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
The State of
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
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
October 2008 Trustee Meeting Minutes |
| Posted on Nov 10 2008 |
Meeting Date: October 6, 2008
Present: Virginia Snopek, Nancy Evren, Dianne Barry, Leah Condon, Amy Kimball, Gwen Morrissey, Bridget Roy, Jennifer Crosby
Absent: April Judicki, Renee Still
Visitors: none
Minutes from our previous meeting dated September 11th, 2008 were read; Dianne made a motion to approve the minutes with corrections; Gwen seconded this motion; all in favor.
Nancy gave an update on obtaining chairs from Mass Mutual. The community liaison Portia Allen will be contacted regarding donating furniture to the library. Virginia also noted that we still would like to have 20 resin chairs for the pavilion. We will continue working with Deb Roy of the Friends on this.
The Town Administrator, Chris Martin, was contacted regarding updating the library’s job descriptions. He stated that they are fine how they are written because each job description includes the words “other duties,” which would include any new technological duties the staff have.
Virginia, Renee and Jennifer attended a Construction Grant Workshop. It was stated at this workshop that if we build a green building, we would received 5% more grant aid. A motion was made by Dianne that we apply for this “green building” grant; Amy seconded this motion. All in favor.
As mentioned at our previous meeting, the deadline for submitting the covenant for our community library is December 31st, 2009. It was stated at this workshop that the Trustees can appear before the MBLC to request an extension and explain what we have been doing since the grant was awarded.
Virginia said that Chief Barry reviewed the surveillance system proposal letter. Virginia read the revised bid letter for the security system. Jenn provided more information on what has gone on since last month. Discussion followed as far as where the monitor will be mounted and that training will be included once the system is installed. Bridget made a motion that we send out the revised bid letter; Gwen seconded this motion. All in favor. Virginia will send out 5 letters.
Regarding the pavilion sign, Chief Barry suggested that the school maintenance department help install the sign. School Superintendent Pat Stevens okayed having them install the pavilion sign.
The Building Inspector, Don Demers and Chief Barry visited the library to discuss the exact location of the 4 foot high vinyl perimeter fence. Jenn contacted DigSafe to confirm that phone/cable lines are marked off. The proposed area has been spray-painted. Chief Barry will dispatch a prisoner work detail to install fencing on a non-open day. The permit for the fence will also be submitted.
Jenn received a letter regarding the Privacy Act and the installation of cameras at the library. This individual is concerned that people’s rights and privacy will be violated because people will be able to view what patrons are charging out. Jenn presented the Board with two policies, the Code of Ethics of the American Library Association and the Library Bill of Rights. She explained that people’s right to privacy will not be violated by the installation of cameras. The monitor will not be mounted in such a way as to allow the public to view what others are doing. The library staff are professionals and no information will be given out as far as what people check out or view on the computers. Jenn contacted the Chicopee Public Library to see if having cameras installed helped or hurt them. The librarian claimed that it has deterred crime and vandalism. A Camera Use Policy was discussed and will be revisited at a later date.
The Action Plan Committee, consisting of Virginia, Dianne, Nancy and Jennifer, will update the 5-year plan on October 27th. It is due December 1st.
April Judicki called Virginia to offer her letter of resignation, stating that her job responsibilities at the bank had changed and was becoming more demanding of her time. Virginia thanked her for her time as a Trustee and all that she did do during her short time with us. April helped secure money from Easthampton Savings Bank to help with the building of the pavilion. Names were mentioned to be contacted to fill April’s term until the next Town Election in June 2009.
Librarian’s Report: Jenn reported that there is still $5,000 left in the Waste Management Technology Fund. Suggestions were given at the last staff meeting on how to best use this money. Discussion followed to either purchase a Children’s Room circulation desk and computer or purchase patron computers and an extra circulation computer. The cost of a desk, computer and having electrical work done to install a circulation area in the Children’s Room exceeded $5,000. Along with the purchase of the computers, Jenn said the order will include a printer/scanner that will match the old one so that the technology and wiring is all current. Bridget made a motion to purchase one circulation computer for upstairs and one patron computer for upstairs as well as one patron computer to replace an old one downstairs and a printer/scanner. Gwen seconded this motion. The motion passed. Discussion followed as far as placement for the extra circulation computer on the upstairs desk. It was agreed that having a Children’s Room circulation desk is something the Trustees would like to see and will continue to be considered.
Virginia asked Jenn to find out the cost of converting to wireless internet. Jenn said she once did research the price and found it to be over $5,000. The Friends of the Granby Library were not comfortable with using the technology money from Waste Management for wireless internet. Virginia asked Jenn to find out if there is grant money available from MBLC to do this.
The new arrangement for prioritizing cataloging was next discussed. It appeared to be working as far as allowing more time for Jeanne to catalog but it did impair the other staff members’ ability to complete their tasks. It was suggested that Jenn try arranging the staff schedule with a 2 weeks on/2 weeks off approach, with 2 weeks set up to push the cataloguing and then 2 weeks be a normal schedule. It was also suggested that Jenn 1) have Janice sort her books out from under the upstairs desk and 2) have Jeanne record her progress to see if this approach is working. It is hoped that sorting and cataloging will happen on a more timely basis.
The Book and Bake Sale held on Saturday September 27th showed that between $700 and $800 was made on that Saturday. Having the sale under the pavilion seemed to cause sales to be down because there was not enough visibility from Route 202. The Friends also mentioned that the Trustees should be more present at these types of events.
Jenn showed the Trustees the new signs (NO PETS ALLOWED, PLEASE TURN OFF CELL PHONES, and LIBRARY HOURS).
The next Trustees meeting will be Monday, November 3rd at 6:30pm. Please note, meeting time has changed to 6:30 pm.
A warrant item in the amount of $1,208.01 was unanimously approved.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Nancy C. B. Evren
Secretary
Attachments: Agenda
Revised Surveillance System Bid Letter
Code of Ethics of the American Library Association
Library Bill of Rights
Last changed: Nov 10 2008 at 11:10 AM
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