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2006/05/10 sp Berlin-Peck Memorial Library First Floor Expansion Committee Special Committee Meeting Board Meeting Room of Berlin-Peck Memorial Library 5/10/06 – 6:30 P.M. Present:Frank Steele Co-Chairman, Sharon Powell, Co-Chairman, John E. Darrow, Lisa Larom, Melanie Jortner and Donna Moore. Staff Liaisons:Sara Munson, Library Director & Cathy Nelson, Assistant Library Director. Approval of Minutes – John Darrow made a motion to accept the Special Committee Minutes of April 12, 2006 as written. Lisa Larom seconded the motion. Minutes accepted. Asst. Dir. Nelson submitted copies of three newspaper articles, (2 from the Herald & 1 from the Berlin Citizen), and a copy of the Resolution for State Bonding dated 2/16/1999 to move forward with the application for $800,000 for construction of the temporary Community Center in the lower level of the Peck Library building. (Copies attached). Co-Chairman Steele stated that these articles justify the reason for having these meeting and doing the planning for use of the space that will eventually be available to the Library. Scope of Community Involvement – Co-Chairman Steele stated that the Committee plans to make the public aware that plans are in place for expanding the Library into the lower level as soon as the Community Center moves to a permanent location. This would mean getting public involvement by finding out what townspeople would like to see in the expanded area. When the Community Center opened on Feb. 17, 2000, it was understood that the location would be temporary and that the Library would take back the space approximately ten years later. Lisa Larom noted that the Library is expanding and growing and that computers are responsible for bringing Library functions into a new age. The Committee decided to put together an appropriate letter to civic organizations, churches, the Historical Society, etc. asking for input and ideas and making them aware of the future plans to expand the Library space. This would allow these groups to reach their members and get further input. The Committee also decided to put together a short questionnaire that would be available at the Library, along with a suggestion box. An article in the Berlin Citizen was discussed, coordinating discussion of the expansion th with the upcoming 20 Anniversary of the Library being in its new building. Lisa Larom Peck Library First Floor Expansion Committee Minutes – 5/10/06 – page 2 th suggested the article state that the Library is coming up on its 20 Anniversary and still going strong. Co-Chairman Steele asked that the focus of next months meeting be a draft letter and that all members think of suggestions for the questionnaire. The First Floor Expansion Committee will meet again next month @6:30, before the regular Library Board Meeting. Sharon Powell moved to adjourn the meeting @6:59 P.M., Seconded by Donna Moore Respectfully submitted by Juliet Benjamin Berlin~outhingtonN ewingtonFarmin Community center ~~~ ' " Republican caucus set · dId The Berlin Republican Party will hold a Caucus on Wednesday < openmg eave 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Berlin Thwn!lall to nOminate an ' 'J . elect members to the Berlin Republican Town Committee. All regi~ · , h' tered Republicans may attend. Those interested in joining the con un, tiI ne, xi, m on t mittee may call 828-4963 for further information.' BlOodmobile scheduled An American Red Cross Bloodmobile will be held Thursday Iron 1:45 to 6:45 p.m. at the Berlin Peck Memorial Library. It is spon sored by the Berlin Junior Woman's Club. For an appointment call 1-800-433-1879. Walk-ins are welcome. By ROBIN VINCI Staff Writer Although officials had hoped the new community center' being built at the Peck Memorial Library would be open in early January, the plan has been pushed back to the beginning of , February. The center had originally been sched- 1":J~~~'t~jJ ~~~ Jan. t~ or sooner, but putting in the heating took a little bit longer than expected. ~I'in hoping it's open in early February - induding having the recreation department in there,' said Bonnie Therrien, town manager. "I am putting in TueSday's Town Council agenda looking for a mover." ' Clarion Construction is doing the community center construc- tion, in the basement of the library on KE!nsington Road; work includes the wood trim, patterning the floor,' telephone and cable, wiring, insulating, light fIXtures and more at a cost of $733,890. ' The project, at an area of 16,750 square feet, includes six meeting rooms, a mUlti-purpose 'room; four offices, a reception area, a lounge, an exercise room, bathrooms, five storage areas and a lobby. The largest square footage is planned for the meeting rooms at 4,340, followed by the multi'" purpose rOOm at 1,590 square feet and the weight/exercise room at 1,580 square feet The plan also Calls for a tem- porary relocation of the parks and recreation department and several other town organizations located; in the old, Kensington Grammar School at 462 Alling' St to the new community cen- ter. S~ral, such as Scraptivity, are not moving arid have no home for storage or meetings, ' Gov. John G. Rowland announced in March of 1998 that he would propose that the state bonding COmmission give $800,000 to the relocation pro- ject bf the community center with the funds earmarked to be used for teens and. seniors. The. governor's plan called' for the community center to be open at the library for 10 Yl:ars. Mastery test Scores up in most areas, grades ByrAM STAPLErON Staff Writer Southington administrators announced state Mastery Test results Friday, content With score percentage increases in most all grades and subjects, except for sixth-grade writing. From 1998 to 1999, the per- centage of both fourth and "They accomplish a Couple of . thmgs,' Coppola said of the standardized tests. "They point out kids who are haVing difficul- ties. Second, it gives us an idea of where we are as a school sys- tem." Southington administrator's did not receive the' statewide averages by Friday to compare their scores to the rest of the schools in the state. Thev exnPf't . Saturday, January 8, 2000 I A4 I '.lim IIERAI.D . . Free throw championship planned All boys and girls ages 10 to 14 are invited to participate in the local level of the competition for the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship. The local competition will be held on Jan. 15 in the 81. Paul School gym in Berlin. Registration will be at 12:45 p.m. and competition will begin at 1 p.m. Advanced registration is not mandatory. For information contact Terry Lescoe at 828-9285. , , McGee PrO to gather McGee PTO will meet Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the library. Any con- cerns paremts/guardians have can be addressed at 6:30 p.m. in the library. Griswold Pack 41 to meet Griswold School Cub Scout Pack 41 will hold its monthly meet- ing on Jan. 20 at 6:30 in the auditorium. Anyone going to the Wolfpack hOCkey game on Jan. 22 needs to have money in by Sunday. ' . . Square dance planned On Jan. 14 from 8 to 10:45 p.m. the Bucks 'N Does Square Dance Club will sponsor Y2K plus level square danCing at the Griswold School on Heather Lane. John Hendron will be calling and Geoff Smith will be the CUer. Donation is $4 per person and soft-soled ' shoes must be Worn. For more information call 666-6384. , Bingo offered K of C bingo Every Monday in January the Knight of Columbus will have progressive bingo at the ballroom on Percival Avenue. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and games start at 7 p.m. Museum closed The Berlin Historical SOciety Museum, located at the comer of Peck and Main streets, has closed for the season and will re-open iI7 April. . . K of C meetings scheduled The Knights of COlumbus Council, meeting will b'" Tuesday at the club room on Percival Avenue at 7'30 p Knights will meet Jan. 18 at the ballroom at 7 p.;'. Berlin Band Parents v The next meeting of the Berlin Band PaT"" Tuesday at 7 p.m. It will be held in the ~ roOm. All parents of the colour guard, .' . come to attend. EBVFD .,.. Edito'rlal ' '<',' ",' ", ,,-. Let's be thrify \\rith temporary community center Moving the Community Center to the basement of Berlin-Peck Memorial Library in early February will be bit- tersweet. . Safety issues will no longer be a factor when the move is completed - the library basement is sound and appropriate to house the center. However, the basement is only a temporary location; it is estimated the Community Center will operate there for about 10 years until a new, permanent home is built. The town has been planning to move the cen- ter to the basemenf since it became known that the state would contribufe $800,000 toward the temporary relqcation. : The relocation and all costs associated with it should have been budgeted within the bound- aries of the state money. Apparently, some expenses must be paid for with taxpayer money. An additional $60,510 was recently requested by the Parks and Recreation Department to pay for moving expenses and additional equipment. The bulk of that amount - $20,000 - was requested to be used to install an operable parti- tion. Last week, the Town Council refused a trans- fer of $60,510 from the capital nonrecurring fund to the Community Center account. But the council is likely to reconsider the IDi~asure at its next meeting with revisions - minus the operable partition. Of the $800,000, only $7,500 is left and the building is not complete yet. Continuing the operation of the Community Cl~nter is necessary while plans for a permanent home are under way. But the basement is only a TEMPORARY location. The town must be frugal in spending money for something that is only temporary and save money for the permanent Community G::nter. An operable rar~ition isn't frugal. ~ TOW~ RtCR~AiION (~tiTeR \e; A N\~JOR "C;ORE ~POT" FOR ""S. DON'T t;PEtiO p.,Wy U~NEC.E~C;ARY tf\OtiE ON A BAND-A'''... J\J~T FtND t.'e r.tfCURf "'~ ~~ ~ rc" The Berlin Citizen The Berlin Citizen Company 470 New Britain Road Kensington, CT 06037 TELEPHONE Editorial: 860/829-5720 Advertising: 860/828-6942 Fax: 860/829-5733 Volume Iv; Nuinber 3 Published every Wednesday. Delivere mail to all of the homes and business the two zip codes serving Berlin - 0603 06023. Publisher - The Berlin Citizen Company Editor - Karen A. Avitabile Staff Writer - Chuck LaRose Advertising Manager- Dick Lavallee Sales Consultant - Mary Malavenda The Berlin Citizen is published by The I Citizen Company, a whoIly-owned subsid of the Record-Journal Publishing Comp31 Government Meetings Board of Education, Mon., Jan. 24, BOE Meeting Room, Town Hall, 7 p.m. Bristol Resource Recovery Committee, Fri., Jan. 28, 43 Enterprise Drive, Bristol, 9 a.m. Central Connecticut Health District, Thurs., Jan. 20, Wethersfield Town Hall, Town Manager's Conference Room, 505 Silas Deane Highway, 6 p.m. Commission for the Aging, M~n~ Jan. 24, Town Hall, 7 p.m. ' Fire Board, Thurs., Jan. 27, Berlin Fire House, 7 p.m. Mobile Home. Park Committee, immediately fol- lowing Housing Authority, if needed. North Central Area Agency on Aging, Wed.. Jan. 26, 2 Hartford Square West, Suite 101, Hartford, 9:30 a.m. Planning and Zoning Commission, Thurs., Jan. 27, Town Hall, Council Chambers, 7 p.m. Public Building Commission, Thu,rs., Jan. 27, Town HaIl, Room 8, 7:: Public Health l"i Service, Mon.; Jan. 24 Hall, Caucus Room A, . Town Council, Tue 25, Town HaIl, ( Chambers, 7 p.m. TROC, Wed., Jan. Enterprise Drive, Bri a.m. Worthington Fire D Tues., Jan. 25, District 1140 Wilbur Cross Hi 4:30 p.m. Zoning Board of A: Tues., Jan.. 25. Town Room 8, 7 p.m.