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Library's Expansion | Newspaper Articles
Library loan on docket tonight
Marisa Donelan, Sentinel & Enterprise, September 27,
2006
LEOMINSTER -- The City Council, Mayor Dean Mazzarella
and other city officials will meet tonight at 7:30 p.m. in
City Hall to further discuss a $1.3 million loan order to
pay for additional costs of building the new library, as
well as any other financial options.
They will also meet at 6:55 p.m. Thursday in City Hall to
vote on the loan order request, Ward 4 Councilor and City
Council President Robert Salvatelli said Tuesday.
The council on Monday delayed voting on the loan, which
Mazzarella had requested, after a lengthy discussion.
Ward 1 City Councilor David Rowlands suggested during
Monday's meeting that officials use money from the city's
stabilization account to help cover for the increased costs.
But Ward 3 City Councilor Claire Freda said Tuesday that
city officials cannot take money from the stabilization
account unless the mayor authorizes it.
"It's supposed to be there for an emergency," she said.
"It's got to be on the mayor's request that we do that.
Could we push him to do that? Certainly. Do we want to? I
think there has to be a good reason he asked for a loan
order instead."
Salvatelli said Tuesday he hopes officials are able to
resolve the issue, and that taxpayers do not view the
additional expense as a waste of their money.
"I believe that we need to do more with the public in terms
of educating people as to what this facility is going to do
for them," he said. "This is going to be a state-of-the-art
facility. There is a false perception out there because we
have the Internet that all education ends there ... But we
need the books, we need the personal touch, and we need the
direction."
Also Monday, city councilors voted unanimously to approve
amendments to city laws regarding parking violation fines,
Salvatelli said.
If the law is not appealed, meter time-out violations will
increase from $5 to $10. The fine for blocking a wheelchair
ramp will increase from $25 to $100, among other fine
changes.
Councilors also voted unanimously to let existing in-law
apartments attached to homes exceed the Zoning Board of
Appeals' 700-square-foot maximum, provided the homeowner can
show written proof of the additions' building dates,
Salvatelli said.
They tabled discussions about purchasing Julie Country Day
School to wait until they know how much the property will
cost, he said.
Councilors also decided to hold a joint meeting with the
legal affairs subcommittee, the Planning Board, the Building
Inspector and the ZBA to discuss a request from developer
James S. Whitney to accept a new state law making the
building permit process easier, Salvatelli said.
"That could be quite a controversial discussion, because
it's a very, very complex issue," he said.
Salvatelli said officials are looking to hold that meeting
on Oct. 12, but the date is not yet finalized.
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