LFNAC Minutes – January 26, 2009

The Library Facilities Needs Assessment Committee met at the Hatfield Public Library at 6:30 p.m.

Present: Martin Antonetti, Dodie Gaudet, Susan Gaughan, Harold Green, Sheila McCormick, Lynn Omasta and Mary Williams. Also present: Stephen Hale
Absent: Milton Howard

We reviewed the spreadsheet that Stephen had compiled based on an earlier version of our Building Program and updated the information to conform to our official Program.

We reviewed a new spreadsheet compiled by Stephen which contained rough cost estimates of the 5 possible sites for a new Library. Renovation to the Center School is the most costly option in terms of dollar amounts; addition/renovation to Town Hall is the next most costly.

We also discussed another category called “Town Impact (on other buildings in town)”. We added all of these figures to the Site Analysis Matrix that we’ve been working on during the last few meetings.

Renovation of the Center School and addition/renovation to Town Hall scored the lowest. MOVED, SECONDED, VOTED: Eliminate these two options from consideration.

Harold reported on the meeting of the Center School group. He relayed to them our concerns with using the Center School for a new Library. That committee posed the question: What about moving all town offices to the Center School and using the entire Town Hall for the Library? LFNAC rejected that proposal since it is dependent on too many things happening before we can begin to make serious plans.

LFNAC viewed several preliminary sketches of the remaining 3 sites and discussed the pros and cons of each. We’re hoping to decide on the one best site soon.

We still need to plan for forums and information sessions.

Our next meeting is Saturday, January 31 at 9:00 a.m. at the Library.

The following meeting will be Thursday, February 12 at 6:30 p.m. Stephen Hale will attend this meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Dodie Gaudet, Secretary