OOB residents will vote on bond to expand library - Sept. 15, 2011
By David Harry
Staff Writer
Nomination papers in Old Orchard Beach are not due until Sept. 26, but the ballot is already taking shape after councilors approved adding a $2 million library bond question and referendum questions regarding the town charter.
Councilors on Sept. 6 unanimously approved placing the bond question on the Nov. 8 ballot. It seeks $2 million to expand the 56-year-old Edna Belle Libby Memorial Library.
The library bond and potential charter changes will be discussed at public hearings Oct. 4.
Voters also will be asked to approve expanding the town council to seven members from its current five. Six of the council terms will last three years and one council seat will be elected annually.
Elections for three-year council terms would be staggered to allow two annually and prevent the entire council from changing at once, according to a charter commission report.
If voters approve changes, councilors will not be allowed to serve more than seven consecutive years. The amended town charter also would remove references to the Old Orchard Beach School Board, which was replaced by the Regional School Unit 23 Board of Education when districts in Old Orchard Beach, Saco and Dayton merged in 2008.
The library bond vote did not reflect reservations about the amount of the bond expressed by council Chairman Robert Quinn.
Quinn said reducing the bond to $1.5 million for a 20-year term would “incentivize” library supporters to continue to raise money for the project and save town taxpayers $208,000 in interest payments.
Based on a 4 percent interest rate, the $2 million bond would carry an additional $833,000 in interest payments, according to council documents.
The Friends of Libby Library has raised about $250,000 to date and vows to raise an additional $250,000 in the next five years to help pay for an expansion to double the size of the 3,400 square-foot library built in 1956.
Expansion plans call for a dedicated computer area, children’s garden, community meeting room and additional space to store the library media collection.
The library, built with money left to the town by former Selectman Frank Libby, received nearly $226,000 in municipal funding for fiscal year 2012, according to Old Orchard Beach budget documents. The library received a funding increase of $1,100 from fiscal year 2011, but not as much as the $228,000 requested by Director Eileen McNally.
Staff Writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.
Staff Writer
Nomination papers in Old Orchard Beach are not due until Sept. 26, but the ballot is already taking shape after councilors approved adding a $2 million library bond question and referendum questions regarding the town charter.
Councilors on Sept. 6 unanimously approved placing the bond question on the Nov. 8 ballot. It seeks $2 million to expand the 56-year-old Edna Belle Libby Memorial Library.
The library bond and potential charter changes will be discussed at public hearings Oct. 4.
Voters also will be asked to approve expanding the town council to seven members from its current five. Six of the council terms will last three years and one council seat will be elected annually.
Elections for three-year council terms would be staggered to allow two annually and prevent the entire council from changing at once, according to a charter commission report.
If voters approve changes, councilors will not be allowed to serve more than seven consecutive years. The amended town charter also would remove references to the Old Orchard Beach School Board, which was replaced by the Regional School Unit 23 Board of Education when districts in Old Orchard Beach, Saco and Dayton merged in 2008.
The library bond vote did not reflect reservations about the amount of the bond expressed by council Chairman Robert Quinn.
Quinn said reducing the bond to $1.5 million for a 20-year term would “incentivize” library supporters to continue to raise money for the project and save town taxpayers $208,000 in interest payments.
Based on a 4 percent interest rate, the $2 million bond would carry an additional $833,000 in interest payments, according to council documents.
The Friends of Libby Library has raised about $250,000 to date and vows to raise an additional $250,000 in the next five years to help pay for an expansion to double the size of the 3,400 square-foot library built in 1956.
Expansion plans call for a dedicated computer area, children’s garden, community meeting room and additional space to store the library media collection.
The library, built with money left to the town by former Selectman Frank Libby, received nearly $226,000 in municipal funding for fiscal year 2012, according to Old Orchard Beach budget documents. The library received a funding increase of $1,100 from fiscal year 2011, but not as much as the $228,000 requested by Director Eileen McNally.
Staff Writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.
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