of Trustees centered around keeping the dimming prospects for the beleaguered $46.1 million Jones Library renovation-expansion alive.
The most recent snag came in the form of letters from the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) and U.S. Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) asking for stronger protections of the historic features of the nationally registered Jones Library than what the town had proposed in a first draft Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). The MOA is part of the Section 106 review process required when an undertaking that will affect a historically significant property seeks federal grant funding. The Jones Library has been awarded provisional grants of $1 million from the National Endowment of the Humanities and $1.1 million from the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, pending successful completion of the Section 106 review.
Execution of the MOA agreement requires the signature of State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) Brona Simon, Executive Director of the MHC.
On February 24, Amherst Special Capital Projects Coordinator Robert Peirent responded to the MHC and AHCP letters with a revised MOA that fell short of addressing several concerns raised by the preservation experts.
The MHC letter seeks further mitigation of damage to the library’s historic millwork, recommending that all Philippine mahogany designated for demolition be salvaged and reused within the renovated library.
The town’s revised MOA adds only limited areas of millwork to be reused “to the extent practicable” while offering woodwork “not possible to be reused” to a salvage company to take away at their own expense. The advocacy group Amherst Historic Preservation Coalition has pointed out that the project proponents have complete freedom to decide what millwork salvaging is possible, leaving the roughly 4000 board feet of irreplaceable millwork that is targeted for removal virtually unprotected.
The MHC also advised that the slate roof “be replaced with salvaged slates from the existing roof and new slates that match the size, color, and profile of the existing slates.”
The town countered by amending the MOA to say that slate shingles would be salvaged and reused “to the extent practicable,” estimated to be 10% of the shingles. The Amherst Historical Preservation Coalition has argued that Buckingham Slate which comprises the 97-year-old library roof is described in a National Park Service Preservation Brief as lasting 175 years or more, and that much more than 10% of the slates should be reusable.
The ACHP letter calls out a controversial review of the Town-Library Preservation Restriction Agreement (PRA) which critics have claimed was unfairly manipulated by Town Hall. The ACHP advises the town to explain how it “has met or intends to meet the terms of the PRA for this Section 106 review and undertaking.”
The town response was to add several Whereas clauses to the MOA that reiterated the dates that the Amherst Historical Commission approved library project compliance with the PRA under questionable circumstances.
A letter from Robert Peirent to the MHC that accompanied the revised MOA presumes that the latest version of the agreement, which is meant to be shaped by a public process, would undergo no more changes and asks for “MHC’s concurrence and acceptance of this MOA as the Final MOA with a returned signed copy of the document by the close of business on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.” Such abrupt turnaround could be a tall ask for a state office with a large purview and limited resources. Compounding the demand is the announcement that Elizabeth Sherva, the Deputy Preservation Officer who has coordinated the Jones Library review at the state level for more than a year, is no longer working for the Massachusetts Historical Commission.
No Preservation Agreement, No More Time, No More Money… No Problem!
In their February 27 meeting packet, the Jones Library Trustees were presented the MHC and AHC letters, the revised draft MOA, and a letter from Trustee President Austin Sarat and Town Manager Paul Bockelman requesting that the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners extend a March 31 deadline to sign a construction contract required to receive $15.6 million in state grant funds.
The Trustees showed no concern for the disconnect between the MHC and ACHP recommendations and the town’s proposed MOA. Sarat addressed the meeting, “I want to make sure that you all had a chance to review this thing that was included in the packet which is from the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Everybody saw that?”
Observing a few head nods, Sarat went on to the next item of business.
The Trustees appeared equally unconcerned about requesting their third deadline extension from the MBLC. Sarat described it as “an extension of time through the end of April in order to allow us ample time to finish the 106 process and sign a contract with our general contractor.”
The Trustees’ decision to approve natural slate as the roofing material for the renovation adds an unknown cost to the project which has been the subject of public protest over its estimated $46.1 million price tag, with the majority paid out of tax revenues.
Sarat commented to Library Director Sharon Sharry, “I just think it is important for the board to understand that the expectation is that anything promised in that MOA can be done within the existing budget.”
Sharry hedged, “So as far as we know, yes. I mean we won’t know until we get into the work and we are all hoping — we have a very healthy contingency [in the budget]. You know, as with any construction project once you start peeling away walls and dealing with the historic nature of this space things could happen. So as it stands now and based on the experience of all of the consultants and experts that we’ve had actually look at the building over the past 10 plus years, this all falls into place and the work can be done within budget.”
The MBLC will decide on granting Amherst’s deadline extension at their meeting on March 6. Members of the public interested in attending the Zoom meeting are invited to register.
thank you Jeff. I keep hoping/praying that someone with common sense will STOP this demolition/expansion of our beloved Jones Library. especially now when costs of materials will become more expensive. and grants/loans could be pulled from the project due to the present administration.
Early this past week, I asked acting OPM Bob Peirent what the Town’s plans are in terms of rebidding for the slate roof and any other changes that come out of the Section 106 process. I also asked what Fontaine Brothers has said to the town about continuing to hold a bid for 6 months. I have received no response to date.
Until we have those answers, there is no way of knowing what the actual cost of the project is likely to be. A lot has happened in the the project and in the country/world since those bids were received in October 2024. The contingency carried for the project is not generous and needs to cover unforeseen issues, not changes that are known ahead of time.
A few weeks ago, some Town Councilors made a good start of demanding some fiscal responsibility by pointing out that funding must be secured before proceeding with this project. But their work is not done — they should be continuing to demand answers and compliance with their quite reasonable admonition not to sign a contract if the library can’t demonstrate that it has bridged the at least $7 million gap in funding.
The disposal of the historic woodwork requires following the Town’s written disposal process requirements, if the value of the woodwork is less than $10,000, and if the value is over $10,000 then state’s requirements apply. The salvage company’s employees will have to be paid prevailing wages. The materials have value, otherwise no salvage company would be interested.
The work of the Library general contractor is going to be changed by the deletion of work on the historic paneling. This still is not allowed by the state’s public construction bid laws. Does the Library intend to pay the general contractor for work that the general contractor no longer needs to do? If not, a change order is needed, which we clearly realize before a general contractor contract has been signed.
How exactly would the Library building committee choose a salvage company to receive the historic and no longer available anywhere woodwork for free?
The easy answer is you can’t. There is a competitive process required by law. The giveaway idea is a desperate attempt to avoid a whole new general bid process and this whole mess has been caused by not completing all the required reviews before bidding, as was strongly recommended to the Library in clear, easy to understand English early in the process. The Bid Unit of the Attorney General’s Office will take a very dim view of this giveaway dodge. The Library is a wonderful place, let’s keep it that way the right way.