Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Library Project topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council endorses architect for new library site and discusses town office space within project
Summary
The council recommended an architect for the new library and discussed using part of the building for town offices; staff said about 5,000 sq ft could be allocated to town offices with the library occupying roughly 25,000 sq ft and some state reimbursement expected for library construction.
The Town Council approved a recommendation from the library building committee to hire Odin's Architecture to design the renovated library at 110 Enterprise Center. The Town Administrator and the library committee said Odin's was selected from six proposals and that construction-manager selection is underway.
Town Administrator Sean Collins told the council the library building will include space for town offices; staff estimated roughly 5,000 square feet for town functions and about 25,000 square feet for the library. Collins said the architect contract and cost accounting will separate town-office design and costs from reimbursable library elements because the state library fund will reimburse only library-eligible costs. The town administrator said the library board may already have approved a recommendation earlier in the day.
Councilors discussed the original intent when the building was purchased, and several said the parcel was bought for the library but town staff explained the idea to use a portion for town office functions developed during negotiations and planning. Staff said allocating some town office space reduces future operating costs and avoids renovating a separate property across a highway that the town had earlier considered for overflow space.
The council approved the architect contract and authorized the town administrator to execute the agreement; the council also discussed scheduling training for new board members and coordinating project meetings. The town's projected all-in budget for the library project was discussed in general terms and the town administrator said funding plans will include bond proceeds and that the fund balance will cover invoices prior to bond issuance.
