Building Committee Meets with Local Architect

The newly combined Building Committee and Fund Raising for Building Expansion committees met on May 3.  They received a presentation from local architect Ed Loedy, who emphasized that the committee needs to settle on one definite plan that meets current library needs first , and then can do more effective fundraising.  He showed us the kind of presentation he had in mind and offered to work with Library Director Daniela Pulice in developing such a plan. One of his ideas that generated some committee support was--if we abandon the existing building--to reverse the L that is in the Donald Mac Donald plan so that the plaza section would be behind the building. Loedy's idea for the reverse L would be to build the new building while maintaining some service in the old one (I think), then tear down the old one and construct a plaza.  Daniela suggested that she would prefer a building more in the shape of a trapezoid than an L so that there would be no sharp corner to peer around.  The average cost of building libraries is currently about $200 per square foot (the present building is about 3,600 square feet, but a lot is wasted because it was originally a home). Either using the old building or starting anew, Loedy's goal would be to keep the total cost to us at around $1.5 million.  We should deal with a builder, such as Kirchhoff or Meyer, to get a better estimate of cost. Donna Letteri said the committee should go for a plan based upon need rather than finance and then cut back to match the amount the committee can raise. Donna was concerned about the Wicks Law preventing us from using some local contractors, but Daniela said she was sure that Free Association libraries do not have to comply with Wicks. 

There was a general view that the committee should proceed to investigate and hire a grant writer, although with the plans not firm, this may be too soon.

The committee discussed several concerns about remaining on the present site, whether the Library starts a new building or keeps and expands the current one. The two main problems with keeping the present site are the increasing traffic along Main Street, which is making it difficult to enter and leave the parking lot, and the amount of space available for parking.  Also the committee might at some future time need to expand further and the site is small.  

As noted in the first paragraph, the Building Expansion committee and the Fund Raising for Building Expansion committee are henceforth merged.  Ardith Orr is Chair of the committee (possibly just to be called the Building Committee).  Since it is a joint Trustee-Community committee, the committee also hopes to recruit a co-Chair from the community side. Bryan Bunch has volunteered to be Secretary-Treasurer of the committee. There was a general feeling that the Building Committee needs more active members because there is so much to be done and we are all volunteers who also have other responsibilities in life.