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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-07-10-PBC-min.pdf TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS PERMANENT BUILDING COMMITTEE Minutes of Thursday July 10 1997 Meetina joint with Cary Library Building Committee in the library Oval Room, as approved July 15 and August 19, 1997 The meeting was called to order by Library Building Committee Chairman and PBC member Walter Pierce at 7 35 p m with PBC Chairman Bruckman and other committee members Johnson, Kelley, Lucker (also of Library Building Committee) Poinelli , and Touart present Library Director Carol Mahoney, staff member Julie Triessl and Lexington Minuteman reporter Les Masterson also were present Architects Stephen Hale, Melissa Bennett attended to present library schematic plans (posted on the wall ) and answer questions Director Mahoney explained that the plans on display are essentially the same as those submitted to the state in January and approved for state funding at the end of April With state and Town Meeting approval for funding, the only need is for the library trustees to raise S2 5 million to supply the full amount needed to accomplish the project As previously shown the committee, the plans posted on the wall showed addition of 17 ,800 square feet to the 39,000 s f of the existing building Some refinements have been added Both the Massachusetts Avenue and the parking lot entrances will be covered porches and handicapped accessible Both entrances are used about equally, Mahoney explained The parking lot entrance will give equal access to both the main level and the lower level The main entrance was described as unifying the building as well as restoring its original design Because the addition will no longer break into the 15-foot side yard setback for the zone, there will be no need for a variance on this item from the Board of Appeals Other features of the building design noted were monitor skylights to bring more daylight into the center of the building The overall height of the building will be within that allowed by the zoning code Build- ing envelope surfaces will contain three materials - stone, brick and stucco Snow melting at entrances and other critical areas is planned Because of the expanded floor area and the limited site, there will be an off-street parking deficit This is a constraint throughout the Central Business District and one which the committee felt needs to be addressed in the larger context of the whole area, or at least the entire block Pierce mentioned that this has been discussed at an informal session with the Appeals Board and on the floor of Town Meeting last year A public meeting room is planned for seating of 100 people Altogether the new plan was characterized as of greater efficiency in use of space, and even will provide some room for expansion, particularly in the stacks The reading room, which will be alongside the Massachusetts Avenue windows will be augmented by well -lit bays along outer walls of the lower stacks Poinelli praised the plan for "good proportions " The library schedule, just reactivated as of July 1 , calls for project completion by the first of the year 2000 From July through September PBC Minutes of 7/10/97 - Page 2 1997 will be design development time, with the next six months to prepare construction documents and specifications Bidding will commence May 1 , with construction to start about August 1998 The library plans to move out of the building about April 1998 and' move back in about February-March of 2000 Bonding of the entire $7 8 million is now being worked out State money, which will be substantially up front , is expected to arrive starting in July 1998 Fundraising will kick off in October of this year The Library has applied for its own 501(c)3 status , since it cannot use the town' s non- profit rating Only $500 ,000 bonding will be needed for the next 12 months Mahoney noted that on July 1 , library building maintenance came under DPW jurisdiction Contract with the architects is being expanded, and the PBC will participate in the contracting processes Poinelli asked for additional documentation, which the library will supply Chairman Bruckman suggested that the PBC might delegate some of their prerogatives Recommended that the committee meet monthly with Library staff and library building committee The library has a subcommittee working on relocation and their report is due in August Town, county, state and commercial buildings are being explored Schools have offered to help Relocation plans include expansion of the East Lexington Branch hours and functions , sending the large print collection to the Council on Aging, sending paintings out for cleaning and storage The historic collections will also be stored The next meeting with the library building committee is scheduled for Tuesday, August 5 at 7 p m at the library At the conclusion of the library discussion, the PBC continued in session on the schools project Proiect manaaer selection was narrowed to five people selected to be interviewed William Babin, Carl Borchert , Louis Cogliano, Fay DeAvignon, Paul LaPointe and Nancy Rubenstein Chairman will check this list with member Johnson, who had already left the meeting Meeting adjourned at 9 50 p m Respectfully submitted, Erna S Greene Secretary