AVON FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY RENOVATIONS & ADDITION PROJECT
BUILDING COMMITTEE MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 2, 2009
I. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:35 PM by Vice Chairperson Barbara Leonard in the Community Room in the Avon Free Public Library. Members present: Vice Chairperson Barbara Leonard, Diane Carney, Tad Kuziak, Scott Boos, Janet Stokesbury and Secretary David Goldsholl. Members absent: Diane Hornaday. Also in attendance were Assistant Town Manager Blythe Robinson, Library Director Virginia Vocelli, Assistant Library Director Donna Miller and Architect Peter Wells.
II. MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETINGS -JULY 22, 2009
Mr. Goldsholl motioned, Ms. Stokesbury seconded and all agreed to accept the July 22nd minutes as presented. None opposed.
III. COMMUNICATION FROM AUDIENCE
None.
IV. COMMUNICATION FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The Committee discussed feedback they had heard about the project since the referendum mailer had been distributed to residents by mail the week of August 24th. The consensus of the discussion was that there have not been many comments or questions about the project as a result of the mailer. Both Tad Kuziak and Scott Boos noted that neither of them had even received the mailer in their mailboxes. Ms. Vocelli asked if the tax calculator that was used in the budget referendum process earlier this year could again be put on the website by the time of the Special Town Meeting, to enable residents to calculate their individual tax impact on the project. Blythe said she would check with the Finance Department about that. Diane Carney asked if the calculation included both capital
and operating costs, to which Blythe clarified that it only covered capital costs.
V. REVIEW DRAFT TOWN MEETING PRESENTATION
The Committee then reviewed the draft power point presentation that will be made by the Building Committee at the Town Meeting. Blythe Robinson commented that the information in the mailer must be approved by the Town Attorney and found to be neutral in tone, not advocating a position to the voters. Thus the presentation did not include references to how the library would be improved by this project. Tad Kuziak commented that on several slides he believed that the points made were perhaps not ones that residents who were unenthusiastic about the presentation might be receptive to. For example, a reference to undertaking the project because we were receiving a $1.0 million grant might not be well received, i.e. spend $9.5 million to obtain $1.0 million. The Committee then discussed a number of
slides and recommended changes along these lines. The order of slides regarding the budget for the project was changed to better explain the costs. Diane Carney suggested that a slide be added to summarize the personnel and non-personnel costs so that the costs would appear more transparent. There was also some discussion about how to display the fact that in comparison to other Towns, Avon’s library is more financially efficient to operate because we utilize mostly part time employees with no benefits as opposed to others who have more full-time employees. Blythe & Ginny Vocelli were asked to research the information and if a clear comparison could be drawn then that information should be added.
Peter Wells commented that the one of the slides showing a floor plan looked distorted on the page. Several suggestions to rectify this were made including taking out the page headers so that the drawing could be enlarged. Blythe said she would have the items looked at, and perhaps Peter could work with her office to ensure they were shown correctly. Blythe asked Peter to go over what he planned for Tuthill & Wells’ presentation. He anticipated that both he and Bruce would do the presentation together, going over the features of each drawing to tell residents how the building will be modified and what the highlights are of the expanded space.
Several Committee members asked how much they could speak about the project once the referendum was set by the Town Council the following night. There seemed to be confusion about what they could say and what they could not. Blythe Robinson counseled that they could speak as individuals about the project, but should not participate in group advocacy efforts through the date of the referendum. There appeared to be a misunderstanding about this, to which Blythe said she would check with the Town Manager and get back to everyone by email the following day.
VI. OTHER BUSINESS
The Committee discussed the date of the next meeting, and decided to hold it on September 16th, the date of their next regular meeting. At that meeting the Committee will refine their presentation in preparation for the Town meeting September 21st. Blythe Robinson will be in contact with Diane Hornaday to go over the changes made this evening in preparation for the next meeting.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Kuziak motioned, Mr. Goldsholl seconded and all agreed to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 PM. None opposed.
Recorded by:
Blythe Robinson, Staff Person
David Goldsholl, Secretary
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