Editorial
Right track

The Forbush Memorial Library Building Committee was on the right track when they met Tuesday and told the architect that metal siding, no matter how popular in Europe, would not fly in Westminster.

The architect showed the committee a titanium zinc material used on buildings across Europe and a building at Princeton University. The sample of the material was blue-gray, the committee was assured it came in other colors, doesn't seem to match the idea most people in the area think of as a good material for their public buildings.

There are many reasons the material does not appear to be quite right for the project.

First, both the town and the Main Street area have a quaint old-town New England feel and the reflective metal doesn't appear to fit with that feel.

Also a building, especially one designed with a specific purpose, should have an exterior that fits the use. It is hard to believe that a library should be covered in titanium zinc shingle.

A library has many purposes and as technology expands that role grows and changes.

The titanium zinc doesn't seem to reflect the mood of any of those options.

The cost of the zinc is equivalent to the brick, which is another option for the building, but even if the brick was slightly more expensive then perhaps this would be the time to stretch the pocketbooks.

The architect did his due diligence by presenting the option and the committee has done its by rejecting the option. Now the committee did not reject it out right they will put the designs before town meeting incase they are wrong about what the public wants.

If you are a resident in Westminster and you want to take a look at the design for yourself the sketches of the building will be in the library as will a sample of the material.