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

Virginia Snopek - Trustee Chair Person
Dianne Barry
Carol Battersby
Leah Condon
Nancy Evren
Amy Kimball
Gwen Morrissey
Bridget Roy
Renee Still
 

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

 

November 2008 Trustee Meeting Minutes

Posted on Jan 08 2009
Board of Trustees >>

Granby Free Public Library Trustee Meeting Minutes 

 

Meeting Date:  November 3, 2008 

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

Absent: April Judicki, Bridget Roy 

Visitors: none 

The meeting began at 6:40 pm.  Minutes from our previous meeting dated October 6th, 2008 were read; Gwen made a motion to approve the minutes with corrections; Dianne seconded this motion; all in favor.  

Virginia and Nancy went with the assistance of the Granby Highway Department to the MassMutual main campus to pick up donated furniture.  Virginia updated the trustees on what was acquired during our trip. 

A Letter of Intent for a Green Library was sent out as was discussed at our last meeting and a response was received. 

April Judicki’s letter of resignation was read.  Nancy made a motion which was seconded by Dianne that Carol Battersby’s name be submitted to the Selectmen to fulfill April’s term through June 2009.  All in favor. 

Due to schedule conflicts with Gwen and Virginia, Virginia and Renee agreed to shop for fencing.  Building Inspector Don Demers requested clarification of the fence location, which he was given.  The building permit came in for a 4 foot high fence (as stated in the historical district by laws).  The fencing – which includes 16 4’x8’ rails plus posts and a gate -was ordered from Home Depot on Oct. 24th for a purchase price of $2,147.79. 

Bids for the surveillance system were sent out.  The library received a donation from New England Security of an intercom system for the downstairs back door.  Chief Barry was given the quotes to review and offered his suggestions.  Discussion followed while bids were reviewed.  Jenn will contact one of the bidders for clarification of the bid.  Nancy made a motion that Jenn and Virginia be allowed to award the bid based on Jenn’s clarification conversation.  Gwen seconded this motion.  All in favor.  An equipment list will be requested with resubmission of bid.  The money will come out of the ADA fund. 

Thank you letters were sent to the Granby Public School’s Maintenance Department for the installation of the Friends sign above the pavilion, and Chief Barry for his assistance with the surveillance system bid. 

A revised action plan was circulated to trustees for their review.  Renee made a motion to have Jenn submit the action plan this Thursday.  Amy seconded this motion.  All in favor. 

Next, Amy discussed with the trustees a conversation she recently had with Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Partyka.  She thanked them for their previous support and he expressed an interest in how he can better assist us in the future. 

Librarian’s Report:  Jenn will meet tomorrow afternoon with the Friends to update them on the computer list.  She delineated her purchase list, to include recurring fees – which will need to be included in our computer network line item budget.  The approximate cost for the computer purchase is $5,607.  Virginia would like Jenn to check with the Town Treasurer Steve Nally to see if the Town can better this price. 

Relocating the Young Adults section to the downstairs hallway was discussed.  The staff is in favor of relocating the collection.   

Virginia mentioned that Janice is one of five Massachusetts librarians that has been selected to be a member of the MLA Youth Services/Young Adult Standards Revision Committee.  It will be a 6-8 month commitment.  The Trustees wish to extend its congratulations to Janice. 

Jenn asked how to count Janice’s committee appointment since the staff is allowed to attend three workshops per year.  Her committee appointment will not be included as it is an honor. 

The new web page designed by Melissa Aldrich is up and running.  The bill will be paid through the Ferry Fund. 

Next item on Jenn’s list was the cost of converting the library to wireless internet.  There is a one-time fee for the controller of $2,000 for one access point; $595 for each additional access point.  C/WMARS cabling would be $775; the annual support fee would be $700 plus $56 per access point.  Jenn will contact C/WMARS for clarification of these access points. 

Finally, a patron expressed concern about the pavilion safety, more specifically, its structural soundness.  It was suggested that this individual be referred to the Town Building Inspector. 

The next Trustees meeting will be Monday, December 1st at 6:30pm.   

Warrant items in the amounts of $1,919.54 and $2,147.79 was unanimously approved. 

The meeting adjourned at 8:52 pm. 

Respectfully Submitted, 
 

Nancy C. B. Evren

Secretary

Last changed: Jan 07 2009 at 11:17 PM

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