Yes the Town of Atkison has been discussing building a new library for over 7 years. Initially the library trustees were asked to wait because the old fire station was literally falling down, and needed to be replaced. well we only have a couple of years to go on that bond and it is time to seriously look at a new library.
Last years offer was way too expensive for what you got. $3.2Million is a lot of money. So this year the trustees took the approach they should have taken initially, and that was to set up a task force to study the issue and come up with a plan that would pass on election day.
This blog would like to say thank you to those who volunteered their time to iron out these problems; Kevin Langlois, Brian Boyle, Peter Lewis, Ron LaMarre, Sue Copetta, Roxanne Fuerr, Eleanor Fuerr, we know there are others we have missed and we thank them as well. Obviously bringing builders in to give their input helped in finding cost reductions, while maintaining usability.
This is a good plan at a decent enough price and we hope the voters will finally pass it. The current library was built in 1974 as an addition on to the Kimball House. Prior to that the library was a the two front rooms in the kimball house. The library had a $28,000 construction budget, and they couldn't find anyone to do it for that price. The Lewis' offerred to come in and do it, and they basically built one of their ranch style homes adjacent to the side of the kimball house. This arragement has lasted for 33 years, but has now outlived it's usefullness.
Tha time has come to replace it and we need to take advantage of it.
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ATKINSON's Vietnam HONOR ROLL as VOTED and PASSED by 2005 Town Meeting and re-approved at Special Town Meeting Sept. 12
EDITORIAL-
A voice of compassion, an example of fairness and reasonable government.
One who believes in the strength and comfort you, your children and your family can draw from good government leadership.
A person who knows Atkinson is our home -- our most important possession that must be preserved and protected through fair taxes and sound community planning and where our children must be safe to grow to become a new generation of leaders.
One who knows that the citizens of Atkinson are all neighbors with her leadership to be dedicated and responsive to all.
One who believes that when those from Atkinson have served our nation and honors are deserved, those honors must be given.
In Valerie Tobin, we now have a leader we know we can entrust with these responsibilities because they are part of her character.
It is our honor to endorse Valerie for election to Atkinson’s Board of Selectmen.
Just a note for those who wish to count the deer.
In January 08 this blog had 16,000 hits and 1,500 unique visitors (for the month).
In 2007 this blog had over 100,000 hits and 5,750 unique visitors (for the year).
In 2007 this blog had over 100,000 hits and 5,750 unique visitors (for the year).
EDITORIAL-
"I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense . . ." [TP, 1776]
We take no small measure of umbrage at such a hostile official act against this BLOG’s patron. Therefore, a timely Editorial comment is both appropriate and necessary.
Discussion of Atkinson’s financial direction, from any viewpoint, is fundamental and encouraged and we will always attempt to limit and correct errors.
However, Righteous indignation towards purported error of such inconsequential nature is not appropriate.
The ENTIRE car deal is problematic. If it was caused by poor judgement, improper exercise of authority, neglect or mistake or even specious reasoning, this will never trump the facts that the entire questionable transaction started and ended within a very small circle of confidants.
We find the entire circumstances surrounding the disposition of the police Cruiser highly irregular at the least and the "explanations" somewhat trifling and exhaustive of our intellect.
Mr. Consentino: It’s time to go. Being Chief of Atkinson’s Police Department is NOT a birthright. That is a fabled legend of yesteryear.
Historically in Atkinson, police chief appointments were made "under the hand of the selectmen" for terms of one year at a time, as was also the case in the beginning of Mr. Consentino’s assorted and discontinuous stream of appointments to this position.
Your only remaining credential established on a claim of indispensability has faded.
So time is neigh. Plan a graceful exit, Clean out your desk, Accept the gratitude and tearful sentiments from some. We plan no editorial recriminations. It is time. Thank you for your service, We wish you a long and happy retirement. Bon Voyage.
LETTER
"To All Atkinson Residents,
I am writing to ask for your help. A member of the Atkinson Police Department needs our help. I am here to ask for your help in Corporal John Lapham's fight for his life. As you are aware, John has been diagnosed with Leukemia. He has been once again hospitalized with an infection that is threatening his life. He is one of the bravest people that I have ever met. He has never asked of anything from the residents of the town. Now is our chance to step up and help both him and his family out. As everyone is aware John has been out of work for a few months. His family has been busy helping John to get better. He needs our help, and I am hoping that this town can step up to the plate and help. From the moment that I met John, I have admired him. He does alot, but never asks for anything in return. He has helped so many people in this town. I for one am one of those people. Please help him.
There is a fund set-up in his name at TDBanknorth in Plaistow. Any amount will help John, while he is out of work. It would be great if this town could help ease a burden off his wife.
Thank You
Also if anyone would like to send a card, please address it to:
John Lapham
c/o Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Ctr.
Inpatient mail
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115
United States
Please show Corporal John Lapham, that this community can stand up and show our support to those in need. I for one, miss John and can not wait until he can get better and return to work. Please show him that we support him. "
5 comments:
While reading this blog and this news article:
Library Article
I've realized that even as a former Atkinson citizen I should feel cheated by this towns government.
Even in this electronic information age libraries still hold a key place in a community.
I support a new library in town. I have children and want them to have access to excellent educational resources.
What I am disappointed with is the cost of this new behemoth of a library. Right now, my understanding is we have a 4,800 square foot library. It is not clear to me why we now NEED an 11,000 square foot library which is well over twice the size of our current library. Why do we NEED so much space? Why do we NEED a 100 person conference room? Isn't this supposed to be a LIBRARY and not a conference center?
In my business, this is called scope-creep where the original defined NEEDS expand because of stakeholders' "WANTS".
If the Library Trustees proposed a more cost effective solution for say, a 7000 square foot library, it would have passed without a problem last year. But they wanted a 2-story, 14,000 square foot monument that - oh, by the way, will eventually need an expanded staff and, oh, by the way, did we forget to tell you how much more the new operations, insurance and maintenance costs would be? The question on estimated additional operating costs was raised at the Deliberative session and in my opinion, was not adequately or clearly answered. In fact, I thought the question was avoided. This is not clear, open and upfront disclosure to the taxpayers.
My home and auto energy costs have doubled since 2003 and my real estate tax bill has gone up every year. As much as I want a nice new, big library, an affordable one would be more prudent and a more judicious use of the taxpayers dollars. I also feel that the library proponents could care less about the impact to my personal financial situation. I clearly remember a statement made (in the Eagle Tribune) by one of the library staff members after town vote and the library failed - she said it was going to pass next year and with increased construction costs, so it was only going to cost taxpayers more. I was completely incensed by that comment. Is she going to pay my heating bill or my electric bill? Is she going to pay my kids college tuition? I don't feel she cares about my expenses one bit.
In addition, we already know the selectman have a $600,000+ expansion plan for the town hall next year so let's not forget that upcoming expense.
So the total tab to Atkinson taxpayers in new construction over the next two years (library + town hall addition) is over $2.3 Million.
IDEA
(not my idea but I think it is a good one):
Why don't we just build a new town hall (then we won't need a town hall addition next year) and give the current town hall to use as the new library? There is over $800K in the library trust fund so there is plenty of funds to retrofit and/or expand the existing town hall.
I suspect the new Town Hall could be much smaller than the library's proposed 11,000 square feet. My guess, based on the town hall's current size and proposed expansion, would need to be a town hall building of about 6,000 square feet (I may be off a little here but the town hall certainly doesn't need 11,000 square feet).
Based on the rough numbers I put together, I estimate this plan could save Atkinson taxpayers about $1,000,000. That is $ONE MILLION.
We would end up with a new town hall and a new facility for the library - both of which meet town NEEDS.
I spoke to town officials in Plaistow who now regret building a 15,000 square foot library that is not used as much as they hoped (imagine the heating costs on that thing!). The Plaistow people I spoke with wished they had built a new town hall instead of paying for 1) An oversized library and 2) Expensive retrofitting of the old town hall. But do not take my word for it - please take the initiative and go ask them yourselves.
Let's not forget that a much bigger library will carry a larger operating budget and may require more employees to operate and maintain. I have not seen estimates or future projections for these additional cost increases in the annual library's operating budget. Mark my word, if the new library gets passed, these costs will appear in the near future. I feel this lack of open and upfront disclosure is not an honest approach.
For the hard work done by the Library Commission who got the costs down by $500K: Your efforts are appreciated and you made good progress. My fear is that you did not go quite far enough.
I know it is politically unpopular to speak against the new library. But I am hoping this open forum will allow us to explore what has happened and be prepared - when the new library warrant fails, then we need to consider building a new town hall and moving the library into the current town hall building. That is an idea that needs to be fully explored - BECAUSE IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ATKINSON TAXPAYERS. And I would be glad to support that plan.
I too appreciate all the work that has gone into trying to construct a new library and also feel we need to update. I just don't agree on how.
Oh Anonymous where were you when the library building needs committee started. Your recommendation is oh so very right on! It was suggested the existing town hall be developed into the new library but the library trustees grabbed onto the opinion from maintenance supervisor that the books were too heavy to be supported in the Town Hall building. Strange don't you think since that building is on a slab.
It was also suggested that the library do something in concert with cable as the cable capital reserve fund is in the hundreds of thousands and just sits there year after year. After all one could combine library/cable, and have updated state of the art library facilities along with meeting rooms that are camera ready.
But this too was pooh poohed. After all the library wants to be separate. And in this day and age of computers and digitized information the Town definitely needs paper books, paper periodicals, paper newspapers, paper paper paper. And let's not forget we must have videos and DVD's because you can't rent them at $.99 each.
If all these committees and trustees would work together it would be amazing what could be accomplished for the benefit of the town. Maybe that's why this project continues to fail. The intent is great but the direction is wrong.
I think the idea of the existing town hall becoming the library is a good one and needs to be explored. Wasn't a new heating system just put in, and funds approved by the voters last year to expand the town hall for a media room? Where did those funds go? No one at the selectman's level has mentioned to the voters the need for a new town hall, it's like "slip it in after the voting for the library is done" so voter's beware. No one talks about "needs vs wants" The selectman are being dishonest with full disclosure yet again.
In 2005 the voters approved a planning article in the amount of $16,000. to prepare for an addition to the town hall. An architect was hired, engineers evaluated the present buildings systems, etc. and a 2700 s/f addition was designed. About one third of this space would be dedicated to ACT 20 (cable) and more that two thirds of the cost of the addition would come from the Cable Capital Reserve Fund. In 2006 the Building Needs Committee was asked to hold off for one year in order not to detract from the library article. With design work and all other planning in place, an article was prepared to go on the 2007 warrent. As we all know, I think, the warrent belongs to the selectmen. They voted, as is their perogative, not to put the article on the warrent and allow the voters to decide. Reasons: It's the Library's turn (for the third time); what if it passes by just a couple of votes and the library passes too?; What if we don't get the usual $800K from the state for school funding?; so the addition is on the back burner once again.
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