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

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

Granby Free Public Library Trustee Meeting Minutes

Meeting Date:  June 1, 2009

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

Absent:            Bridget Roy

Visitors:           none

The meeting began at 6:40 pm.  Minutes from our previous meeting dated May 4, 2009 were read; Gwen made a motion to approve the minutes with corrections; seconded by Amy; all in favor.

Virginia and Renee updated the Board on the completion of the fence around the pavilion.  A Home Depot contractor reinstalled the fence, cemented the posts, and ensured them that we have a lifetime warranty of the fence with installation.  The previous posts will be returned for a full refund.

Leah gave a brief update on her progress in the Children’s Room.  Everything is progressing and improvements can be seen.  We are all pleased with the work that Leah has done in organizing the stacks, and we commend her for her service.

A meeting with Rosemary Waltos of MBLC will take place June 24^th at 10 am.  Virginia, Renee, Jenn and Carol will discuss the construction grant.

Next, Renee updated the Board on what was discussed at the latest School Building Committee meeting.  There will be an informational meeting Wednesday June 17^th at 7 pm in the East Meadow cafetorium. 

Virginia brought the Board up to date with the newly paved handicapped and parking areas.  She contacted Police Chief Barry regarding a “linesman” to paint the parking space lines.  Virginia also contacted Chris Martin regarding an additional handicap parking sign. 

Town Maintenance man Dave Turcotte would like the rocks removed at the parking area so he can seed the patch.  This will cut down on the amount of poison ivy and improve visibility when exiting the parking lot.

Carol has been updating the volunteers list.  Also, she and Jenn are devising what the duties will entail.  A training schedule will need to be created.  Carol also updated us on the stuffed birds display.  The Springfield Museum would like pictures and descriptions.  Carol will bring some to the Springfield Museum; the others will be donated to a local daycare to enhance their academic/science program.

Virginia asked for a nominating committee to select a Library Director, Chair and Secretary.  Carol, Leah and Dianne have volunteered.

Landscaping around the pavilion was next discussed.  It was decided that Earthscape Landscaping will be contacted to seed grass around the pavilion.

Librarian’s Report:  Jenn began by reminding the Board that the summer months are approaching.  She asked if the front desk schedule should be adjusted to accommodate the busier time.  The trustees decided that the schedule is working and should not be adjusted.

Jenn will scale back the Adult Summer Reading Program activities based on the last two years’ attendance records.  Janice has also made adjustments to the Children’s Summer Reading Program.

We have received the third installment of the State Aid to Public Libraries Award given by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (see attached).  The third installment was $1,530.02, bringing the total award to $11,902.90.  It is expected that next year’s grant award amounts will be 15 % less.

The next Trustees meeting will be Monday, July 6 at 6:30pm. 

Warrant items in the amounts of $2,397.31 and $1,233.56 were unanimously approved. 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Nancy C. B. Evren

Secretary

Last changed: Dec 29 2009 at 2:28 PM