SHUTESBURY - Plans for a new library here took a major step forward Saturday, as Town Meeting voters overwhelmingly approved a proposal to have the town apply for a grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners that would cover 60 percent of the proposed library's cost.
Voters debated the Library Facility Needs Assessment Committee's proposal for approximately half an hour before approving the plan by a 163-20 margin in a ballot vote. The result means Shutesbury voters have now officially approved the library-building project.
Mary Ann Antonellis, library director, noted in her presentation to voters that Shutesbury has the eighth-highest circulation among libraries of its size in the state, but ranks 55th in terms of library holdings.
"We're seeing a 35 percent increase in circulation over the past two years," Antonellis said, explaining the need for a new library.
The library is estimated to cost $3.2 million, with the town paying a $1.3 million share. The Town Meeting vote does not oblige the town to fund the project at this point, town officials said. Voters will have to decide if they want to finance the project after the state board makes a decision regarding Shutesbury's grant application.
The grant application is due in January 2011; the award announcement will be made in July 2011.
Other action
Voters also approved a $5.5 million budget. a 1.6 percent increase over the current fiscal year, a proposal to enter joint discussions with other area towns regarding the creation of broadband Internet service, and a bylaw that will fine individuals who violate burning permit regulations up to $500.
The approved budget contains $25,000 to pay for the cleanup of soil contaminated by a leak from an underground gas tank near the fire station.
A proposal to purchase a new dump truck for the Highway Department was the other warrant article to create significant debate.
Highway Superintendent Tim Hunting proposed purchasing a new one-ton dump truck for the department, but voters ultimately decided not to buy the vehicle at the recommendation of the Finance and Capital Planning committees.
Both cited financial reasons as the primary cause of their opposition.
Still, it was the library that dominated much of the debate at the five-hour town meeting. Indeed, the vast majority of the nearly 200 voters gathered left following the library debate, leaving only a few dozen to discuss issues like the budget.
Walter Tibbetts, Shutesbury fire chief, voiced support for the library project, but also expressed concern with the committee's debt service projections, which showed the amount falling dramatically as a result of the town's loan payments for the school coming to a close in fiscal year 2013.
Yet the committee projections do not include other major projects the town will need to borrow to pay for in coming years, Tibbetts said.
"I just want people to realize we have to do the roof (of the elementary school), soil contamination (at the fire department) and there is a new fire truck on the replacement schedule," Tibbetts said.
Bob Groves expressed outright opposition to the library project. He pointed to falling enrollment at the elementary school, arguing that the building was underutilized and could be equipped to house the town's library operations. "It is an unrealistic project," Groves said, drawing scattered applause from the crowd.
The biggest applause on the day, however, went to Eric Stocker, a former selectman who resigned from his position on the board after suffering a stroke late last year. Like Tibbetts, Stocker offered slight criticism of the library committee's debt service projections, but he ultimately argued that he was 100 percent behind the library project.
He noted that the $100 million bond the state has appropriated for library construction statewide will not be available to Shutesbury indefinitely.
"If we don't do this today, and put gum on the library steps or do whatever to keep it going, there is no guarantee that the state will have any money in the future to give to the library," Stocker said to sustained applause.
The applause reached greater heights soon thereafter, as Finance Chairman Patrick J. Callahan paid tribute to Stocker's contributions to Shutesbury.
"It is because of Eric's work and the work of others that has left this town in good financial shape and able to pay for this project," Callahan said.
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