DEERFIELD — Residents approved borrowing money for Tilton Library’s expansion and amended town sewer bylaws in a well-attended Special Town Meeting Monday night.
More than 370 voters packed into the Frontier Regional School auditorium where they approved the next step in Tilton Library’s expansion project, which will now go to a special election for a debt exclusion vote in early December. Residents also approved modernized amendments to the town’s sewer bylaws, among other articles.
Nearly half of the three-hour meeting was dedicated to discussing Tilton Library’s expansion project, which was brought to Town Meeting voters to authorize the appropriation of $12.3 million — although the actual amount borrowed will most likely be in the $5.26 million to $6.26 million range. The library received a $4 million grant through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners in July that must be matched for the town to retain it.
“This is a unique situation,” Library Director Candace Bradbury-Carlin said to meeting attendees. “This is not something to be passed up. If we do pass this up, I don’t know if we will be given this opportunity again.”
On top of the grant, the library aims to raise $2 million, town officials have indicated they may ask residents to vote $1 million in Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding at a future date, and the building will secure $100,000 through LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) environmental certification. With those sources of funding, the low loan estimate is nearly $5.26 million while the high loan estimate is nearly $6.26 million.
The town has also put out a request for additional American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money to support Tilton and other library projects across the state. If that request is granted, the loan amount would also be decreased depending on the amount received.
The Finance Committee had previously voted against recommending the library article, but changed its vote at its Oct. 21 meeting, with Chair Julie Chalfant stating a majority of committee members believe the benefits of the project outweigh the costs.
Voters spoke passionately about the library, citing its role in helping educate residents of all ages, while also providing a refuge for kids in town who need the extra support.
“I grew up as a needy kid in town and I know for a fact there are very few places here where needy kids can go,” said Devin Thompson, who now works at Frontier. “Even if I never go to the library myself, I know for a fact it’ll be the best thing I can do with my money, to give back to the community and directly to the needy kids in that community.”
Other voters said the library project is proposed in good faith and would be a benefit to the town, but with the economic outlook and current inflation rates, it isn’t the time to undertake a huge project.
“There’s too many ‘maybes’ for my support, especially knowing the additional proposals in the future,” Bruce St. Peters said of the potential funding streams for the library. “With the economy we’ve got going on now, I find it hard to support, even with the fantastic possibility.”
Ownership of the library was also brought up and Town Counsel Lisa Mead reiterated her 2019 opinion that the library is owned by the “inhabitants of Deerfield.”
As discussion continued, a secret ballot was proposed, but was shot down by residents. With a regular vote, the article was approved with the necessary two-thirds majority. After the meeting, Town Moderator Dan Graves did not disclose the number of votes for or against the article.
Library advocates asked residents to vote for the article on Monday night, which would then give the library and the town at least an extra month before a special election to seek additional funding and support for the project. This two-step process, town officials explained, would allow voters to vote against the debt exclusion if they felt it was still too expensive, meaning the borrowing approved Monday would not happen.
The Selectboard was expected to decide on a date for the debt exclusion vote on Tuesday, though town officials have said in the past it will most likely be held on Dec. 6. While the Town Meeting vote required a two-thirds majority to pass, a debt exclusion needs only a simple majority.
Residents also approved amendments to the Acts of 1935 and implemented a more thorough set of bylaws.
The amendment to the Acts of 1935, which originally authorized Deerfield to construct and operate a sewer system, changed the payment percentages for capital projects, while also putting sewer bylaws under the authority of the Selectboard, which also acts as the Sewer Commission.
While the act previously allowed up to 66% of a sewer project to be paid for by taxpayers, the town has historically funded projects in a 25-75% split, with sewer users paying for three-quarters of a project and tax dollars making up the rest. The amended bylaw strikes the 66% cap and replaces it with a maximum payment cap of 25%, which Selectboard member Tim Hilchey said will “protect sewer users and private septic users to future costs.”
Hilchey explained the Selectboard was laying down the groundwork for future sewer projects, such as potential work on the Old Deerfield Wastewater Treatment Plant, before any sort of emergency repairs may be needed.
“It would be better for all parties to start sooner rather than later,” Hilchey said. “This plant might work fine for the next five or 10 years. … Really, its (the bylaw) to protect the residents.”
Residents expressed support for the 25-75% payment split that the town has used historically. Selectboard Chair Trevor McDaniel said taxpayers have always accepted that some of their money will be used to support sewer infrastructure, even if they are on septic systems, because it draws business and industry to town.
“There is some buy-in,” McDaniel said. “There is some participation the townspeople should have and it’s up to us to make that case down the road.”
A drawn-out discussion on the article brought forth motions to table it, as well as to amend it, but both of those were voted down. The sewer bylaw changes passed with a majority vote.
All 18 articles on the warrant — with the exception of Article 8, which sought funding for a Subsidized Senior Housing Feasibility Study and was ultimately passed over — were approved. Articles that were approved include:
■A land swap with Hamshaw Lumber, as well as the purchase of a lot at 14 Elm St.
■A Tax Incentive Financing (TIF) agreement with NUPRO LLC, which has purchased the old Oxford Pickle Factory and is building a new headquarters on the lot.
■Appropriating $150,000 for repairs to the South Deerfield Congregational Church, which is being eyed as a long-term home for the South County Senior Center.
The full Special Town Meeting warrant, with explanations on the articles and library debt, can be viewed at bit.ly/3TS5Tib.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.