Thank you to all Millis Residents!
NEW MILLIS LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS-Updated May 4, 2010
The plan is for the proposed library to be a one-story 17,800 sq. ft. building constructed on a newsite at the corner of Exchange and Main Streets (Rte 109). The building would accommodate growing collections for children, teens, and adults as well as increased public space with comfortable seating, a larger children's area for programs and activities, a gathering space for teens, quiet study areas, a climate controlled local history room for housing the town's historic documents, expanded and technically updated computer space and a large meeting room for public and civic functions. The building would also be fully handicap accessible.
Why do we need a new library?
The current 5,400 sq. ft. library building is inadequate in both size and condition to effectively serve the community.In 1967, when the library was built, patrons used libraries primarily for checking out books. Today, with the population up nearly 50%, patrons seek not only books but also DVDs, CDs, recorded books, computers, a wireless network, and access to the Minuteman Library Network. The lack of space severely limits the size of our collections as well as the number and types of programs and meetings that we can hold. In 2009, while children's program attendance exceeded 3,200 children many more could not be accommodated because of space constraints andoccupancy restrictions. Similarly, while circulation reached over 102,000 items,the figure would likely be much higher if the size of our collections was larger and the number of residents using more modern neighboring libraries were reduced.
Many people consider a library to be the town's community center butthe cramped and non-handicap accessible space in the existing Millis library eliminates the possibility of its ever being acomfortable gathering place. A new building would provide space for community group meetings, comfortable seating arrangements, and flexible exhibit space where works of local artists of all ages might be displayed.
What is the cost of the proposed library?
The total cost of the library is estimated at $7.7M.with the cost to the Town of Millis approximately $5 Million if voters accept a State grant of $2,789,569.
The State grant lays the ground work for the Town's Master Plan which calls for locating the new Police Station at the site of the present library,rehabbing the Police Station for the Fire Department and constructing the library at the new site of Exchange and Main Streets. In 2005, the Trustees of the Library submitted an application for a construction grant to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC). The grant outlined the plans for a new structure that would meet the needs of Millis for at least 20 years. The total budget for the project includes acquisition ofthe property for the new building site, completion of the building, including interior finishing and furnishings, demolition of the old library building and preparation of the lot for the Police Station.
What does accepting the State grant involve?
What will the average homeowner pay for this project?
The Town's portion of the cost ($5M) will be financed over 20 years as debt exclusion. Using an average Millis home valuation of $365,000, the first year's tax impact will be approximately $154 per household (42 cents per day),decreasing annually over the 20-year finance period to $89 in the last year.
Why do we have to do this now?
The State grant money ($2,789.569) goes away after June 15 and there is no guarantee about one in the near future. The current construction environment is favorable for a competitive bidding processand lower costs. Continuing to pour more money into a deteriorating undersized building with failing systems is not a good return on the town's investment. The debt for the Clyde Brown School ended in 2009 so taking on the Library should have little impact for the average taxpayer.
What other options were considered?
The Library Trustees, with assistance from the Permanent Building Committee and the Finance Committee, examined options of constructing a smaller building as well as adding on to the existing building. In both cases, the Town would not be able to use the $2,789,569 State grant. As a result, a 12,000 sq.ft. building was estimated to cost the Town over $1M more than the proposed 17,800 sq ft. building. To add to the existing building would require significant expense to deal with failing HVAC and other systems, extensive roof repairs, design issues, hazardous materials remediation, and ADA compliance.
Will the new building mean additional staff and operating expenses?
No significant increases are anticipated largely because the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners has given approval for it to be a one-story building. With everything on one floor means it can be staffed with existing personnel. The new building, while larger, will be much more energy efficient than the old building and, most importantly, have none of the hefty repair costs.
We have internet access at home so why do we need a new library?
While most Millis families may have computers with Internet access a recent study by the School Department indicated that about 20% did not. The library has 7 public computers that are extensively used, as is the wireless access for patrons who use their own laptops. Rather than replace the library, computers have provided another area for the library to provide service. The library staff can be an invaluable resource to guide patrons on Internet research or direct them to other information sources.
FAQs—added
Will police, fire or any other town jobs be lost if a new library is built?
The library construction project is a debt-exclusion item, which will have no impact on police, fire or any other town department operating budgets. The only way that the library project could impact an operating budget is if the operational costs of the new library are significantly higher than current operating costs. If library operating costs were to increase, the Town would have to either trim library hours to get the budget back to the correct level or look into other areas of the library budget to cut.
There will be no override on the Spring 2010 warrant. The Town will not be hiring an open position in the fire department—however, since the position has never been filled, it is not a “cut” in services, but rather a decision not to expand services--a decision not in any way related to the library construction project. There are no plans for a cut in police staffing.
The locations of the library and the police station follow the Town's Master Plan. The State grant will pay for clearing the current library site and save tens of thousands of dollars in demo costs related to the construction of a new police station. The Chief of Police is in favor of the plan that moves the police station to the current library lot.
Are more tax dollars going to have to pay for a new Police Station? Is it some sort of package deal?
While the re-location of the library to a new site and the demolition and remediation of the old library are part of the State grant and would give the police station a clean site on which to build, there is no specific timing for a new police station. Any construction project would require Town Meeting approval.
In an
“These funds are real, they are in an account, and we[MBLC] are spending funds for projects. The Commonwealth has never failed to follow through on its commitments to communities in the Public Library Construction Program.
“The provisional grant of $2,789,569 is available to Millis when the town is ready to accept it by signing a standard grant agreement that confirms that the local share of the construction cost has been secured. The Board of Library Commissioners is prepared to issue this agreement as soon as we are informed that the local share is in place. Once that agreement is in place we will make the first 30% payment. In short, the best way to secure these funds is to move forward with the project.”