You may recall our recent letter expressing our concern regarding the uncertainty of an appropriate space being allotted for the Roger Clark Memorial Library in the proposed renovation of the Town Office and Library Building. Our concern was that in spite of site work, the basement might eventually prove to be as inappropriate for the Library as it had become for the Town Clerk's Office.
We are happy to report that our concerns were considered. At a recent meeting of the Selectmen and the plan architect, Mark McManus, we learned that after a review of rules and regulations pertaining to the permitting process, the architect was able to suggest a revision of the plan that would allow the Library to occupy the second floor of the existing building. The Town Clerk's Office
would proceed to occupy the ground floor and the basement would initially be left vacant. Were it eventually proven to be damp proof, it could then be converted to usable space. A lift would be installed in the building to make the Library's space on the second floor handicapped accessible and provisions would be made to extend the lift to the basement should that space prove usable in the future. The revisions to the plan do not pose a significant change in the proposed cost of the project.
The Town of Pittsfield will be putting forward a bond vote on the project in the near future. The Trustees of the Roger Clark Memorial Library are pleased to have had our concerns addressed and wish once again to thank the select board and the building committee for the time and effort they have given to this issue.
A public meeting will be held at the Town Hall on April 26th, we have posted the official warning of the meeting and vote on our community page.