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.

Why consider a new library now?

Several people over the last week have asked me essentially the same question:
"Why are the trustees even considering a new library building in the current economic recession and strained municipal budget?"

The answer to this concern is that the trustees have no intention of asking the Town of Upton for significant capital funding in the next six months, the next year, or likely in the next several years.

What we want is to have a plan in place, a project that is "shovel ready" that could be started when funding does become a possibility.

The process to go from "we need a new library" to "here is a description of the project that could be presented to a Town Meeting" takes several years. Our previous grant application was started in 2004, and submitted in 2006.

Securing a building site and having a detailed floorplan with cost estimates are requirements for any grant applications, and for the Friends of the Library to start fundraising.

For a successful building project, we need to develop our plan now, and then be ready to take advantage of funding sources in the future. If we wait until funding is available before starting the plan, the opportunity will be lost.

Donations can now be made online!

Starting in February 2009 you can now make donations online!

Go to the Library's catalog and look for the "Donate (NEW!)" link way up in the right-hand corner of the screen. Click, then choose UPTON TOWN LIBRARY from the drop-down menu. Enter any amount, along w/your credit card info, and the donation will be processed through C/WMARS. They will send a check to The Friends of the Upton Town Library!

THANKS!

Comments and more info about Steel Building

In response to the posting earlier this week about the Feasibility Committee's visit to a steel-frame constructed building in Hopedale, read these comments, by clicking here:
COMMENTS

I'd love to hear from other members of the Feasibility Committee about their thoughts on these plans!

Feasbility Committee Tours Steel-Frame Building

This morning, the members of the feasibility committee went to Hopedale for a very informative tour of a steel-frame building.
The building we looked at was built by a private corporation for a printing and envelope stuffing operation. The structure was 11,600 square feet, with half furnished as offices, and the other half open workspace.

Committee members were impressed with the attractiveness of the outside, and I was pleasantly surprised by just how much space 10,000 square feet actually is, compared to the cramped area the library currently occupies.

The committee is actively gathering price estimates on library interior furnishings to provide a ballpark figure for total project cost.