Library trustees pitch $12.4 million repair plan, candidates urge vote

Ed Baldwin, a 12-year library trustee, asked voters to back a library-repair article at town meeting, saying design and bidding came in under budget and that trustees will ask for $12,400,000 at the March meeting. "At the town meeting last year, the town voted funds for design and bidding of the repair project... at the time, we estimated the cost of construction at $14,200,000," Baldwin said, adding: "So at town meeting in a couple weeks, we will be asking for $12,400,000."

Kathleen "Kate" Daly, also a trustee, framed the work as necessary investment in an aging building and emphasized the library's role as a free community resource offering ebooks, electronic subscriptions, free Wi‑Fi and help with technology. "Our biggest issue is our infrastructure," Daly said, and she echoed Baldwin’s recommendation to vote in favor of the repair project. Both candidates said the committee has worked to control costs during design and bidding.

Some candidates and forum participants urged scrutiny of the full project cost. At the select-board portion of the forum, Kelly Collins said larger projects must be presented with "the whole picture" — including costs to move services or fit up temporary space — before being brought to town meeting, and another candidate urged more limited repairs rather than a full renovation. Those concerns did not include a formal proposal to change the library article.

If approved at town meeting, trustees said they would continue to manage construction-phase costs and transparency. The article before voters will be decided at the town meeting specified by moderators; proponents at the forum urged residents to vote on March 11 (election) and attend the spring town meeting on March 23 for the library article decision.