12/5/2006 PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE Minutes

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LibrM Buildin project continued Finally, Helene advised the Committee that she checked with Patience Jackson, Library Building Consultant,Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners QABLQ and the figure to reduce the project and retain the State grant is %, not 1 %. Helene said she reviewed the whole project layout again to see where space could be cut to just`oma a do""and she came up with a building of about 20,000 square feet. Helene reviewed the areas of the library and came up with reductions of approximately 2,000 square feet. Joyce Mason posed the following questions: • Does 17,000 square feet work for the Library? • How do we get new library within budget we can afford. • Could 1 ashpee Commons perhaps build library that we could l s bu back? Joyce suggested that we concentrate on the core functions of the library and therefore conference room has to go. Helene pointed out the difficulties encountered currently because of lack of meeting ing room space. Devin asked where we stand on the grants? Shelly responded that he was in touchnth Senator 'Leary's office and was told that the process normally is to work on operating;budgets first. Shelly pointed out that although we cannot predict-what the legislature will d ,there is a long history of this program supporting library construction. Shelly said if you made it on to the waiting list,you are going to get the money. Following discussion, Gene stated we have a very large probl errs...what do we clog. Joyce suggested that perhaps in addition to herself, Catherine Laurent, and some members of this Committee forma a subcommittee to work on this and come back to the Committee to see where we are. She said she doesn't see any action on the grant moving quickly so we have time to work at this lever and see what we come up with. Joyce sees $5 Million as being a reasonable estimate. Catherine suggested that they look a $5 Million budget and see what they get in square footage for that amount. Gene hien addressed the Committee and asked each member to give his or her comment. The comments voiced included: If we don't move forward thea we're going to lose the library. Mart making decisions to move forward. Large project will not go without State grant. Appropriate for this Committee to go forward; no need to slow down the process. We should start as Joyce has suggested. Small subcommittee is very effective Way to proceed. Agrees to see what we can make with Million budget and do it as soon as possible. Helene addressed the Committee and requested that in planning build it in such a way that you could expand as the grant money cones in. Iry mentioned that in 2-1/2 gears the meeting groom at the Senior Center would be available for use by �the community. WorkiRg Subcommittee...Following will serve on this subcommittee: Joyce Mason, Catherine Laurent, Sheldon Gilbert,, Irving Goldberg, and Steve Cook. 5