The September 9, 2013 Township Committee meeting minutes and more

[fyi]

The September 9, 2013 Township Committee meeting minutes have been posted.
http://www.cranburytownship.org/TC-Documents/2013/TC_minutes090913.pdf

The October 2, 2013 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting agenda has been posted.
http://www.cranburytownship.org/zb_agendas/2013/ZB_agenda100213.pdf

TAKE NOTICE that on the 24th day of September 2013 the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Township of Cranbury in the County of Middlesex took the following actions:
http://www.cranburytownship.org/zb_agendas/2013/ZB_actions092413.pdf

The Planning Board Meeting for October 3, 2013 has been canceled.
http://www.cranburytownship.org/pb_agendas/2013/PB_agenda100313canc.pdf

The Developmental Review Committee for October 3, 2013 has been canceled and re-scheduled for October 17, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. at the Cranbury Township Town Hall (Old School Building), 23-A North Main Street, Cranbury Township, Middlesex County.
http://www.cranburytownship.org/drc_agendas/2013/drc_agenda100313canc.pdf

[New Library Update-5sn8]

Whether or not you support a new library, it looks like it is proceeding with a 2015 opening. Taxpayer money is starting to be used for this:

About half of the money being claimed as raised comes from the library tax paid by residents.

Township employees are now getting involved, they are not volunteers.

Following is the extract from the recent minutes.

Reports from Township Boards and Commissions

Ms. Kirstie Venanzi, President of the Cranbury Public Library, presented the Library’s Annual Report to the Township Committee. Ms. Venanzi reported approximately $1.4 million has been raised for the new Library, which is almost half of the $3.2 million estimated cost. She reported there will be a corporate push to raise additional funds. Ms. Venanzi reported a successful Cranbury Day because the Library Foundation was able to talk to a lot of people and dispel misconceptions about the new Library causing a rise in taxes. She stated having a new Library will be better security wise for the School and there will be more usage time for the public.

Ms. Venanzi reported so far the plans for the Library have been conceptual; however, the Foundation will be reaching out to any architects in the Township who may be interested in participating in the planning process. They are also seeking input from outside firms that have a lot of experience in building libraries in New Jersey.

Ms. Venanzi stated the first step for selecting an architect will be for the Foundation to send out Requests for Qualifications. She stated it is especially important to reach out to local architects and residents for input. She stated she is looking for a Township Committee member to participate on the Facilities Committee, which will probably meet on some Thursday evenings. She stated she does not feel it will be a large time commitment; however, she stated they would like to get started on the selection process to meet the goal of a 2015 Library opening.

Ms. Venanzi stated the Library Foundation also seeking input from the Township Committee during the discussions on facilities. She stated it is important for the Township to be involved since the Library will be a Township building. Ms. Venanzi stated Mr. Mark Berkowsky will participate on the Facilities Committee, as well as Ms. Marilynn Mullen, Library Director, and other Library Board members.

Mr. Mulligan asked about the bidding process. Ms. Marabello stated there would be professional services agreements and a Request for Proposal process for the architect. Ms. Marabello advised Ms. Venanzi she could direct questions to and seek assistance from the Township’s Purchasing Agent, Erin Lysy.

Mr. Taylor suggested Ms. Venanzi also consider contacting Mr. Greg Farrington, Township Construction Official, for additional input.

Ms. Goetz inquired how the Foundation would actually select the building design of the Library. Ms. Venanzi stated they would seek input from residents to work with the selected architect. She stated it will be important to get as much input from the Township as possible before moving forward with the project. Ms. Goetz inquired if the Foundation would anticipate having public meetings to gather input, and Ms. Venanzi stated public meetings would definitely be held.

Mr. Taylor stated he thought a library design was already selected, and Ms. Venanzi clarified those drawings were concept drawings which helped residents visualize what a building might look like. She stated it was valuable because the Foundation received great feedback on the design. She reported the design chosen will have the community space, children’s area, adult reading area and flexible interior spaces the Foundation is looking for. The Township Committee thanked Ms. Venanzi for her report.

[anon-8694]

The construction offical is funded through permit fees and not tax dollars. So their involvement does not come from tax revenue.

I don't see how seeking guidance from the purchasing agent regarding the process is a negative either considering the libary is a town entity and if the process does not follow the law the township is liable. To me this makes sense.

I am indifferent to the library, but I don't see any funds being committed or expenditures that are a cause for concern. The library tax is state mandated so it's like me complaining about paying social security taxes. I have to pay it whether I like it or not and may never see the money I pay in come back to me.

[anon-sp08]

I doubt they can commit to a 2015 opening yet, let alone any start of construction. This seems more like aspiration marketing, designed to try and build enthusiasm for more fundraising.

The $1.4M raised so far includes the mandated library tax surplus built up over many years and almost 3 years of concerted fundraising effort to get approximately $700,000 in pledges. They need $1.8M more. At their current run rate, short of a major new donor, they will at least 4-5 more years to raise the money before they can have the funding a contractor would require, short of a guarantee from the Township or raising new bonds, to begin construction, let alone open.

I don't see how it is hurting the Township or taxpayers for the Committee members to be involved. Their meager stipends are fixed, so they aren't paid by the hour for their volunteer elected positions. So it doesn't cost us a dime more as taxpayers unless or until they try to vote for the Township to put in more money than the State mandated tax or to guarantee construction. And even if they did pursue such a thing it would be the subject of further public meetings. I don't see it happening soon.

[anon-pn6r]

[Libraries gone?-8q9r]

We’ve all heard it before; printed books are dying a slow, agonizing death and ebooks are the wave of the future. The Sony eReader and Amazon’s Kindle were at the forefront of the revolutionary wave and now every tech company seems to be jumping in on the act.

Despite those old purists stopping their ears and clinging to their dog-eared, yellowed tomes of yore, the end of the printed word is nearing. It may take a few decades, it may take a few years, but the inevitable will happen (barring some doomsday scenario of worldwide economic crash that cuts off all electricity).

But one subject that hasn’t been as widely talked about as the end of the brick-and-mortar bookstores will have wide implications across the country: the fate of our libraries.

Personally, I stopped using libraries years ago, once I discovered the joys and conveniences of ebooks. I’m just as certain that quite a few people won’t even bat an eyelash as libraries will be forced to close both state and nationwide, as they lose funding and fall under the dominance of the digitized world.

[libraries aren't ju-1254]

Libraries have never been just warehouse of books. Libraries contain information. Today that information comes in different formats.
You can stay at home, buy e-books, surf the net. But today we need a place to gather as a community even more than before. We need a community space, a communication center, public access computers, books discussions, story hours, classes on new technology, and other community based programs... at your library.