L&M Publications
Merrick Life • Bellmore Life • Freeport-Baldwin Leader • Wantagh-Seaford Citizen

The $6.75 million bond issue would allow the library to build a new 3,200-square foot community room, and two other program rooms, using existing space as well as replacing windows, the roof, putting in a new heating ventillation and air conditioning [HVAC] system and solar panels to reduce energy costs, and addressing “a crumbling infrastructure,” said Mr. Witt.
   
The renovation accounts for 86% of this project, leaving 14% for hard construction costs for a new community room.
   
The bond will be paid off over a period of 20 years. The estimated additional cost in taxes for a home assessed at $450,000 in North Merrick would be $132 a year. This cost would be in addition to library taxes collected for annual services. This year the library will not increase the tax levy for operating services.
   
The vote on the referendum will be on April 11 at the North Merrick Library,  1691 Meadowbrook Road, between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. All North Merrick residents who are registered to vote in school and November elections may vote.
   
Mr. Witt told Merrick Life in an earlier interview that “it is cheaper to address these issues [aging infrastructure and an increase in library usage] in a comprehensive project than piecemeal.”
   
However, several residents have questioned the project’s cost as well as the need to construct additional library space, especially in this economic climate.
   
Dr. Matt Kuschner wrote to Merrick Life that “the capital fund should be used in place of a 20-year bond for the building’s renovation. As a community asset the building needs to be maintained with a new roof, windows and heating/cooling system,” he wrote. It is Dr. Kuschner’s opinion that “The library board should sue the cpaital reserve fund in conjunction with some budget increases right away to replace the windows, roof and HVAC and not build the extention.”
   
But residents Nancy Yngstrom, Ann Santino and Randy Shannon wrote letters to support the bond referendum.
   
“In the long run it is much-less expensive to replace these [items including the roof, windows and heating system] before they give out  – emergency boiler replacement is an expensive proposition and our 55–year-old windows mean we are heating the parking lot,” wrote Mr. Shannon.
   
For more information visit www.northmerrickpubliclibrary.org.

By Laura Schofer

Laura Schofer, staff writer for L&M Publications, has been recognized with several awards for many of her feature pieces published in Bellmore and Merrick Life, The Citizen and The Leader.