Editorial
The Forbush project
Is there a better choice?

The answer appears to be no.

The Forbush Memorial Library Trustees and the Building Committee have worked over the course of the last year to develop a project that they will think will resolve all of the problems with Westminster's library. It deals with problems from the leaking windows and foundation to the sagging roof and the problems in the Eloranta Room.

Yes, the cost is high, the lowest bid for construction came in at about $1.6 million, and on Thursday town officials were expected to determine the legal, borrowing and other associated costs, as well as a contingency budget. So the final costs voters will be asked to approve is in fact higher than the construction costs.

Yes, this means a higher tax rate and therefore less in everybody's pocketbook.

But, the Building Committee has looked at a number of options and seems to have picked the affordable, but not cheap, options. They have chosen a brick exterior, which should last forever, and not metal sheeting as another option proposed.

They are bringing a firm number to Town Meeting, not an estimate, not a guesstimate, but an actual construction bid so voters will know what the actual costs are.

The one thing the Building Committee cannot control is the costs to fix the problems. People have to accept that construction for public buildings is out of whack with private construction costs because the state mandates the price through union-friendly project labor agreements - this is the state's problem not the library's problem. If you really are upset about this, let's change the law and stop draining town funds.

Now the other choice is not to do anything and for the next five to 10 years continue the debate about how to battle the growing mold in the children's room, how to prevent further damage to the foundation and windows. The trustees have worked to try to mitigate the problems individually, which has not worked. In January 2007, the voters rejected a proposal and the trustees fired the architect.

The trustees and the Building Committee seem to be pleased with the design and proposal they have created. This is the time to fix the library and ensure that there is no need for significant repair in the future.