Date: Fri 27-Oct-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

Booth-Library-town-meeting

Full Text:

PAGE ONE: Town Meeting Backs Library Plan

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

It took less than an hour at a special town meeting October 25 for residents

to approve $4.1 million for the expansion and renovation of the Cyrenius Booth

Library. After a brief period of debate, the meeting voted overwhelmingly, 222

to 38, to support of the project.

Main Street resident Edwin Baumer, however, promised he would gather enough

signatures on petitions to require a referendum.

"I am so pleased with the wonderful turnout tonight," said Library Director

Janet Woycik. "And I want to thank all of our supporters."

Several library supporters spoke in favor of the project, including library

Board of Trustees President Gordon Williams, resident Merlin Fisk, Chamber of

Commerce President Mike Snyder, Carolyn Greene representing the League of

Women Voters, President of Friends of The Library Marion Wood, and others.

Mr Baumer, whose residential property adjoins the library's, recapitulated the

many concerns regarding the library expansion which he has already publicly

expressed.

He said he has been told by a realtor and lawyer that his property value would

decrease by 25 percent if the addition to the back of the building proceeded

as planned. "The expansion would destroy my environment, my property, my

privacy," he said.

Responding to this particular comment, Judy Craven of Grand Place, said she

had "no sympathy for Mr Baumer - he knew when he bought his property that he

was next to a public facility." She noted that in 1969, she and her husband

purchased their residence next to Fairfield Hills property knowing full well

that land could be developed in the future.

"My conclusion is that [the proposed expansion] is too big, too fancy, and too

expensive," said Mr Baumer. "They designed a building too big and then got a

zone change." He criticized Planning and Zoning for having changed regulations

to accommodate the library facility, but rejecting the proposed exposition

center in Hawleyville when the issues were "the same" - environmental impact,

and increased traffic.

"The library will cost each family in town only $47 per year, on the average,"

said Mrs Woycik, who holds a master's degree in library science. Although the

entire $4.1 million would have to be bonded by the town, $350,000 of the

actual costs would be covered by a state grant; $250,000 of the sum has

already been appropriated by the town for architect studies and design fees.

"And the size of the addition is mandated by the state."

"I describe [the proposed library] as 'The Mini-Mall on Main Street,'" said Mr

Baumer, who advocates using three floors of the library for "library purposes"

and the top floor to fulfill the Hawley trust requirements that furnishings be

displayed. "Modernize and use the present space, and get some real smart

management," he said. "We should be able to get by for some time with that

facility."

The library director countered that the fire marshal and building inspector

would never approve use of the entire attic, as proposed by Mr Baumer, because

there is only "one room in the attic where you can stand up." Of course, they

could raise the roof, she added dryly. "And that would cost a lot of money."

Mr Baumer also raised this issue of possible duplication of services once the

school libraries are expanded and upgraded.

Main Street resident Polly Brody also questioned whether the library needed to

"spend thousands" on computers when this is an item on the list of the

proposed school projects.

"The library serves everyone from toddlers to senior citizens and our

reference resources, including computers do not duplicate those at our

schools," said Mrs Woycik. The schools will have computers "tailored to

student use, not a broad public use," she said.

Mr Baumer is also worried about increased traffic as a result of the expanded

facility.

Gordon Williams, who lives across the street from the library, acknowledged

there would be cars turning in and out of the library driveway, but the

82-space parking lot planned for the back of the facility would alleviate or

eliminate the line of cars parked on Main Street in "front of Mr Baumer's

house and in front of my house."

If the library adds 22,000 square feet, Mr Baumer claims there will be "an

increase of half a million dollars in operating cost and debt cost." But the

library director said the impact study reflects the expansion will raise the

operating budget only $50,000 a year.

"Tonight we can choose to enrich our town," said Mrs Wood. The library

provides the community opportunities for education, entertainment, as well as

career and professional advancement, she said. "The library is open days, and

evening and weekends when the school library is not open."

Ms Brody, who voted for the library addition the last time it was before the

town, said she felt "sad that I have to stand here and oppose it now." She

claimed that as a direct result of the Legislative Council assessing assessing

sewer district residents the bulk of the sewer project costs, her taxes will

increase by 22 percent not including the 0.4 mill increase for the library

expansion. "I have to think of it in the context of affordability," she said.

Mr Baumer said he will pick up a referendum petition form at noon - the time

at which the document is available from the town clerk. By lunch time he will

be starting on his campaign to solicit "1000 plus" signatures; at least 5

percent of the last completed registry list or 573 signatures are needed for a

referendum. He must meet this goal by 4:30 on November 1. He hopes to have

some help generating signatures. He added, however, that he intends to

succeed, "Even if I have to do it all by myself."