Library Trustees: Our Project Can't Wait

by Amy Kolb Noyes

MORRISVILLE - As the town moves toward a decision on how to proceed with
a new town hall project, the trustees of the Morristown Centennial
Library said they are running out of time. This week, trustees sought
support from the selectboard to proceed with putting a library
construction bond on the ballot this fall.
Library trustees were embarking on their own renovation and expansion
project, when approached by the town in May 2003 with the idea of a
combined town hall/library project. The trustees put their fundraising
on hold and enthusiastically joined forces with the town on the combined
effort. Now, after a successful bond vote for a combined project was
petitioned and followed by a narrow defeat, the town has gone back to
the drawing board. At a selectboard meeting Monday evening, August 16,
library trustees said they can't afford to wait and see if the town will
try for another combined project or seek a stand-alone Town Hall.
"We really feel that the time for the library to move is right now,"
trustee Sue Sargent told the board. She noted the yearlong delay has
seen construction costs go up by $300,000. What's more, Sargent said the
library is not doing an adequate job in meeting the needs of the community.
"The library really has one single focus and that's to serve the
community in the ways libraries serve communities," said Sargent. She
added the library building is nearly 100 years old and does not meet
federal handicapped accessibility standards. In addition to being out of
space, trustees fear the pending failure of an aging roof, an antiquated
furnace and other problems the board views as inevitable.
In an August 12 memo to the selectboard library chair J.B. McKinley
wrote, "Throughout this almost year-long effort, the library has always
stated that if the combined project was not passed, then the library was
prepared to 'go it alone' as it is critical that we expand our space in
order to fully meet the expectations of our community. Having given up a
year to support the town offices/library concept, we now find ourselves
in essentially the same position we were in late 2003 - preparing to
approach the selectboard with a request for a bond issue to help fund
our expansion."
The letter goes on to show construction cost estimates have risen by 26%
over the past year, turning the approximately $1.3 million project into
a $1.6 million job. Where the trustees had formerly committed to
fundraising half a million dollars toward the project, the library now
proposes to fundraise $600,000. The trustees asked the selectboard to
schedule a bond vote for up to $980,000.
Selectboard Chair Brian Greenia did not mask his feelings on the
subject. "I'm personally not in favor of it," Greenia responded. He said
the town has not ruled out the possibility of doing a joint project with
the library - something Sargent said the library would still
enthusiastically support should the town take that direction. Greenia
said he did not think voters would approve two separate construction
bonds, and the two groups should still seek a joint bond, even if the
projects will be separate.
"The town needs are as dramatic as the library's," said Greenia, adding
both entities need to unite in one bond. "Our needs are hooked
together," he insisted.
Sargent responded proceeding with a library bond would allow the library
to move forward with needed renovations until the town decides if it's
on board for the addition portion of the project. She added the library
trustees have had plans for this project for 10 years, and need to act
now. She intimated the library was prepared to gather the needed
taxpayer signatures to petition for a bond vote, if the selectboard
would not agree to scheduling a vote. However, she warned such a
petition may leave the unwanted impression that the library board is not
willing to work closely with the town. Sargent and McKinley stressed
that speed and timeliness in decision-making would keep costs down.
While the library requested a vote be scheduled before the November
elections, discussion centered around a possible simultaneous vote on a
bond.
While Greenia dominated the discussion on behalf of the selectboard, a
clear opinion on a separate library bond vote was not expressed by many
board members. Selectman Shaun Bryer did indicate he would be willing to
"put it out there and let the voters decide."
Rather than rendering a decision on scheduling a bond vote, Greenia said
the board will make a decision in two weeks, at the next regular
selectboard meeting.
The discussion on the library bond vote was preceded by a presentation
of the results of a survey the town took on the town hall project.
Zoning Administrator Mark Leonard said of the approximately 3,500
surveys distributed last month, 220 were completed and returned. The
survey results largely reflected the voters' 50/50 split on the combined
Town Hall/library project. While most respondents agreed there is a need
for new town office space, opinions were split regarding cost factors
such as the importance of aesthetics and a central village location.
Leonard said of the breakdown of planning factors from the survey, "I
think that gives us areas where we want to put our emphasis."
Selectman Jim Paige, who helped design the survey, said now that the
survey results have been tabulated, the town can move on to the next
step of setting a price. Leonard suggested the town return to the
process of selecting three or four sites, including a version of the
combined library project with a scaled down price tag.
Meeting attendees Tina Tomlinson and Richard "Buckwheat" Lowe said the
town should pursue the old Union Carbide records storage building, next
to the Bishop Marshall School, for town office space. While Tomlinson
said the town could secure that space for less than $1 million, Lowe
said he thought the warehouse could be had for $750,000.
That building is privately owned and was not available a year ago when
the town previously underwent a site selection process. Although
Selectman Shaun Bryer said he had recently toured that facility, owner
Ed Debor did not comment to the News & Citizen on that possibility. The
town is now seeking community members to sit on a committee to select
sites and decide on a final project.
Also at Monday night's meeting the selectboard set the municipal tax
rate at $0.7023. That rate includes a $0.2624 highway tax rate and
$0.4399 for the remainder of town government.
Town Clerk Mary Ann Wilson noted changes in the statewide education tax
laws mean Morristown resident taxpayers who have declared a homestead
with the state will see their combined town and school tax rate go down
by 18 cents. Those taxed at the nonresident and commercial, or
non-homestead rate, will see their tax rate go up a dime over the past
year. The statewide education tax rates are $1.2346 for homesteads and
$1.5219 for vacation homes, commercial properties, and other
non-homestead parcels.