Report of the Ad Hoc Capital Committee

Background
This committee was charged with looking at the potential capital expenditures facing Granby over the next ten years.  We were asked to accomplish this by using, where possible, past studies of the buildings in Town, updated for current conditions, and informal cost estimates.  The purpose of this study is to give the Town a broad perspective on all the major capital expenditures the Town could resonably expect to be facing within in the next decade. 

We expect that there will be a relatively limited amount of funds tha taxpayers will make available for capital expenditures during this time.  This will not allow Granby to create ideal solutions to the Town's problems.

Furthermore, the sheer monetary cost of potential projects make it clear that the Town will have to find some solutions that in many instances are far from the ideal choices for the problems the Town faces.

Granby Public Library

The Granby Public Library is the municipal facility most in need.  The minimum recommended size for a Public Library for a Town with Granby’s population is 10,500 square feet.  The current library building has 2,500 square feet.  It was built through a Carnegie Grant in 1917 for a population of fewer than 1000 people, with a projected capacity of 5,000 volumes.  The Library building has remained fundamentally the same since 1917.  Today, ninety-three years later, Granby’s population is over 6000, and the same building with the same square footage serves as its Public Library, with a collection of approximately 27,000 volumes.  This insufficient space has had a definite impact on Library services.

The State of Massachusetts has agreed to support Granby in building a new Library with a grant of almost $1 million if Granby were able to include the Library in the secondary school building complex.  That particular plan has recently been rejected by the committee looking at the problems of the School buildings.

However, this indicates to us that the State is aware of the current situation, and that the Board of Library Commissioners has funds to support library construction.  Our estimate is that they would provide approximately a 50% reimbursement for a free-standing library building.  So a $2.0 million investment by the Town could build a library worth almost $4 million.

The Library’s current location at the end of the common does not lend itself to expansion.  The Town does not own enough land there to accommodate a larger building of the required size and provide the required parking.  Informal discussions with an architect have told us that it is very difficult to try to add to a Carnegie Library and have the addition blend into the original architectural design.  Additionally, the land itself, because of ledge, would not be easy to build on.  Those four problems, at least, would have to be overcome before an addition could be considered.  There would certainly be additional costs.

Another possibility has recently arisen.  With the purchase of a building for the Council on Aging, the Aldrich property will soon be available.  If the buildings currently on that property were razed, there could be enough room to locate an appropriately sized Library building and accommodate the necessary parking.

We would recommend that the Town explore locating a new Library building on the Aldrich property.  This could be a near-ideal solution for one of Granby’s larger capital problems.

The full text document of the Report of the Ad Hoc Capital Committee can be found down the page under "Trustee Meeting Minutes." 

Board of Trustees

Trustee Meetings

Held in the lower level of the library.

The next meeting is set for Monday, August 2nd. The group will be meeting promptly at 6:30 p.m.

Meeting Minutes

August 2009 Trustee Meeting Minutes
Posted on Dec 29 2009
Board of Trustees >>

Granby Free Public Library Trustee Meeting Minutes

Meeting Date:  August 3, 2009

Present:           Virginia Snopek, Dianne Barry, Leah Condon, Nancy Evren, Gwen Morrissey, Renee Still, Jennifer Crosby

Absent:            Carol Battersby, Amy Kimball, Bridget Roy

Visitors:           none

The meeting began at 6:35 pm.  Minutes from our previous meeting of June 1, 2009 were read by Dianne; Dianne made a motion to accept them with corrections; seconded by Gwen.  All in favor.

Congrats were given to Jenn for receiving her MLIS!  She is the first Granby Library Director to attain this degree.

Virginia contacted the surveillance company about the issues expressed during last month’s meeting.  The 4-picture monitor is not what he normally uses.  He has to ship these out for repair.  Jenn just received it – a wire in the back was not properly soldered.

Petition Drive for Feasibility Study:  Virginia updated the Trustees on the progress of the Friends for the Granby School Complex.  Renee next filled us in on what is happening with the school building committee.

An update on the handicapped parking and paved parking lot was next given.  The lines are drawn and there are no problems with the lot.  However, cars are still parking illegally in front of the library.  Jenn will ask the Highway Department to stencil “NO PARKING” in front of the new handicapped spot.

Library Director’s Report: 

Jenn gave the Board an update on the Tech Office.  Shelves have been removed to make space for a new table that will hold the computer, printer, and space for laminating.  The books for processing will be located on the opposing shelves.  The books, etc. that were in the room have been relocated to the upstairs reference section.  Jenn has ordered the furniture.

Updating the computer and scanner in the Tech Office would allow for quicker cataloguing.  The existing computer will replace the old patron search computer.  C/WMARS will be called once the new computer arrives to install software for this new one and to reformat the old computer.

Jenn will review the computer policy to see if changes are necessary.  The issue of viewing unsuitable materials was raised.  Jenn will call other similarly sized libraries to see how they handle it.  A sign may be installed stating “Surveillance Cameras in Use”.

Changing of the Children’s Room computer station tables will be handled around the September Book Sale.

Dates for the Five Year Plan committee to meet will be set at our next meeting.

Amber Energy came to service the air conditioning unit after it was noticed that water starting pooling in the boiler room.

A wireless router has been purchased for the library.  Comcast will be called to install it.  Jenn will work together with Janice to publicize this via newspaper release, possibly having an open house/internet café party.

The C/WMARS network bill seemed unusually high so Jenn called to ask about the $8,000 bill and if there was grant money available.  After speaking with them, Jenn received an updated invoice. The updated invoice reflected an MBLC grant of $2,500, and stated, if paid within 60 days the bill would be $3,261.  C/WMARS will be contacted for clarification of these two invoices.

Jenn brought up the extra hours that Jeanne worked while Janice was out.  Renee made a motion that Jeanne be granted 5 hours comp. time for the 5 extra hours worked while Janice was out on sick leave.  Gwen seconded this motion.  Discussion followed.  The motion passed.

Warrants in the amount of $140.82, $473.82 and $1,680.82 were unanimously approved. 

The next meeting will be on September 14, 2009 at 6:30.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Nancy C. B. Evren, Secretary

Last changed: Dec 29 2009 at 2:16 PM