ERVING — Voters passed a budget of roughly $9.7 million on Monday night and agreed to take the next steps to seek state funding for a new library.
Residents gathered at Erving Elementary School at the annual town meeting and approved the budget, which increased about 7 percent from last year.
Voters also authorized the Erving Public Library’s Board of Trustees to accept a schematic design for the new library proposed to be constructed on town-owned property at 34 Northfield Road.
A grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners could fund up to 50 percent of the project. The total cost of the project has not been firmed up, but it will be more than $1 million, said Library Director Barbara Friedman.
Dan Pallotta, the town’s project manager for the library project and the Library Feasibility Committee, came to the meeting to answer questions about the proposed library project. Pallotta said that applying for the grant is only the first step in the process.
Phil O’Brien, an architect at the firm of Johnson/Roberts Associates, brought the schematic design to the meeting for residents to view before casting their votes.
Residents also agreed to set aside $30,000 to put into a trust fund for the proposed library. If the town decides not to move forward with the project, these funds would be used for upgrades to the current library.
The potential impact of the proposed budget would add about $72 to the tax bill for the average assessed home of about $150,000. Commercial properties would see an increase of $78 per $100,000 of assessed value, said Assistant Assessor Jacquelyn Boyden.
Voters agreed to allocate $15,000 for the resurfacing of the tennis courts at Veterans Field and $5,000 for new roofs on the bath house and shed building at Zilinski Field.
Voters passed the total education budget of about $5 million, representing an increase of about $601,380.
The town approved $544,653 for the 32 students from Erving attending Franklin County Technical School.
Residents voted to set aside $75,000 for new sewer pumps.
Residents voted against an article to change the town treasurer position to be appointed rather than elected.
You can reach Lisa Spear at: lspear@recorder.com or
413-772-0261, ext. 280