Why Not Combine Resources and Think Green??

Since the purpose of this blog is to share information and possibilities, and also to keep interested community members updated on what's happening at Feasibility Committee Meetings, I have been hoping for more input on this blog from members of the Committee. I want the facts and options to be shared so that we can all have a chance to comment about them and join together in sharing ideas, thus having a better chance of reaching a viable solution.

I am going out on a limb here by stating an "I heard ...." but my hope in doing this is to encourage the parties involved to come forward and join this discussion, and set the details straight. So, here goes:

I heard.... that at the last Feasibility Committee meeting an idea was proposed, one that I have been talking about from day one, and was instantly shot down with the comment that 'the people of Upton would never go for that' and also that the person making the suggestion 'should maybe not even be on the committee if that is how that person really feels!'

Here's the suggestion, which personally I think makes all the sense in the world, but would LOVE to hear what the voting members of our community have to say:

"Why are we not considering having ALL Town Departments join together in creating one new, efficient GREEN building that would solve so many issues in town, including space and costs?"

My 'dream building' would encompass a new library, a new senior center and include office space for all of the departments currently housed in the Town Hall and Knowlton Risteen Building, two old, inefficient buildings that would cost ridiculous amounts of money to update. When I've spoken of this idea before I actually had someone say to me "What do you think this is, Arizona?" I don't even know what that MEANS?! Was this person implying that people in Upton aren't forward-thinking enough to even consider such a brilliant idea?? I think it's a no-brainer, but I want to know what YOU think!

Just last week, the library hosted a program called Our Renewable Nation which included viewing an interview with the head of a private school in Worcester which has recently built a wind turbine on its campus to become totally self-sufficient energy-wise. Why can't the Town of Upton do something similar? Save money and create the much-needed improvements for our community. To view this video, click here: Wind Over Worcester.

I am just posting this video as ONE of many possibilities .... but I think that in order to bring about the changes we need, all of us need to be thinking beyond individual department needs and looking at the bigger picture of the future of Upton.

Feasibility Committee Meeting Tonight

The Library Feasibility Committee will be holding an open public meeting tonight at the Fire Station, at 7pm.

I am hoping that members of the committee have read the comments posted on this blog and will take them into consideration in their planning. I do not know what is on the agenda for tonight's meeting, but will be interested to hear if any more has been discussed about the'Library-in-TownHall' proposal.

If not Town Hall, then Where?

• We all know about the original proposal for a new 18,000 sq.ft. Library to be built in the Planned Village on Maple Ave, which did not happen.
  
  
  

• We also all know that the Town chose not to purchase the Maple Ave property when it was offered for sale.
  
  

• What many people may NOT know, however, is how all of this affected our Library Construction Grant from the MBLC.
  

Once again, I will ask for someone with the facts and details to send some info to be posted here, to help educate and inform our citizens of what has happened, what is happening, and what MIGHT happen with the existing grant, and info about any other site possibilities/options.

Info about the 'Library-in-Town-Hall' proposal

In response to my earlier post, regarding the comment someone made about this proposal, Matthew has included the following info:

Renovating the current Town Hall and using the space that is currently the Gym/Stage area for a library:

1. 1) A local architect volunteered his time and skills to create several conceptual plans for renovations of Town Hall. At the request of the Library Trustees, one of these possible plans included converting the gym and "little town hall" area into roughly 8,500 square feet of library space.
2. 2) The Board of Selectmen presented a request to the Community Preservation Committee to use CPA funds to pay for the design and development of construction documents. This request was for about $650,000 and would not have added to the tax rate. The version of the project that was presented to the CPC mentioned the library as one possible use of the renovated building, but did not assign any specific space or priority to the library. The CPC rejected this request, citing a need for more specific information.
3. 3) The next steps for this project to proceed are in the hands of the Selectmen. They may either a) stop working on the project entirely; b) appoint a building feasibility committee to develop more specific plans; c) present a revised request to the CPC.

The Board of Library Trustees is still interested in pursuing the possibility of renovating part of Town Hall into library space, but until the Selectmen decide to take the next step, there is little for the Trustees to do.

If library supporters would like to help push the Town Hall renovation idea along, they should contact the Board of Selectmen by any means (personal contact, email, letter) and indicate that they would like to see specific plans for Town Hall renovation, and request that library space be included and that library representatives be appointed to any Town Hall feasibility committee that is formed.

-Matthew Bachtold, Library Director

*--------------------------------------------------------------------*

Contact info:
Upton Board of Selectmen: (all elected for 3-yr terms)

• Robert J. Fleming, Chairman
  
• Kenneth E. Picard, Member
  
• Michael Goodwin, Member
  

1 Main Street
PO Box 479
Upton, MA 01568

Telephone: 508-529-6901
Fax: 508-529-1010

Admin Asst: James R. Bates, Sr
jbates.selectmen@upton.ma.us

*-----------------------------------------------------------*

Board of Library Trustees: (all elected for 3-yr terms)

• John Robertson Jr., Chairman
  
• Erin Alcott
• Charlotte Carr
• Judith Katz
  
• Kathleen E. Kelley
• George Klink
• John Minnucci
• Candace E. Reid
• Linda D. White

2 Main Street
PO Box 1196
Upton, MA 01568

The Board of Library Trustees holds an open, public meeting on the first Monday night of each month, at 7pm, at Memorial School.

Library in Town Hall??

I'm very interested in the comment that someone posted on the blog last night, referring to proposed Town Hall renovations.

Read the post here.

Could someone with the facts about this proposal please post the details here? I think it would be very interesting and helpful, to make sure we're all aware of the possibilities.

Thank you all again for your support, and for taking the time to get involved and help educate our community!