School board authorizes Ossining Public Library to lead environmental review for planned capital project

The Board of Education voted April 22 to authorize the Ossining Public Library to serve as lead agency for the environmental review of a planned capital construction project, the library’s director told the board during the superintendent’s update.

Karen LaRocca Fels, director of the Ossining Public Library, said the district owns the library building and that the library needs “some critical work” including repairs to a retaining wall in the rear that is “significantly in distress,” roof and HVAC replacement, fire-safety upgrades and interior renovations to support changed library services. The building was built around 2007 and the director said libraries’ needs have evolved since then.

LaRocca Fels said the library is working with a construction manager and consultants and is considering a bond to fund the work, and that she and district staff were “aiming for September” for a bond vote. She said the library plans to hold a public informational session for community leaders on May 28 and that the library has posted information online.

Board members asked technical and oversight questions: one board member asked whether the existing roof’s 15-year useful life had been exceeded and whether the district could validate contractor choices; LaRocca Fels said the roof was a 15-year roof and had not been installed in a way that delivered its full lifespan. She said the library is working with CalG Construction and a construction manager to improve oversight. The director also identified SGH as the engineering firm working on the retaining-wall problem.

Superintendent Mary Fox Alter said having a construction manager involved from day one and bringing architects and engineers together on site is “a really good model to have” and said she and staff had attended meetings with the library’s team. Board members and library trustees at the meeting encouraged residents to attend public sessions and asked the library to provide technical presentations so board members and the public could ask questions of the engineers and project manager.

The board approved the library’s request as part of its consent agenda (resolution 5.3), which passed on a voice vote. No amendments were made during board discussion.

Several board members also raised practical concerns about parking near toddler time programs and about slopes and retaining walls in the neighborhood, and asked the library and district to coordinate on any work that could affect adjacent properties. LaRocca Fels said the library has been working on the retaining-wall issue “for a number of years” and that SGH specializes in that type of wall.

LaRocca Fels asked the board to expect additional public meetings and distributed materials; she said the library plans to post more information on its website and invites board members and community leaders to a May 28 session with architects and engineers.

Action: The board approved a resolution authorizing the Ossining Public Library to serve as lead agency for the library’s proposed capital construction project and begin required environmental review steps; the library and district staff described timing, consultants and planned public outreach.