Meeting on New Fairfield library plan set for Thursday
John Pirro, Staff Writer
Published: 10:08 p.m., Tuesday, February 15, 2011
NEW FAIRFIELD -- A proposal to build a new public library on town-owned land near the high school will be aired at a town meeting Thursday.
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| "THIS IS THE LAND OF OZ ... THE STREETS ARE PAVED WITH GOLD I'VE BEEN PULLING THE WOOL OVER THEIR EYES FOR YEARS" |
The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Community Room of the Senior Center, 33 Route 37. [ALWAYS PICK A TIME MOST INCONVENIENT TO WORKING PEOPLE]
If the session goes as anticipated, residents will be asked to set a date for a town referendum on the $2.5 million project. [HODGE IS THE OFFICIAL TOWN CLERK OF THE WORKS, NOT HAPPY UNLESS HE BUILDING AND SPENDING TAXPAYER MONEY]
The referendum must be held at least seven days, but no more than 14 days, after the town meeting.
Under the proposal, a new 14,000-square-foot library would be built on land the town purchased on Gillotti Road several years ago. [HOW MUCH LARGER WILL THE LIBRARY BE AND WHAT ADDITIONAL SERVICES WILL BE OFFERED?]
"There has been a library project pending for nearly a decade," said First Selectman John Hodge. [REALLY!]
"I think there is a general recognition that something needs to be done. If this gets turned down, none of the issues with the current library will go away." [WHAT ARE THE ISSUES?]
The current library, on Brush Hill Road near the center of town, is too small and lacks handicap access and adequate parking, Hodge said. [HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL CORE LIBRARY SPACE WILL BE ADDED?]
"Improvements are long overdue, but the questions are, `Can we afford it?' and `Is this the right plan?'" Selectman Monika Thiel said. "Only the people can decide, and I encourage everybody who can to come to the meeting."
Hodge said constructing a new facility makes more sense than spending $4 million to build a 1,000-square-foot addition on the existing library and bring it into compliance with the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. [TYPICAL SPIN ... $4 MILLION FOR AN ADDITIONAL 1,000 SQUARE FEET]
The town has already obtained bids on for construction, and the $2.5 million cost, which includes a $300,000 contingency fund, is a firm figure, Hodge said. It would be paid with a bond issue. [WHAT'S IT GOING TO COST THE TOWN TO RENOVATE THE EXISTING LIBRARY SPACE FOR ANOTHER SUITABLE PURPOSE ... ADD THAT INTO THE COST OF THE NEW LIBRARY.]
Two companies submitted bids that were within a few thousand dollars of each other, and officials are reviewing them to decide which firm will get the contract if voters eventually approve the project. [IRRELEVANT, NON SEQUITUR, NOT THE ISSUE AT HAND, AND IN THIS ECONOMY ONLY TWO BIDS?]
Contact John Pirro at jpirro@newstimes.com or 203-731-3342.
Read more: http://www.newstimes.com/default/article/Meeting-on-New-Fairfield-library-plan-set-for-1015248.php#ixzz1E8CTMLXZ
