Chester Library Building Committee
Special Meeting, June 24, 2015
Page 1 of 2
1. Call to Order
The Chester Library Building Committee held a special meeting on Wednesday, June 24, 2015, at the Chester Town Hall, 203 Middlesex Avenue, Chester, Connecticut. In attendance were Denny Tovey, Steven Tiezzi, Chuck Mueller, Lois Nadel, Bob Gorman, Doreen Joslow, Terry Schreiber, Pat Holloway, Linda Fox, Ed Meehan and Peter Harding. Drayton Fair from LLB was also present. Chairman Tovey called the meeting to order at 7:04 PM.
2. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
Motion by Holloway, second by Schreiber, to approve June 3, 2015 Minutes as written. Unanimously approved with Nadel and Joslow abstaining.
3. Presentation and Discussion of Project Costs
Drayton Fair noted when the Committee last met 3 schemes had been decided on. Tonight’s meeting is to look at one versus the other. Cost estimates have been done for all versions. The parameters had also been changed. It is now the entire Master Plan site including drainage, parking lot, relocating ball fields and play scape. The limits of the site are the tree lines.
Drayton reviewed the pros and cons for the following options –
1. A 2 story library building with strong presence on Main Street, 8,114 square feet. Building cost $4,247,841; site cost $2,063,758; total cost $6,311,599.
2. A 1 story library building pulled off Main Street to reduce grade impacts to the site, 7,156 square feet. Building cost $3,296,703; Site $2,007,563; Total $5,304,266.
3. A library building centrally located in the Park and aligned with the trolley trail, 8,381 square feet. This option is more expensive due to bringing parking into the front, the retaining wall, clearing required for the building, and additional site work. Building cost $3,661,826; site cost $2,226,316; total cost $5,888,142.
4. The 4th option orients a 1 story building differently, 7,156 square feet. There will be more clearing with this option. Building cost $3,296,703; site cost $2,007,563; total cost $5,304,266.
Discussion ensued regarding the above noted options.
Motion made and seconded to eliminate the 1 story option locating the library back into the park. Unanimously Approved.
Motion made and seconded to eliminate the 2 story option of the building near the road. Approved with Joslow and Tovey voting in opposition.
There was a brief discussion regarding the financial part of this project, when to go back to the Board of Finance, getting a budget, and scheduling of a referendum.
Chairman Tovey asked Drayton Fair to forward him the final cost estimate for the option chosen. He will then forward it on to the Committee members.
4. New Business – none.
5. Audience of Citizens – none.
6. Adjournment
Motion by Gorman, second by Joslow, to adjourn at 8:45 PM. Unanimously Approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Judith R. Brown, Recording Secretary