2/6/2007 PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE Minutes

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F New Libraq Buildingortinued would be made that the $2-Mllion bond authorization be requested at May Town Meeting, If state grant not realized,then this Committee will look at providing a library with the Town funding o $5.5-Million($ . -Million already approved, and$2-Mllion hopefully to be approved at flay-2007 Town Meeting). 5 Individual Committee member comments and issues that were raised included the following: Joyce cautioned that the figures presented by Stewart Roberts are"roughf'numbers and obviously there rill be further hidden costs. She said putting$2-Million on will be additional -cents on the tax rate. Joyce had bank run the numbers for the cost of borrowing$2-Million and it would be $145,,000 for principal and interest each year. Joyce stated it definitely has to be debt exclusion and she is prepared to recommend that to the Board of Selectmen. Important to put 2 or 3 proposals to the Selectmen—look at lease option and the single story 14,665 SF building as back-up options. o Shelly Gilbert commented that the process we went through with Stewart Roberts and looking at his options was a good process and it was important to go through it to be able to make a recommendation.tion. a pointed out that 9%of the voters supported the.$3.5- Million funding for the new library and it is important to have a working relationship between Board of Selectmen,hoard of Library Trustees,Town Manager and this Committee to get the $2-Million through May Town Meeting vote. Iry Goldberg said from the surface it appears the 20, SF building is the moray to go but 2 questions might arise; 1 will it take more people to run the building; and 2 it will cost probably 25%to run on energy. Helene responded that staffing will be the same because even where we are we have to increase staff. To meet the increased population, library will have to b open 50 hours, rather than 41 currently opened. This will mean 2 full-tine equivalents have to be added otherwise we lose our accreditation. Helene said she doesn't have utility costs yet, she's working.ori this. Steve Cook added that he will be working with Cape Light Compact and Cape Cod Self-Reliance to lower energy costs in the new building. o There was much discussion by the Committee that there must be a back-up plan in place in case the grant does not cone through because constructions costs continue to rise and the money approved by Town will buy less as time passes. Iry asked: 'what is the"drop- dead"date to make a decision? Shelly suggested to watch what action legislature is taking with appropriations in July and August and if no progress then we can take different action. 0 Article submitted to May Town Meeting should not restrict how we use the money. we need additional $2-Million for a new library. If we get the state grant it will be the 2000 SF building; otherwise, Committee will pursue back-up plan. Either way, the additional 2-Million will give the Town a library. Chairman Smargon thea asked the audience if anyone wished to ask questions pr make any comments. The follovng individuals from the audience addressed the meeting. Bonnie Barrett...Commended the Committee for the intelligent decision they made. She said it is a responsible decision and best vision for Mahpeei Nancy Soderb rgi.,Stated she was very interested to see,how quickly you folks covered a tremendous amount of nmaterial and that the Committee had clone a magnif.centjob.