Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Republican Committee strongly urges the WHPL Main Branch Remain Open
Press Release, October 25, 2005, from the West Hartford Republican Town Committee:
A resolution was unanimously passed at the October 24th meeting of the West Hartford Republican Town Committee that opposed the closing of the Noah Webster Library during the construction of Blue Back Square Center.
Republican Town Committee Chairman, Michael Seder, said he understands the need for public safety. However, using the same standards, does that also mean that the Town Hall and the Police Department buildings will be closed during their respective renovations and expansions?
Knowing the importance of the Noah Webster Library to the social and educational fabric of West Hartford, it is unconscionable for the Town Administration and Town Council Leadership to allow the Library to close for a year or more. The sudden emergence of this issue shows a lack of foresight, planning and communication to the public that is extremely troubling. The two branch libraries cannot adequately accommodate the basic needs and services that West Hartford residents have come to expect. The branches simply do not have the space, books, computer terminals or children’s facilities to provide what is needed.
The Republican Town Committee felt that a better solution was to allow the Library to remain open and slightly delay the completion of this aspect of the project. Seder said, "Denial of library services is just not an option."
We would like to hear an explanation from the Library Director, Library staff, or the Library Commission Chair about their transition plans for the next year. We would also like an explanation as to how and why this situation now exists.
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4 comments:
I would like to thank the town republican committee for taking a stand on this issue. I am a democrat and voted for Blue back twice, but I am becoming increasingly concerned with the implications this project is having on our town with lack of good explanation from our town council and town administration. It also makes me very nervous of what else was not appropriately planned for. I personally feel this library close is completely unacceptable; however our Mayor - Scott Slifka (and a democrat I am embarrassed to admit) brushed it off like it will be a minor inconvenience. I can only presume the rest of the council felt the same way as none spoke out against this action or aggressively tried to find an alternative. If the members of town council are as smart and business savvy as they were all self proclaiming they were for shepherding the blue back deal through, then figuring out how to keep the library open during construction shouldn’t be a problem. They better find an alternative fast if any of the existing members want my vote on November 8th.
I'm glad to hear that you are starting to see the light in terms of what's going on in this town. I certainly understand that the Democrats have the majority and that there was a 60/40 vote on the Blue Back issue last year, but continue to question this council and this administration on the basis of trust.
To expand on this, they continue to change the project as you may have seen the Town Planner advised the council on some of the changes last night. Note that those changes weren't affected by the council's vote, but the Town Planner has all encompasing power to make these changes without public hearing and without oversight by the council.
Thank you for your post.
Mark
After the last several e-mails and blogs that have gone around, I finally felt compelled to send along my comment. I recall being interviewed by John Sablon in January 2004 when BBS Development was doing their dog and pony show for the public. My comment to him and later in a letter published in the Courant was "be careful of what you wish for. Developers will sell you a bill of goods." Well, I hate to say I told you so, but it sure is starting to look that way, isn't it?
It is interesting that it had to take this fiasco with the Library for people to get their hackles up, if we at Save The Center only knew this a year and half ago, I would venture to guess the vote would have been at least a little different. I am not a sore loser nor am I spouting sour grapes, it's just seems like many of the people in this idyllic little town have tunnel vision and suffer from NIMBY.
Remember people, you got what you voted for. All the good, and under the rocks, now the bad.
ok - folks look at this.. it is the start of many things that will come down the pike unless we do something about it.. they are changing this Blue Back project piece-meal to accomodate the developer, and I suspect many more changes on the way after the election!
1) Town Council votes in changes to master agreement to remove safeguards regarding litigation, as well as give the town planner Mila Limson all kinds of powers to make changes to various projects without Council approval.
2) Town Council votes in changes to heights of buildings for Blue Back Square 10/25/05 - this gets virtually NO PRESS!!! The building heights will not be what the public thought!
3) Town Council says the main library will be closed for a year 10/23/2005 further discussion of this topic will be tables until after the election (how convenient)
4) The Education Building is now owned by Blue Back Square and they are free to do whatever they want with it including bulldoze the darn thing. Anyone ask lately what is going on with the preservation of that building?
The GDC project in Elmwood has already undergone numerous changes to their project - all blessed by the Town Council.. they have been allowed to change the look of the project and use cheaper materials and they have been able to change the number of condo units that they promised to deliver. This is a barometer of theings to vcome regarding Blue Back Square..
Wake up and smell the latte West Hartford residents!
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