The Campaign for the New Ridgefield Library Wants Your Help
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- Details
- Category: Local Politics
- Last Updated on Saturday, 31 December 2011 10:06
- Written by Christina Nolan, Ridgefield Library Director
The Ridgefield Library is presenting our project for the New Library to the Board of Selectmen at their meeting on Wednesday, January 4th at 7:30 pm. At that meeting we will be asking for a stand-alone referendum vote to be held on Tuesday, February 28th for a $5 million allocation for the public funding of this project. While the elected officials are supportive of this project, we will need to be persuasive to them to get allow a stand–alone election on February 28th. Some elected officials may prefer to have this question put to the voters along with the town budget in May.
Listed below some of the reasons why it is important for this project to move forward with a February referendum:
1. Construction costs are at historic lows, but there is evidence of increasing labor costs recently. Delaying the project for 3 months is estimated to costs us $200 or 300 thousand (this specific estimate will be available to us on Tuesday, January 3rd), this is money that can be spent now on building costs.
2. Collaboration and coordination with the adjacent project to minimize disruption to the downtown area.
3. Costs of construction will be lower if we only incur one winter construction (specific dollar amount will be available to us on January 3rd).
4. Money may need to be spent now on major repairs. We know our HVAC system and our roofs are well beyond their useful life. If one of these major systems fails while we delay another 2 months until the May budget vote, we may have the expend money on those systems. We’d rather put that money toward the new building. The range for replacement of the HVAC system and the roofs is at least $3M.
5. Continue the momentum of the fundraising campaign. We are at $13.7 million dollars in the private fundraising campaign. Let’s keep this going to success! More than 1,000 donors have contributed to this project from school age children to bequests.
6. Let the public decide the question. We believe the supporters would want this project to be voted on and started as quickly as possible. It will maximize the use of your contribution.
We need as many people as possible to come to the Selectmen Meeting on Wednesday, January 4th at 7:30 pm in the Lower Level of the Town Hall. Allow the Selectmen to know the strength of numbers of supporters behind us. Bring a friend to join you at that meeting. If you wish to speak on our behalf, I believe you will be allowed to do that.
If you will be coming or speaking, would you do me a favor and send me an email ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) to that effect so we can keep track of numbers. Our goal is to have at least 150 people in attendance supporting the Library. Your financial support of this project has been remarkable. We have NOT MADE OUR TARGET number just yet, so fundraising will continue. But in addition to your financial support, we need your political support at this time. Thanks so much. This project will benefit every segment of our whole town!
