GREENFIELD — Former Town Council president and School Committee chairman, Tim Farrell has made his pitch, in words, and his commitment, in money, toward a new public library.
With less than a week before the Wednesday vote on whether the City Council wants to agree to borrow about $10 million toward a new public library, Farrell wrote an open letter to the council.
“While I am no longer an elected official in Greenfield, I do want to do my part to support this project over and above the property taxes I pay yearly,” wrote Farrell, who spent nearly two decades in local government. “As a gesture of commitment to Greenfield, Bob Gilmore and I, though our business Gilmore & Farrell Insurance, pledge $25,000 to this project. We support the new library project and ask that the council do the same next Wednesday.”
The Friends of the Greenfield Public Library are currently fundraising about $2 million toward paying for the $19.5 million library for which the state has awarded about $9.4 million. Other local businessmen like Joseph Ruggeri have publicly committed to donating money toward a new library.
A main question around the project, which has divided members on the council and has led to a powerful grassroots campaign by the supporters of the library, is whether it’s financially responsible for the city to take on an infrastructure project like this, especially when it also means a new fire station will have to be built as well.
“Some will say my vision for Greenfield comes with a cost, a cost we cannot afford,” Farrell wrote to the council. “My view is that if all we do is cut budgets and ignore most capital spending, in the long run, it will hurt Greenfield far more than it helps.”
Farrell, who most recently served on the Greenfield School Committee until 2017, said a core issue the city faces is attracting more home buyers. “That will increase the value of most citizens greatest asset, our homes, as well as adding local consumers to support local business,” he said.
With new homeowners, school enrollment can go up. “We need to show people outside of Greenfield and especially ourselves that we are committed to properly funding schools, public safety, and other town services,” he added.
The president of Gilmore & Farrell Insurance Agency said Greenfield also needs to bring in new business. “To do this we must make sure the employees of these businesses have strong services from our town and a high quality of life. This is what business looks for in a community far more so than the tax rate.”
Without investing in a project like a library, “does nothing to change our path for the better,” Farrell said, noting increased property taxes.
“Slashing spending alone has proven to be short sighted,” Farrell said. “Big moves make winning teams, businesses and communities. We can afford this big move. Vote yes and send a message of renewed commitment to Greenfield. Bring confidence back to Greenfield.”
You can reach Joshua Solomon at:
jsolomon@recorder.com
413-772-0261, ext. 264