The town council held a special meeting on January 7, 2008 for voting whether to appropriate $20,000 from the Library Reserve Fund for an option payment for the purchase of the St. Michael’s Parish complex at 29 Young St.
The turnout was high with well over 100 in attendance. Town Councilors first presented their rationale for recommending the vote. Here’s a synopsis:
- Both the Library Site Committee and the Library Building Committee have reported to the Town Council that St. Michael’s could potentially be an appropriate site for a library
- Positive aspects of the site include its downtown location, its adjacency to Central School, and the presence of parking–all would be assets to a library but are important for the town even if it ends up that the site is not suitable for a library
- The site has potential for uses in addition to (or perhaps instead of) the library use. Additional uses that have been discussed include parking, an alternate roadway for pick-up and drop-off of students at Central School, senior housing, and a performance space
- A positive vote will allow the town to secure the option so that they can do a feasibility study on the site to determine its suitability for the library, understand the costs that would be associated with the building, and assess what other uses might be suitable
- Once the feasibility of the site is determined the Council will bring the information back to the town.
Following the Councilors’ presentation, the floor was open for questions and comments. Many attendees spoke expressing both approval and concerns regarding the plan.
Positive comments included:
- The need to move ahead on a new library since our current one is inadequate. The importance of having a library for the young people in the community
- The potential for the site to be more than a library. The ability to reroute Central School related traffic is a huge plus.
- Young St. residents spoke favorably about the presence of a library in their neighborhood
- Members of the Library Advisory Board indicated that the site meets the criteria they have identified as important for a library site.
Concerns that were expressed:
- There were many who questioned why the library funds are being tapped for this project since the site seems to be of interest to the Town Council even if it does not become the library site
- Some expressed the fear that the library funds would be lost in the event that the project goes ahead as something else. The Council assured that the money would be restored to the library fund if the purchase goes through without the library.
- Questions from attendees clarified that if the purchase does not come about at all, the $20,000 will be lost
- Several attendees spoke of the condition of the buildings on the site and wondered if the cost to renovate them for the structural and environmental needs of a library will be too expensive
- Some spoke of concerns about the total cost of the project and how it will impact tax rates
- Someone questioned whether the property is worth the $1 million price tag
- Others had questions about “other uses” and expressed questions about whether townspeople would be part of the decision making process about other uses.
When it came time for the vote, the “ayes” carried the day by a large majority.
Want more information? Here’s some:
Tax Assessment Information for 29 Young St. (put in Map 25 and Lot 25 to retrieve)
Satellite Image of 29 Young St. from Google Earth
How the local newspapers covered the meeting:
Residents OK funds for new library space at St. Michael’s Church …
Foster’s Daily Democrat, NH
S. Berwick vote gives $20K for library project
Portsmouth Herald News, NH
[...] Read a summary of the special town meeting where citizens voted to enter the purchase option on the St. Michael’s property. [...]