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Selectmen Meeting Abutters of Library Project Never Notified ...scale of project inappropriate for the site... — Abutters
by Muriel Kramer
April 13, 2011 — The Hopkinton Board of
Selectmen congratulated two new Eagle Scouts from Troop 1; Eric
Beauregard and Erik Pohl were on hand with
Police Chief Rick Flannery spoke to remind residents that on Marathon Monday April 17th , Hopkinton will welcome about 30,000 runners plus visitors; the roads close Monday at 7:30 AM and will re-open by 1:00 PM. The Hopkinton Police Department will also participate in Take Back Day on Saturday April 30th from 10 AM to 2 PM. On that Saturday, residents are urged to bring any old or unwanted prescription and over the counter (OTC) medications to the Police Station for safe disposal. Old and unused medications are a common source for misuse and abuse especially by young people, and residents are encouraged to take this opportunity to clean out their medicine closets and dispose of unneeded or expired medications safely.
Resident Sue Hadley also spoke up, having concerns she, her husband and other neighbors have with the library project as proposed. According to Hadley, the abutters to the project have never been contacted and they share many concerns about the scope of the expansion, parking and the impact on their historic neighborhood. In a letter from Sue & Jeff Hadley, Mike & Katie Roughan, Jim & Gayle Walker, Jeri & Jonas Berlin and Cori & Scott Brown dated Aril 11, 2011, the writers state, “The consensus is that the scale of this project is inappropriate for the site, too expensive, and not necessary given the other options for meeting space in town. The library’s own study indicated the existing site cannot support the programs and parking. A grant deadline isn’t a good reason to rush forward on a project with long term budget implications such as this. We need to take a step back and determine what makes the most sense for Hopkinton.” READ MORE... Selectman John Mosher took the time to speak directly to some of the concerns raised in the letter. The additional meeting space included in the project is intended to meet the needs of a contemporary library that will be able to perform different functions. Currently there is seating for 37 people in a town of nearly 15,000 according to Library Building Committee member Laura Barry. Additionally, Mosher pointed out that efforts were made to scale the project back in response to site constraints and public feedback. Lastly, the new building will meet LEEDS requirements and will be more energy efficient, and it has been designed to service the community with the existing staff.
There are two upcoming Library forums for residents to weigh in on the issues, ask questions and offer feedback. Wednesday April 13th at 7PM in the HCAM studio is the first opportunity and then Saturday April 16th at the Library at 11 AM; families are encouraged to bring the kids on Saturday as there will be fun activities for the children in attendance that day. The upcoming vote at ATM is a requirement of the grant application process and is intended to show community support of the design and project but will not be a commitment to fund the project at this time.
Selectman Ben Palleiko noted that the library now is much more than simply a place to check out books. It is a space that offers a much broader set of services that appeals to and welcomes all age groups. A modern library “can greatly contribute to the vitality of the town.”
Mosher added that the forum was a terrific opportunity for library proponents to articulate the library’s new mission and how the updated library can fit with other goals the town has like downtown revitalization, youth services and senior activities.
Hopkinton Library Director Rownak Hussain makes the point that library services have evolved dramatically; it is not just books anymore. “We run a broad range of services like special programming and support to use new technologies.” A modernized building will be able to adapt to future needs and support special programming and quiet library use at the same time. The library is promoting their new slogan, “Hopkinton Public Library, the heart of our community.”
Marie Eldridge—library supporter, candidate for Trustee and Building Committee Member— asserts, “The library is a place for everyone, a place for every single person in town. “ It should be a place where people gather, share and continue lifelong learning.
Also upcoming is the public forum for the Elementary School Building project following the votes at Special Town Meeting and Special Town Election that failed to secure support and funding for the project at Fruit Street that would have also facilitated districting for the elementary grades. The forum will be held April 27th at 7PM at the Hopkinton Senior Center; the public is encouraged to attend or forward any feedback to the Board of Selectmen or School Committee in advance of the meeting if unable to attend the meeting itself. Selectman Chair RJ Dourney indicated the objective of the forum should be to move forward not just highlight mistakes from the previous plan. “The burden is on us to control the process and to steer people.” Selectmen Dourney and Mosher along with School Committee members Jean Bertschmann and Nancy Burdick will work together to establish a structure for the forum to be held on the 27th.
Selectman Palleiko highlighted the complexities going forward while agreeing the needs at Center School must be addressed. He spoke to the fact that two issues are “fatally intertwined” in his estimation—the educational model needs to be set and agreed upon then there needs to be a physical plan to support the agreed upon model.
Discussion on upcoming Town Meeting articles ran roughly aground due to lack of necessary information being available to support the discussion at the meeting. Soon after discussion on the articles commenced, Dourney stated, “I am struggling with this and here’s why, the level of detail the board traditionally has to address these articles is not here. We just don’t have the data.”
Town Manager Norman Khumalo responded that background information on the articles had been sent to Board members by email after their last meeting in March. “If the Board is expecting that detail again here, it’s not in the packet.”
Clearly frustrated, Selectman Cestari said, “Of course we’re expecting it!”
The Selectmen have one more scheduled meeting on April 27th to address their recommendations on 57 remaining listed articles before ATM begins on May 2nd. They did vote last night in favor of supporting the first article, Acceptance of Town Reports. |
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"The News Starts Here!"
their parents, families and
Scout leaders to speak to their achievements and receive proclamations
from the Selectmen. Eric Beauregard installed a new fire pit and some
benches at Serenity House for the residents there to use and enjoy,
while Eric Pohl cleared trails, installed markers and directional signs
as well as put in 200 feet of fence on the Lake Whitehall conservation
property. Once again local businesses McIntyre Loam and Garner Brothers
Saw Mill were noted for their generous contributions to betterment
projects in town; both companies made donations of materials to support
the projects.
