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General News: Library Referendum Discussion
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| Photo by Emma Friedrich. Library Discussion |
January 28, 2015
Cornwall Public Library Referendum Discussion
By Emma Friedrich
Cornwall NY - On Wednesday, January 28th, the Board of Trustees of the Cornwall Public Library held a Community Discussion within the Library’s Community room. Tom Weddell, CPA, a partner in the firm Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGiovanni & Weddell, and a local of Cornwall, mediated the discussion.
The discussion allowed the community to explain why a Library Bond Referendum held on November 18th, 2014, failed to pass. The Bond was to give the Library $3.68 million for repairs, renovations, and expansions. The bond would be paid by the Taxpayers over a span of 20 years. It was voted down; 529 opposed, and 514 in favor.
The community room was filled with concerned Cornwall locals, with prepared notes and questions. Once Tom Weddell handed floor to the Community, nearly everyone’s hand went up. The opinions were surprisingly unanimous. It was agreed that $3.68 million was too much money for repairs, renovations, expansions in this economy. Furthermore, if repairs are needed, the Bond Referendum should have been divided into repairs in one, and expansion and renovations in the other.
The question was then brought up, “What repairs are actually needed?” According to the Board, the 15 year old Library needs a new roof, new windows, and a sprinkler safety system. This is all needed because the Architect hired to build the Library built it incorrectly.
The lack of a sprinkler safety system is against New York State Building Codes, and was also illegal 15 years ago when the Library was being built.
Susanne Vondrak, President of the Board, stated that the Library looked into pursuing the Architect, but their lawyers had said that because the architect is now out of business, and is no longer certified, it would cost more money to pursue than the Library would receive in reparation.
By the end of the night it was agreed that the Library needs to separate the Referendum into two parts, a Bond for repairs, and another bond for expansion and vanity improvements.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns about the Library’s next step to improvement Email the Board at [email protected], or attend a board meeting that is held every second Tuesday at 7:00pm in the Library’s Community Room.
Comments:
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The lack of a sprinkler safety system is against New York State Building Codes, and was also illegal 15 years ago when the Library was being built. So the question has to be asked how did the building ever open if it was clearly not legal according to code?
posted by Philip Connolly on 02/03/15 at 6:44 PM
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