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

January 2009 Trustee Meeting Minutes
Posted on May 08 2009
Board of Trustees >>

Granby Free Public Library Trustee Meeting Minutes 
 
 

Meeting Date:  January 5, 2009 

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

Absent: Carol Battersby, Amy Kimball, Bridget Roy 

Visitors: none 
 

The meeting began at 6:43 pm.  Minutes from our previous meeting dated December 1^st, 2008 were read; Gwen made a motion to approve the minutes with corrections; Dianne seconded this motion; all in favor.  

Virginia opened the meeting by mentioning an article from boston.com that Mark Bail had posted on his blog relating to the importance of libraries, especially during economic downturns. 

The library has downloaded an updated version of the Open Meeting Laws from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. 

Next, an update on the surveillance security award was given.  Alan Shaw sent a certified letter asking for copies of all bids.  Virginia asked Town Administrator Chris Martin how to proceed.  Under certified mail, Virginia forwarded copies of all bids received to Mr. Shaw.   

Jenn spoke with 3 people regarding the installation of the back doors.  Dianne made a motion, seconded by Leah that Jenn contact Norman Lepage to award him the contract estimated at $1,000. 

Virginia next updated us on the bids received for the Young Adult bookshelf project.  Virginia asked Jenn to contact one of the bidders to check out the quality of his workmanship.  Discussion followed as to how to proceed.  It was suggested that a knowledgeable third party accompany Virginia and Jenn. 

The School Building Committee will hold a meeting January 7^th at 6 pm in the High School library to update everyone on their recent meeting with the Mass. School Building Authority.  SBA contacted Granby to discuss the school campus design.  It was stated that we will be awarded a minimum base of 59.2%, not including points earned for “green” initiatives, etc. if this project is accepted.   They termed our design an “outlier” and noted that we will not gain points for our unique design. 

Virginia received an email from MBLC director Robert Maier regarding President-elect Obama’s capital project economic stimulus program.  The deadline to submit construction projects to the state is Thursday January 8^th. 

Chris Martin discussed with Virginia the fact that the Mass Historical Society has grants we should apply for should we end up staying in the Carnegie Building.  Discussion amongst the trustees followed as to how and when to proceed. 
 

Librarian’s Report:  Jenn received the Library Incentive Grant (see attachment) which gave us an initial payment of $5,690.19 to purchase books.  A second payment will be awarded later. 

Jenn would like to complete the purging of the audiocassettes and VHS by the end of the fiscal year.  The CD-ROM collection also needs to be updated.  The Teen Advisory Board asked if they could have a fundraiser so they can purchase area rugs and small chairs for their new space.  It was suggested to Jenn that no work, including painting, be done until the bid is awarded.  The bulletin board needs to be removed before painting can begin. 
 
 

Jenn will call to set up a date for the computer hook-up and wireless installation. 

Virginia, Bridget, and Jenn will begin working on cleaning up the reference area January 24^th. 

A call was made to Waste Management to reschedule the December Holiday party but Jenn has not heard back from them.  Jenn has not heard back from the Granby Historical Society either regarding the chairs and reference materials.  Renee will arrange a date to go with Janice to the Holyoke Creative Arts for donated craft supplies. 

STAVROS (the handicap accessible compliance organization) will be going around visiting area municipalities to check on their ADA compliance. 
 

The next Trustees meeting will be Monday, February 2^nd at 6:30pm.   

Warrant items in the amounts of $1,266.10, $505.33 and $282.67 were unanimously approved. 

A motion was made by Nancy and seconded by Dianne that we adjourn the meeting.  All in favor.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm. 

Respectfully Submitted, 
 

Nancy C. B. Evren

Last changed: May 08 2009 at 3:49 PM