ORANGE — The Wheeler Memorial Library got the votes it needed to pursue renovation work on its century-old frame.
Residents at a special town meeting Monday night approved all 22 articles, including one to authorize the library trustees to apply for any state money that could help defray costs to design, build and equip the renovation project at 49 East Main St., and one to authorize the library’s board of trustees to accept the schematic design for a new library.
Library Director Jessica Magelaner previously said it is vital to apply for state money as soon as possible because the grants are awarded only every six years and it appears increasingly likely they will be pushed back to eight years after this round. In 2003, the library was approved for this grant and the state was prepared to reimburse the town for 80 percent of project costs. But the project was rejected by residents. According to Magelaner, the library is likely to get 50 percent reimbursement this time, and the work has gotten more expensive over the past 13 years.
Residents also adopted 10 articles pertaining to securing easements, by purchase or as a gift, to acquire land needed to replace the Holtshire Road Bridge. Five of the easements are temporary, five are permanent.
The three-span bridge will consist of new steel beams supporting a concrete deck with asphalt pavement and will provide a 10-foot lane and a 2-foot shoulder in each direction and a single 5-foot, 6-inch sidewalk on the west side, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s website.
Residents approved 10 previous easements at a special town meeting in September. At that time, Town Administrator Diana Schindler said the $5,149,871 project is being paid for through the Franklin Transportation Improvement Program, a combination of state and federal money that comes to the region annually.
Monday’s special town meeting also included articles regarding finances. Voters opted to appropriate $40,629.97 from the Airport Revolving Fund to pay the town’s portion of a $1,792,225 federal and state grant for the Reconstruction of Taxiway Delta Project.
Residents also voted to transfer from free cash $8,498.84 to the Orange Recreation Association for recreation programs and services.