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Library's Expansion | Newspaper Articles
Council questions some of library's 'must-have' list
J.J. Huggins, Sentinel & Enterprise, October 6, 2006
LEOMINSTER -- City councilors Thursday night questioned why
the new library needs some of the appliances on the
project's "must have" list.
"Why do they need four refrigerators and three microwaves?"
at Large City Councilor Dennis Rosa asked during the
council's finance subcommittee meeting at City Hall.
"Beats the hell out of me," replied at-large Councilor John
Dombrowski.
No library officials attended the subcommittee meeting,
which lasted about 15 minutes.
Library officials have previously said they plan to pay for
furnishings and other items inside the new building with
private donations.
Rosa, the chairman of the subcommittee, said he will ask
library officials about the appliances when the council
holds a public hearing regarding the library Tuesday night.
The new library is under construction and is supposed to
open in the spring.
The city councilors discussed it Thursday night because
Mayor Dean J. Mazzarella has asked them to appropriate an
additional $1.3 million to pay for unexpected building
costs.
The council already voted 7-2 last month to initially
approve the $1.3 million allocation and a loan to cover it.
Rosa and Ward 5 City Councilor Richard Marchand cast the
opposing votes.
Rosa explained Thursday night he did not vote against the
spending because he opposes the library.
"We all support the library. It's a matter of how we'll fund
it," he said.
Although the council already voted in favor of the spending,
they must vote on it a second time to officially approve it.
They are scheduled to vote again Tuesday night.
Dombrowksi, during Thursday night's meeting, asked his
fellow councilors if they had seen the building plan for the
library.
City Council President Robert Salvatelli handed him a copy.
"I heard there are 12 bathrooms," Dombrowski said,
explaining why he wanted to see the plans.
"There are," replied at Large Councilor James J. Lanciani
Jr., who was one of several councilors who recently toured
the building.
Dombrowski did not attend the tour.
Lanciani said the building needs so many bathrooms because
it is designed to have lavatories in the children's area for
safety reasons.
The children's' bathrooms will keep youngsters from having
to walk to other parts of the building to use the
facilities, Lanciani said.
Plus, the new library has staff bathrooms and other
bathrooms for the general public, he said.
Ward 2 Councilor Wayne Nickel mentioned the number of
bathrooms may also be required by building regulations.
The library spending created controversy last month because
residents complained they don't want their property taxes to
rise.
Mayor Dean J. Mazzarella previously said $14 is the most the
$1.3 million appropriation will cost the average
single-family homeowner within the first year.
But he said he plans to put free cash toward the $1.3
million in order to ease the burden on taxpayers.
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