GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Public Library has been a talking point in this year’s election. After the City Council approved building a new library in March, a citizens petition challenging the vote successfully put it on the ballot.
With two executive orders from Mayor William Martin’s office, the library’s use has been restricted over the past two months due to safety and accessibility concerns.
If 30 percent of the building’s assessed value were to be spent on improvements, a Level III renovation scope, according to the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board, would require a “total rehab project.” Other state building code requirements may also require improvements.
“The library is valued at $723,600. Therefore, the 30 percent threshold is actually $217,080. Included in that 30 percent are all qualified expenditures we have already spent in the last three years,” Martin wrote in a memo to the City Council.
On one side of the argument, people feel the proposed library is too large for the city; on the other, there are those that feel the current plan is worth investing in.
One thing both sides can agree on — the Greenfield Fire Department needs a new building.
Here are some frequently asked questions about the library ballot question.
What is the ballot question? “Shall the following measure, which was proposed to be rescinded by voters in a citizens referendum petition, take effect?”
Summary
Upon recommendation of the Mayor, that the sum of $19,541,296 be appropriated for the construction of a new public library, and to meet said appropriation, the treasurer with the approval of the Mayor, is hereby authorized to borrow said sum of $19,541,296, pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 7 (3) or any other enabling statute, and the Mayor is hereby authorized to apply for, contract for, accept and expend any federal and/or state grants available for this project to be used to reduce the within appropriation, and further, the Mayor is authorized to take any action necessary to carry out the intent and purpose of these projects.
A yes vote would uphold the City Council vote above and allow funding for a new public library.
A no vote would rescind the City Council vote and not allow funding for a new public library.
How much does it cost? The estimated library cost is $19.5 million. The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners awarded a $9,378,183 grant. The Greenfield Public Library Foundation began fundraising for the project and raised about $800,000 in donations and pledges — with a $2 million goal — but fundraising stopped once the library was put on the ballot, according to Ed Berlin, chair of the Building Committee and vice chair of the Greenfield Public Library board of trustees. Berlin added that the Foundation will proceed with the fundraising if the ballot question passes on Tuesday and expects that it will meet their fundraising goal of $2 million.
On the grant application, the listed $20.9 million in projected costs for the library submitted in January 2017, was reduced at the mayor’s request, and the City Council approved $19.5 million in March.
“The bond authorized is for $19.5 million — that is the most the city will have to spend on the library,” Berlin said. “The building committee and project manager will have to work within those means.”
How big will it be? Where will it be? The current library plan is for a building that is 26,800 square feet. The current library is 15,000 square feet. The new library will be built on land the city owns on Main Street, between the current library and the post office.
How if it will affect your taxes if it passes? Berlin said taxpayers would not have to pay anything from the city budget until 2024 if the library is approved. If the new library is not approved, the process would be accelerated because of the need to bring the building up to code. According to Martin, the debt incurred regardless of whether the library is approved or not would be replacing old debt.
What happens if it passes? According to Berlin, the groundbreaking would be in spring 2021 with a completion date estimated in 2022.
What happens if it doesn’t pass? The $9,378,183 provisional construction grant to the Greenfield Public Library from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners in July 2018 would have to be returned with any accrued interest, according to Martin.
The Greenfield Public Library Foundation has about $800,000 in pledges and donations. Pledges would need to be returned, and donations would need to be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Martin said a financial order would go before the Greenfield City Council in November if the ballot question fails.
“My office has prepared financial orders to do further engineering studies on the continued use of the library,” Martin said. He added that financial requests for either outcome have been submitted to the City Council.
How close is the city to the $217,080 threshold? The city is “at about $60,000 to $70,000 spent,” Martin said. “If the question fails, the city needs money for engineering.” Martin said expenditures on engineering studies, repairs, replacement and updating to code count as qualified expenditures. But replacing a book or shelves, for example, would not be considered qualified expenditures.
Where will the fire station go? Martin said following the election, the planning process for the proposed location on Beacon and Riddell streets would continue.
The Fire Department plans could have been finished, but the City Council voted to wait.
According to May 22 City Council meeting minutes, a “$550,000 appropriation to hire the architect and engineering firms to develop the plans for a new fire station was tabled.”
“A suggestion was made to wait until after the library vote in November. On a motion by At-Large City Councilor Isaac Mass, second by Councilor Otis Wheeler, it was approved by a majority, with four opposed,” according to the minutes.
Martin said he is “hopeful the City Council would take the appropriation from the table and vote on it,” so the planning process for the Fire Department could resume.