TIME & PLACE:
Meeting October 3, 2001 at 7:00 PM at Canterbury Town Hall
ATTENDANCE:
Jeremy Slayton
Kent Ruesswick
Jim Bassett Selectman Representative
Wayne Mann
Bob Fife
Beth Blair
Ken Jordan
Ted West
Mike Capone Selectman Representative
Meeting at 7PM at Town Hall
Kent opened meeting and asked members to share their impressions
on how the open meeting went.
Bob Fife thought we did well even though the community members
expected more of us than we were prepared to offer them (in terms
of details).
Ken Jordan felt that the meeting was a success in terms of the
number of people that attended, and in the questions that were
asked
even if some questions were asked in the framework
of an agenda. The overall impression that we gave the community
was that we ARE doing something and that we are beginning to ask
important questions and do the work to come up with some of the
answers.
Ken J. feels that we should concede that the library should be
allowed to go forward according to the current plan. To try and
do something else at this point would only hold it up further.
Instead we should focus on the other building and think about
how we can accomplish some of our same goals, but without having
the library in the maintenance
Jeremy said.. [recorded by Beth Blair]
Beth recollected Jeff Leidengers comment about the the Highway
Dept. building not be good enough for other uses, but it was being
said to be good enough for a library
and that shouldnt
be the message that the committee gives the community. Noted that
there was some support for the idea of moving the Fire Dept up
to hackleboro Road to open the center up for other as yet undetermined
possibilities
perhaps recreational, perhaps economic (well
planned though!)
Mike Capone felt the attendance was good and that the exchange
was good as well despite the strong contingent that were vocal
for the library. He was intrigued by Kevin Braggs idea of
clearing the Fire Dept and Maintenance out of center and selling
or redeveloping that area for artisans shops, etc. Thinking
differently would allow for another vision where the library is
up by the fire pond, the highway dept is up by the dump, and the
Fire Dept is up in the cornfield across from. Reraised the question
of whether we should propose one plan, or a series of ideas.
Ted West commented that part of our goal is not to avoid expenditures,
but rather to avoid a huge spike all at once.
Kent was happy with so many people attending, but was disappointed,
but not surprised with the reaction that many had with the idea
about locating at the library. Kent mentioned his conversation
with Jeff Leidenger where Jeff asked Kent if the committee could
get behind the current project IF the library contributed $200,000.
This idea appealed to Kent (and other members) because it allows
us to designate $500,000 for the towns contribution to the
Library. This allows us to afford to do some of the other things
the town needs, with the savings from the Library committees
contribution (ie. Town garage, capping, etc.)
Jim Bassett (though not in attendance at the meeting) agreed with
other committee members about the plans for the library
that it would be preferred to have it in the center, but that
for political and other practical reasons it would be best to
allow it to continue on its current course at the current
location. Jim felt strongly that Town offices should not appear
too modular
that they should be inviting, attractive and
in keeping with the spirit of the town center.
Ken says we should establish the concrete issues that the committee
stands for:
1. That we support the library go forward.
2. That the committee feels strongly about moving the public works
garage out of the center.
3. That part of the committees goals is to create a more
pedestrian center.
Wayne asked what percentage of the people in support of the library
last year (based on the Elkins plan) would prefer the town garage
location?
Ken J. suggests that we go home with our current ideas and prepare
for next weeks meeting where we begin to flesh out our plan.
Kent suggested that we continue discussions of purposes/aternatives
for the town garage, and to finally "put to bed" discussions
of the new locations for the town garage and library.
MEETING ENDED 8:30 PM
NEXT MEETING:
The next meeting will be in one week, on 10/10/01 at 7 PM at Canterbury
Town Hall.
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