Rockport decides against a June library vote, ballparks new construction cost

Lynda Clancy

Tue, 03/21/2017 - 5:00pm

Rockport Town Manager Rick Bates, with the Select Board members Geoff Parker, Ken McKinley, Bill Chapman, Brendan Riordan and Owen Casas.

ROCKPORT — In its signature way, the Rockport Select Board is making decisions about the future of the town library construction project at is own pace, which is one that allows for long, involved, and sometimes circuitous conversations. And the board agreed March 20, at a vote of 5 to 0, that it would not put any questions on the ballot for voters before November.

A June Town Meeting vote is too soon, they agreed, to decide on a design and cost for a new library at 1 Limerock Street in Rockport Village, as well as adequately communicate with citizens about the project.

At a three-hour special meeting Monday night (Click here to w atch the meeting), the Select Board, however, defined the parameters by which they would decide what to ask from architects. Those parameters include project cost, design/curb appeal, size/program space, and parking capacity. The board nearly got through talking about all of those parameters at the March 20, but stopped just shy of the design.

“I do not want to stay for a discussion about aesthetics starting at 10 p.m.,” said board member Brendan Riordan.

The others agreed, and scheduled the continuation of their conversation on April 3, at 7 p.m., at a public meeting in the Opera House Meeting Room.

While no votes were taken, the Select Board did make progress on several fronts.

1. The board will review the documentation and meeting minutes associated with the 2015 invitation to six architectural companies to produce conceptual designs for the footprint and building design of a new library. They will also talk again with Reed and Co., the Yarmouth-based architects who completed conceptual designs for the town last year, and which were presented for a vote in November.

Approval of that design proposal failed by nine votes, which has led the Select Board to now be assuming the task of making a new proposal to voters.
2. The board agreed March 20 to pursue clarifying the Bok Family deed to the Town of Rockport of 1 Limerock Street and Memorial Park. According to Select Board Chairman William Chapman, Mary Louise Bok deeded Rockport the two lots 71 years ago for the purpose of siting a fire station, library or other municipal building(s) there.
But, one of the lots — Memorial Park — has always remained as such, a green space.

While the board discussion about the deed, and contacting the Bok heirs, mentioned that funds were tight this year as they town proceeds through a budget process, the board members indicated that they wanted to clear the original deed, if not for current government, then for future boards of selectmen.

That deed has been often referenced over the last four years as the town has debated whether to vacate 1 Limerock Street and build a new library on West Street, or remain on the same site as the existing library.
3. After much discussion, the board members also produced their ballpark figures of how much they individually and ideally estimated the new library price tag to be. They all were in the same range, figuring on a size at approximately 8,500 square feet:
Owen Casas said $2.9 to $3.3 million
Ken McKinley, $2.9 to $3.4 million
Brendan Riordan, $2.8 to $3.3 million
Geoff Parker, $3 to $3.5 million
Bill Chapman, $2.8 to $3.2 million
4. Parking is one of the major challenges of the new design, and members of the Select Board have said they anticipate some of Memorial Park being dedicated to expanding library parking capacity.
Rockport Public Library Director Ben Blackmon said the temporary library quarters on Route 1 have 23 parking spaces, which are fully occupied at least twice a week, when the French conversationalists, or the poets, arrive at the library for their two-hour sessions.

“We have to give them [architects] the latitude to cut into the park,” said McKinley.

The board discussed the idea of closing Limerock Street, which has been talked about before, or making it one way, and creating angled parking spaces on it. They also revisited the redesign of the intersection of Union, Russell and Limerock streets.

In the end, they tentatively agreed to give the architects a 24-space parameter for parking planning, with a portion of them dedicated to “quality” design, meaning not just handicapped but created for the ease and efficiency of getting in and out of vehicles, especially for the elderly or otherwise logistically challenged.

3 Limerock Street

On March 6, the group of Rockport residents that had formally proposed to raise money so that the town could purchase the house and land at 3 Limerock Street cancelled its March 7 meeting with the Select Board. The property is adjacent to the library land, and the group said it would raise funds to purchase 3 Limerock St. to help expand the available footprint for the library project.

The citizens explained their reasoning for putting the purchase on hold, saying they had hoped for a site and building design to be completed for the June town warrant.

At the March 20 meeting, Rockport resident Alex Armentrout read a statement on behalf of the citizens, Sally Cook and Nick Ruffin, who had been pursuing the 3 Limerock Street real estate deal.

He said:

“STATEMENT TO THE ROCKPORT SELECT BOARD MARCH 20, 2017

“The only objective of the group of local citizens involved with offering the 3 Limerock street property to the Town is to help move the library project forward. This effort was/is/and will be based upon working with the Select Board. The 3 Limerock group does not seek to supplant the Select Board in this regard, and, contrary to the perception of some, had no intention of influencing the Select Board’s site selection process for the Library. Exactly for that reason, the 3 Limerock presentation was to have been made after the site selection, Unfortunately, the weather and travel schedules interfered and resulted in the presentation being made before site selection.

“Our option to purchase the 3 Limerock property expires on July 15. It was negotiated in anticipation of a June vote which would also include a plan for a new Library. We believed the fundraising for this additional property could not begin until such a plan was at hand. Our request to postpone our presentation set for the March 13 Library Workshop was not intended to limit comments or questions from the public. We were responding to strong indications that a new library plan would not be appearing on the June ballot. This meant, to us, that the plan upon which our original presentation was based must be changed. Therefore, plans for fundraising in the short time remaining before the June ballot must be changed as well, or, put on hold for a future election. For us, then, to make a presentation to the Select Board on March 13 was not possible.

“Those involved in offering the 3 Limerock property to the Town have no interest whatsoever in creating additional controversy over the Library project. To the end of reducing and minimizing unpleasantness, ‘taking a breather’ to allow the Select Board to move further in its Library decision-making ‘process’ also seemed like a good idea.

“We want to work cooperatively with the Select Board in moving the library project ahead.

“We believe that the addition of the 3 Limerock property to the 1 Limerock site will enhance the library project now, and the library itself for years to come.”

At the March 20 meeting, several Rockport residents appraised the 3 Limerock Street offer.

Former library director Ann Filley said it was a “generous offer,” but said the Select Board should maintain its focus on the two town-owned lots, 1 Limerock Street and Memorial Park.

The 3 Limerock Street property adds costs and additional difficulties, she said.

Rockport resident Jonathan Potter said he objected to the possibility of tearing down the house at 3 Limerock Street, and the effect on what the town looks like in that area.

“It’s a beautiful building,” Potter said.

Resident Lynn Johnson, who formerly served on the school boards, advised the Select Board to focus on building support for the new library project and not get derailed by the 3 Limerock Street offer.

Some Select Board members said Monday evening that they wanted a 70 percent approval rating for the new library project, and that they would pursue that outcome.

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