Action Items
(follow up)

1. Approval of Minutes from the February 6, 2008 Library Commission Meeting

Commissioner Moriarty moved, with Commissioner Givens providing the second, to accept the minutes of the February 6, 2008 meeting of the Springfield Library Board of Commissioners. Commissioner McElwaine voted present.

The motion passed.

2 . Mason Square Branch Library, Mayor Sarno

Mr. Cary, Vice-Chairman of the Library Commission, welcomed Mayor Sarno to the meeting. Mayor Sarno attended the meeting to discuss the site selection for the planned new Mason Square Branch Library. Mayor Sarno's assistant, Darryl Moss, as well as Patrick Markey, Springfield City Councilor, accompanied the Mayor. Mr. Markey reviewed the site selection search process for the Commission and audience members. According to Mr. Markey the Mason Square Fire Station and the McKnight mansion at 684 State Street are being considered. Each location will need an engineering analysis to determine the "fitness" of the possible sites. Mr. Markey will take the Library Board's recommendation to the Library Foundation meeting next week. The Library Foundation oversees the Annie Curran Trust Fund, whose monies will be used for construction of the new Mason Square Library. Several of the citizens attending, as well as Delphine Ray, Mason Square Library staff member, spoke passionately about their desire to see the new Mason Square Branch Library come to fruition. Liz Stevens, Mason Square Branch Advisory Committee, expressed her hope that the Mayor would announce his site decision during the Mason Square celebration of National Library week April 13th – 19th , and said that the Advisory Committee would support any site that the Mayor selects.

Mr. Givens made a motion to support the Mayor's decision to do the two feasibility studies. Ms. McElwaine seconded the motion.

The motion passed.

3. Commission Sub-Committee Reports

Ms. McElwaine reported on the parking situation at the Forest Park Branch Library.

Mr. Givens suggested that the Commissioners discuss the membership of the various Library Commission sub-committees at next month's Library Commission meeting. Commissioners also discussed the need to hold an election of officers at the next meeting.

Director Bader announced that the Library had just received a $15,000 grant from Hampden Bank and thanked Commissioner Toledo for his encouragement and support. The grant will be used over the next three years to support art projects at the Indian Orchard Branch Library, working in conjunction with the Indian Orchard Mills.

4. Other Business

Ms. Bader informed the Commission that the initial FY09 Library Operating Budget hearing is scheduled for March 18th from 1-2 p.m. at City Hall.

Maria Mazzaferro, Forest Park Branch Advisory Committee, asked the Commission about the status of the Forest Park Branch Library lift project. Ms. Bader has been in communication with Patrick Sullivan, Head of Facilities Management, as well as Mayor Sarno on this issue. She relayed that the price has gone up considerably since the initial planning, more than doubling in two years. A number of neighborhood residents discussed their support for the project and expressed frustration at the delay in implementation. Ms. McElwaine reminded everyone that the delays were caused by a need to fund emergency roof repairs at three libraries, but that the project was still on the table and meetings were being planned to discuss funding.

5. Adjournment

It was moved by Commissioner Moriarty and seconded by Commissioner Givens to adjourn.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m.

The next meeting will be held on April 2, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. at the Pine Point Branch Library