To The Editor:

Last April, Newtown went to the polls to approve several appropriations for critical educational and town services, including the long-delayed HVAC upgrade at the C.H. Booth Library.

One year later, with that project and other interior work nearing completion, we voters are being asked to address another looming infrastructure issue, the library's parking lot and sidewalks.

This year referendum item #2 requests $720,000 for "the planning, design, renovation of and construction of improvements to the Cyrenius H. Booth Library parking lot and sidewalks." These funds would allow the library to revamp the layout of the lot at the back of the building to add more parking spaces, including handicapped parking, and improve traffic flow. Pedestrian access would be made safer and more convenient, too. Those of us who frequent our popular library know that these are all much needed fixes.

The alternative is to sink money into patching up the accumulated damage to the asphalt and curbs, which merely postpones dealing with the issues of space and safety. Those issues become more and more pressing as the Booth Library continues to expand its role in the community.

Please educate yourself on referendum question #2 and all the other items on the ballot, and show up to vote at the Middle School on April 28.

Nancy Dvorin

President, Friends of the C.H. Booth Library

Newtown