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

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

Granby Free Public Library Trustee Meeting Minutes

Meeting Date:  October 19, 2009

Present:           Virginia Snopek, Dianne Barry, Carol Battersby, Leah Condon, Nancy Evren, Bridget Roy, Renee Still, Jennifer Crosby

Absent:            Amy Kimball, Gwen Morrissey

Visitors:           none

The meeting began at 6:40 pm.  Minutes from our previous meeting of September 14, 2009 were read. Carol made a motion to accept them with corrections; seconded by Dianne.  All in favor.

Leah opened the meeting by updating the Board on how to reconfigure the Children’s Room computer station.  Leah gave us a visual schematic on how Leah and Renee would like to change it.  The Board voted in favor of letting Leah and Renee make the necessary changes to the computer station to make it more user-friendly for the children.

Leah next explained to the Board that she was able to sell on e-Bay.com books that were donated to the library.  She was able to sell a number of books for a total of $18.74.  The money will be given to the Friends of the Granby Library.

Renee updated the Board on the status of the community library within the School Educational Complex.  It hasn’t been completely ruled out but we must wait until the feasibility study is complete.

Virginia passed out copies of the revision for the library’s internet policy along with the new wireless internet policy.  Discussion revolved around clarifying various points on both policies.  Leah made a motion which was seconded by Renee that we accept the policies with corrections.  The motion passed with one opposition.  Next, we were handed out revised copies of our Library Card Application.  Carol made a motion seconded by Dianne that we approve the revision which includes a parental permission signature for computer use.  Discussion followed and corrections were made.  The motion passed.

Town Administrator Chris Martin spoke with Virginia regarding the painting of the library.  At the May 14^th 2007 Town Meeting, $12,000 was approved to paint the library.  He promised that the library will be painted by June 30^th, 2010.  He walked the perimeter of the library building with Virginia to determine what needs to be done.  He requested that Jenn write up a work order to have Dave Turcotte remove the ivy and other growth from the building.  Royal Paint will be contacted for a quote.  Chris explained to Virginia that he needs two weeks to complete his portion of the job and then she is at liberty to call him again to find out what the delay is.  Renee will contact Chicopee Mason Supply to find out how to repair/replace the stonework and urns in the front of the building.

The Five Year Development Plan subcommittee will meet again the last week of October then present the update to the Board at our November meeting.

Virginia read to the Board a letter from the MLTA, encouraging Board members to join and attend a Worcester conference.

Library Director’s Report: 

Jenn will purchase signage for both floors relevant to computer use:  SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS IN USE and NO FOOD, DRINK, OR DOWNLOADING.

Jenn will need more time to learn how to change passwords and configure the network before she will launch the wireless campaign.

The Fall Book and Bake Sale brought in $1,685.20, with $181 coming in for baked goods and $225 in membership dues.

Next, Jenn updated us on the pavilion landscaping project.  She received a quote for $300 to install gutters and downspouts.  Bridget made a motion seconded by Nancy that we allow Jenn to hire Clark and Sons from Chicopee to complete this portion of the pavilion landscaping project.

Jenn will contact electrician Rick Rosazza regarding installing motion detection lights along the sidewalk leading down to the parking lot.  Jenn will also contact National Grid about the erratic on/off lighting coming from the street light near the parking lot.  She will also address the staff regarding parking once the lighting has been corrected.

Warrants in the amounts of $1,288.32, and $1,937.87 were unanimously approved. 

The next meeting will be on November 2^nd, 2009 at 6:30.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:19 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Nancy C. B. Evren, Secretary

Last changed: Dec 29 2009 at 2:15 PM