Steadfast insistence?
Sam Magarelli criticized some members and trustees’ “steadfast insistence on or protection of the streamside annex,” presenting an alternative plan that would replace the book barn with a 6,500-square-foot two-story structure. Magarelli suggested another structure on the laundromat site could serve as the new place for book sales. Mangan has proposed a similar concept. Magarelli points out the $1.2 million to $1.4 million estimated cost provides more than twice the space as the proposed annex at a lower cost.
Member Eliza Kunkel said the panel is already looking at all ways to fulfill the library’s space needs. “I haven’t seen steadfast insistence on the annex,” Kunkel said.
The task force’s scope includes “every single inch of the library campus,” including ‘Library Lake,’ what some have called the front lawn because it is prone to flooding. There may be ways to effectively drain areas with water issues, she said. “It’s all ours and it’s all an asset.”
Moore agreed. “Nothing’s really off the table,” he said. “We’re assuming all sites are buildable until we get information to contradict that.”
But David Stein, who said he’s worked on several projects as an architect, told the task force he believes there is no issue with building the planned annex on the laundromat site. He thinks the perceived flood danger is nonsense and environmental impact from heavy equipment is not an issue since it is not needed for a building that size. “You’re being snowballed by all this technical engineering,” Stein said.” You don’t hire an engineer to do this kind of building.”
Cornelia Rosenblum voiced support for Magarelli’s presentation but wished people would stop thinking of an expansion as a barn. As a pre-engineered building “it could be anything,” she said. “You can’t take it as the finished product, but it’s an idea that should be pursued.”
Money already spent
Mangan pointed out the task force is not going to design a building. That will be left to an architect. Instead, it will recommend the best plan for fulfilling the library’s current and future space and infrastructure needs.
Planning Board member Lorin Rose, while praising Raff’s dedication, criticized the library leadership’s direction. “Amy is like a beautifully carved masthead on a ship that seems to be headed for the rocks,” Rose said.
DeFranco said the comment was rude and Rose immediately apologized, but pointed out the planned annex would never be allowed by the town’s Wetlands and Watercourse Law.
Trustee Geoffrey Hanowitz disagreed, saying nothing in a letter from town Wetlands Inspector Peter Cross states the library cannot build on the former laundromat site.
Hanowitz also questioned why the task force never consulted him, since he is the library board’s building committee chairman and sat on the annex subcommittee for two years.
He urged the task force to give full consideration to the proposed annex, especially since $210,000 has been spent on the property, architects fees and planning. “I ask you to be open-minded about this annex,” Hanowitz said.
Former Planning Board Chairman John Ludwig said the library board had the wrong focus as soon as the decision was made to buy the former laundromat. “From the earliest mention of the laundromat property months before any money was raised, the decision was made to buy and build on 6 Library Lane,” Ludwig said. “Here we are two years later and this task force is finally doing the planning that I believe is required for a project of this type.”
The task force next meets Tuesday, October 7 at 5:30 upstairs in the library.
