Commissioner O'Connor gave an opening reading.

Commissioner Toledo moved with Commissioner Moriarty providing the second, to accept the minutes of the December 3, 2008 meeting of the Springfield Library Board of Commissioners.

The motion passed.

Mr. Egan addressed the Library Commission since Mr. Pikula was not able to attend, explained that the Springfield Library Foundation had retained his firm, and that the "ball is in the Library Commission's lap now" to choose a site for the Mason Square Branch Library. He said the Foundation has the Mason Square site studies and reports that were completed in 2008 by Steve Jablonsky, and will share those with the Library Commission as soon as they would like. Mr. Egan explained that this information (size of parcels, cost, etc.) could be put on one grid to make it concise and direct for the Library Commission. Mr. Egan will give the presentation and Mr. Jablonsky will answer questions. It was explained by Mr. Egan that the Library Foundation will use the Annie Curran endowment money and has approved taking the 765 State Street through the process of eminent domain. If the Library Commission agrees with the site, it goes to the City Council. The Foundation has agreed to pay the city for all costs of acquiring 765 State Street. When asked if the prospect of eminent domain was viable, Mr. Egan explained that it is done often, and that "this is a "classic example" of taking for the good of the public, and that usually the fight is about how much, not if. A special meeting could be scheduled for this purpose.

Commissioner Givens made a motion to accept the information offered by Mr. Egan and his colleagues. Commissioner O'Connor provided the second.

The motion passed.

Mr. Moriarty made a motion that the Library Commission schedules a special meeting on February 25th at 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of a presentation and discussion on Mason Square Branch Library. Commissioner McElwaine seconded the motion.

The motion passed.

Ms. O'Connor asked the status of Library Commissioner Madeline Landrau. Mr. Cary stated that the Mayor is aware of the situation.

The Commission spent a great deal of time discussing the Mayor's proposed 10.76% cut to the library's FY09 budget. Ms. McElwaine explained that she has already called the Springfield Control Board, Barbara Garvey of the Springfield Library Foundation, and City Councilman Pat Markey in order to voice her strong opposition to the proposed cuts. She presented the draft of a letter she had written which explains how the cuts would impact the Library and its services, state appropriation monies, and grant eligibility. She would like the Library Commission to send this letter to Mayor Sarno. Ms. McElwaine then made a motion that the Library Commission send this, or a similarly worded letter, to the City Council and the head of the Springfield Control Board. Mr. Moriarty seconded the motion.

The motion passed.

The Commissioners discussed the details of the wording of Ms. McElwaine's well-stated draft and decided that Mr. Cary and Mr. Moriarty would "wordsmith" it tomorrow and have Mr. Cary sign it as Chairman of the Library Commission in order to send it out tomorrow or Friday.