Library Project Advocate Gets 177 Petition Signatures

A resident trying to force a bonding issue regarding a $2.6 million project to expand the Tolland Library into the adjacent Hicks Municipal Center gymnasium has begun to chip away at his quota. 

Tolland resident Steven Jones, the Democratic Town Committee secretary, said on Sunday night that he collected 177 signatures, mostly on Saturday. 
He said that is about 35 percent of his goal of 500 and 38 percent of the 462 signatures necessary to get the issue on the ballot. 

"My hope is to get more signatures next week, all at the library with Monday - 5-ish to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday - 6:30 to 8 p.m.; Wednesday - 5:30 or 6 to 8 p.m.; Thursday - 6:30 to 8 p.m.; Friday - 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.; and Saturday - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.," he said. "All of these dates are planned to be at the library itself, but I may possibly look for somewhere else that would be a public meeting place ideal for getting a high volume of signatures." 

Jones said he decided to force the issue last week when the Town Council found itself deadlocked at 3-3 over a motion to schedule a public hearing on the library project for May 28. Council members said the issue can be revisited in two weeks when the full board is there.

Town Manager Steven Werbner said on Friday that he is consulting the town's legal staff about just what can be placed on the ballot, should Jones garner the necessary total. One complication could be the absence of a bonding resolution.

Before that, a public hearing is required to discuss the library project funding mechanism. 

Officials said grants will also be pursued to offset the borrowing.

The premise is to give the library more space for books and state-of-the-art offerings as well as creating a larger community gathering place.