Date: Fri 19-Dec-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Booth-Library-opening-Woycik

Full Text:

Library Officials Are Reluctant To Announce An Opening Date

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Library Director Janet Woycik has a tentative date set for the re-opening of

the Cyrenius H. Booth Library, but she knows better than to announce it.

"We're waiting to see what's going to happen," Mrs Woycik said. "There's a lot

of stuff still left to be done there."

The librarian and her staff have had to be patient, and so have all the

Newtown residents who have gone library-less since the end of August. The

problems in getting the library completed may end up being the story of the

year in Newtown. It was the building that couldn't get built.

The library's $4.1 million construction project has been a comedy of errors,

missing one deadline after another. It was originally slated to be ready last

June. That date may have been a bit optimistic, but the job then missed

completion dates in July, August, September, October and November. Last month,

disgusted town officials even fired the general contractor for his failure to

make any significant progress.

Now, however, the library really does appear ready. Public Building & Site

Committee Chairman Frank Krasnickas was hoping that by Friday the town could

get its long-awaited Certificate of Occupancy (CO) approval.

"We're hoping by Friday, but then again, I have been hoping for Friday for six

months," Mr Krasnickas said. "It is Christmas and miracles do happen."

Mr Krasnickas has been on the job almost every day since the project started

back in the early spring of 1996. He can sense the project is nearing the

ribbon-cutting stage. They're even getting ready to put the restored

chandeliers back up on the ceiling.

However, there are several pairs of eyes that still must inspect the project,

and they are the ones who will have the final say on when the library can

open. They include Building Official Al Brinley, Borough Zoning Enforcement

Officer Jean St Jean and Engineer Ron Bolmer. This group has already made

several trips to the site and has always found items not up to code. They

might again on Friday. After all, as an observer once noted, the library could

be the subject of a book on how not to run a municipal construction project.

First, workers had to re-pour the concrete for the foundation because of

errors, then, asbestos was found in the existing building, apparently to

everyone's surprise. Next, leaks were found in the roof, painters,

electricians and plumbers walked off the job because they weren't getting

paid, and the project's general manager threatened to sue the town. He may

still, especially since he was eventually fired. All the while Newtown has

been the town without a library.