|
Library's Expansion | Newspaper Articles
Leominster library funding faces more hurdles
Matthew Bruun, Worcester Telegram & Gazette,
September 27, 2006
LEOMINSTER— Councilors still have questions about Mayor
Dean J. Mazzarella’s request for $1.3 million in
supplemental money to complete the renovation and expansion
of the public library.
The council did not vote on the request after a lengthy
discussion Monday night and is slated to meet again tonight
at 7:30 to continue discussion on the matter.
Council President Robert A. Salvatelli has requested another
special meeting at 7 p.m. tomorrow for a vote on the
request.
“The project will be completed,” Mr. Salvatelli said
yesterday afternoon. “But I don’t think any councilor wants
to be put into a box.”
The council president said he wasn’t sure the request would
be granted. “This thing doesn’t have the support it needs,”
he said yesterday.
The council has requested input from City Hall’s financial
team before voting on the appropriation, which was sought
because of cost overruns on the library project.
Mr. Salvatelli said councilors want to know what options are
available before borrowing the additional money.
Councilor David E. Rowlands suggested the city take money
from its stabilization fund and free cash to help pay for
the overruns rather than seeking additional bonding.
Mr. Mazzarella, who said he will talk to councilors tonight,
said there are options available. But he still needs the
council’s authorization for the full amount.
“What’s really essential is the authorization, not the
actual borrowing,” Mr. Mazzarella said yesterday. “We’re not
even sure we’ll end up borrowing $1.3 million.”
The city has yet to learn the size of its free cash account,
he said.
“I suspect we’ll borrow some of that $1.3 million, but I
can’t say what it’s going to be,” the mayor said. “I’ve said
I’m going to minimize this in every possible way I can.”
Options do not include tapping into the stabilization fund,
however, he said. The mayor said such a move would have a
negative effect on the city’s bond rating, which could
result in higher interest rate payments.
Mr. Mazzarella had requested tonight’s session for a second
reading of the proposed loan order, but the council has yet
to make the first approval.
Because tonight’s meeting was not posted to include the
first approval, Mr. Salvatelli called for the special
meeting tomorrow to take the first vote.
 |
