Thank you for taking the time to respond. Your answer regarding the importance of having a larger…Read More meeting space at the library makes sense. I have long felt that our library was inadequate and an expansion makes more sense than a new building. I am concerned, though, whether this is the right time for us to be taking on new debt when we can't properly fund our schools. I hope more detailed information will be available soon. Thank you again.

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Kate Farrish May 24, 2013 at 01:11 pm

These are good questions. We're gathering more information to have available for Tuesday's council…Read More meeting, so we can answer questions 1 and 3 then (if not before). As to question 2, I know the many grants that the Friends of the Library and the Tolland Public Library Foundation give to the library must be used to benefit the library (for example, under conditions of the bequest the Foundation received a few years ago). While there is arguably space in other buildings, these grants must be used in most cases to support programs held at the library. Due to space limitations at the library, the Foundation has in a pinch held programs at the high school and senior center, but we don't like to do that because one aim of the events is to have more people come to and use the town library. Thank you for your questions and interest in the project, Kate Farrish Secretary, Tolland Public Library Foundation

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q May 24, 2013 at 10:28 am

1)Again, we see "minimal impact" on taxes. If no grants are received, what would the…Read More actual cost be per year for taxpayers and how long would we be paying for the expansion? We are still paying on several other large projects for which millions were borrowed. The project sounds great, but annual cost is an important factor. Our schools and town services are not currently being adequately funded, so I am concerned about obligating taxpayers to a new expense which could take more away from schools and town services in future budgets. 2)Lack of space for large meetings is one of the reasons given for expanding the library. Could space in the existing schools be used for large meetings? How about space at Parker School which is now housing rec programs? 3) Would the $400,000 grant for an accessible elevator still be available if only that project is done at this time?

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q May 21, 2013 at 01:25 pm

"Minimal impact" means some. Retiring debts over the next few years is a good thing and…Read More doesn't mean you should borrow more. Perhaps when those debts are paid off there will be a little more money available to meet the basic needs of the schools and the town departments. As wonderful as the expansion sounds, it is not an immediate need - it is a "want". We know the potential benefits of the expansion. Please give specifics as to the cost per taxpayer per year and for how long to pay off this specific project. Thank you.

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Betty-Lou Griffin May 21, 2013 at 11:48 am

The "complete reworking of the library" only included HVAC renovations being done on the…Read More whole building, repair of the leaking roof and skylight that was ruining the library, and replacement of the circulation desk. No space was added. I am glad to hear that you recognize the benefits of expanded library space. Town Manager Steven Werbner has indicated that Tolland will be retiring several debts over the next several years, and this expansion would therefore have minimal impact on Tolland's debt burden or tax level. If we wait, multiple existing grant opportunities may disappear. Let's NOT wait another decade to address this problem. Let's at least send it to public hearing and referendum so that we can have a sincere and wide-reaching community discussion on this important issue, and allow our citizens the OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE.

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q May 21, 2013 at 09:33 am

Love the idea of an expanded library space, but is the time really now? We couldn't even afford to…Read More fully fund our school and town budgets for next year. We will be experiencing a lower quality of education and reduced town services and until we can bring that back up to par we should not be taking on new debt. Just a quick look at next year's budget shows we are still paying on the new High School, the Geothermal project, bonding for roads improvement, sewers, open space bonds, Cross Farms development, the new Library roof, and now the artificial turf/lights project at THS. Even if some grants are available to help with the cost, the Library Expansion Project will add more debt for the town (taxpayers). Is this really the time to do that?

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q May 21, 2013 at 10:10 am

Love the idea of an expanded library, but we saw with this latest school/town budget that this town…Read More cannot afford to maintain the level of education and town services we now have. How much will this library extension cost per year per taxpayer? Perhaps we should pay off some of our existing debt (including all the new debt incurred in just the past 3 years) before taking on new. Also, you mention the need for quiet tutoring rooms. Are these paid tutors you're referring to? If so, will they be charged rental fees for using the spaces paid for by the taxpayers? Aren't there spaces available at the new Rec Center at Parker? How about space at the schools? With fewer teachers and fewer students there are now empty classrooms.

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