Statement re library at 12/4 Town Board work session

It is now two years since the deal was made to move the library to the Park and we don't yet have a final resolution for the site location, let alone be anywhere close to breaking ground.

The proposed move would have tremendous impacts on the town and certainly on the hamlet of South Salem, and yet there has been no attempt to solicit public comment.

Though the library is operated as an independent entity, the majority of the funding of course comes from town taxes. Significant funds have already been spent. The details of the financial arrangements for the project have been reported to some extent I believe, but are not readily available for the public to review on either the town or library websites as far as I can see. As I understand those, the town has committed to cover some portion of construction overruns. We need to know the magnitude of our exposure, particularly in today's climate.

There is, and always has been, a less costly alternative to the Town Park - expansion at the original site. That alternative was shelved not because of irreconcilable technical obstacles, but due to human factors. It is quite possible that the passage of time may have mitigated those factors and this effective option may be pursued.

We need to know more, but from what I do know, it seems clear to me that keeping the library in South Salem hamlet is the most cost effective path to expansion. Moving it to the park will be costly and is contrary to the hamlet-centered planning philosophy set out in the town Master Plan and to the great preponderance of opinion on modern town planning.

I believe the Town Board therefore has a duty to take up discussion of the current status of the project, review the arrangements and financials, and facilitate a forum to collect resident input, and so I propose that these things be put on the agenda.