Court Documents and Completion of Construction Documents
To see the most recent documents about the library project - see Library Project from the Town of Sharon Website. The Sharon Standing Building Committee takes over a project once the town votes to approve funding, and with input from the Board of Library Trustees.
Trustees vs ZBA Court Case Update:
Decision on Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment
Order of Remand - (specific timeline for ZBA decision included)
LLB Architects and OPM Design Technique complete 100% of construction documents for the
August 1, 2021 deadline.
Time Line 2020 to Present
March 2020 - New library building information.
January 2020- See Sharon Standing Building Committee minutes for current information. (The Sharon Standing Building Committee takes over for municipal projects after the town votes to approve the project and expense).
January 13 - Neighborhood Abutters Meeting Televised - http://www.sharontv.com/video/
Time Line 2019
November 19 - Schematic Design Phase completed as approved by SSBC and MBLC
November 4 - Design Development begins
July - The Sharon Standing Building Committee takes over the project from the Library. For all reports, agendas, minutes, and other information see https://www.townofsharon.net/sharon-standing-building-committee . To watch the Sharon Cable televised meetings of the Standing Building Committee: http://www.sharontv.com/video-list/?prog=1060530 .
July - Notification of grant award - $7,485,943 from Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program
May 28 - Sharon Standing Building Committee (SSBC) - Architectural Schematic Design Phase begins
May 21 - Debt Exclusion Vote approved by 71%.
May 6 - Annual Town Meeting Vote for new library approved by 82%.
April 29 - Open Meeting - Trustee walk-thru and discussion about the new library -
April 24 - Third special meeting for the abutters with Town Administrator Fred Turkington, Traffic Engineer, Tom Houston, and the Board of Library Trustees to answer all pedestrian and traffic-related concerns and questions from the abutters.
April 17 - Special meeting for the abutters - This is the second special abutter's meeting. The first was held in January 2017. A list of questions was reviewed by the Board of Library Trustees and additional questions and concerns were added. Questions regarding the grant, the size of the building, collection and meeting spaces, and other questions were answered. A third meeting with the Town Administrator and the Traffic Engineer, Tom Houston is planned for April 24th at 7:00 PM, Library Community Room.
April 7 - Open Meeting - Trustee walk-thru and discussion about the new library. Library Community Room 3:00 PM.
April 2 and 16 - The Sharon Building Committee, members of the Sharon Historical Commission, and members of the Board of Library Trustees reviewed the latest plans for the exterior of the new library. A consensus by those in attendance approved the design to be sent to Jim Grassfield, Chair of the Sharon Historical Commission to share with his board for review and approval. The SSBC talked about releasing and turning back an additional $400,000 from the Public Safety Building. For more information, view the meetings on Sharon Cable TV.
March 25 - Open Meeting - Trustee walk-thru and discussion of the new library. Library Community Room 7:15 PM.
March 19 and 28th - The Standing Building committee, members of the Sharon Historical Commission, and members of the Board of Library Trustees discussed the exterior of the new library. A meeting will be held on the 28th to discuss this further.
Traffic Study Update - The library has commissioned PSC to prepare a traffic and pedestrian study that has been sent to DPW and the Standing Building Committee. They will review the suggested recommendations and determine the best solution for the neighborhood and library patrons. We are aware of the issues surrounding traffic and pedestrian movement at the proposed new library site, such as better illumination of North Main Street crosswalks, pedestrian safety on North Main Street, School Street, and Pleasant Street, improved lighting, and stop signs where appropriate. Designated parking is only allowed on the library property at 1 School Street, in the municipal lot behind the Congregational church, and designated street parking. Summary of the traffic survey.
February 28 - First organizational meeting of the Library Reuse Committee - Meeting to be held at the Community Center Rm. 26. The Board of Selectmen chose the following people to form the Library reuse committee: James Popkin, Roni Thaler, Adam Shain, Jim Daylor, and Matthew Grosshandler.
January 24 - MBLC informed Library Director that Sharon will be funded $7,485,943 over 5 installments (once certain milestones are met) beginning in July 2019 provided local funding is approved. The town vote for local funding will be on May 6, 2019. To fund the debt exclusion, there will be a ballot question at the town election on May 21. Funding is based on need. The current library cannot serve the needs of the community and the condition of the current library enables the state to offer these funds to the Town of Sharon sooner than would be expected.
January 14 - Board of Trustees, Library Director, Library Architects R.Drayton Fair, Michael Stickney, and Owner's Project Manager John Sayre-Scibono presented the completed feasibility study to Sharon Standing Building Committee. Library representatives appointed to SSBC are Bob Levin, Vice Chair Board of Library Trustees; Andrew Hyland, Secretary, Board of Library Trustees as alternate; and Library Director, Lee Ann Amend.
The Sharon Public Library was notified that they were number 2 on the waitlist and that funding is expected to be available in July 2019. State to determine funding for new library construction projects by late spring 2019.
Time Line 2018
July - Monsoon rains flood the lower-level library. 1960/1979 drainage system cannot keep up with heavy, fast-moving rains. There have been multiple floods over the years.
June - Install two lally columns to help support the Carnegie main beam as a temporary measure. According to the structural engineer, Reginald Roome, this is a temporary measure that does not constitute a permanent repair.
May - Reduced load-bearing capacity forces major changes to Library. 150 lb per square foot load bearing capacity requirement reduced to 60lbs per square foot in Carnegie structure.
March - Roome & Guarracino LLC Structural Engineers to evaluate Carnegie Library Main Floor Beam break and depression (Report)
January - Sharon Library Foundation to continue fundraising for the new library.
Sharon Public Library moved to #2 on the Massachusetts Public Library Construction List
The Sharon Public Library Foundation releases information packets to the public listing the following:
Case Statement
Building Problems with Current Library
Giving Opportunities
Naming Opportunities
For More Information: http://www.sharonpubliclibraryfoundation.org
Time Line 2017
November 16 - The library was notified that they should begin fundraising as funds are likely to become available soon.
October - First meeting of the Sharon Library Foundation whose charge it is to fundraise for
the new Sharon Public Library.
July 13 - Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners Massachusetts Public Library
Construction Program approves grant award of $7,485,943 million toward a
the new library at 1 School Street and is placed #6 out of 24 on the waiting list.
January 26 - The library submits the application to MBLC
January 19 - Library Grant Request mailed out to Massachusetts Board of Library
Commissioners.
January 11 - Library Building and Selection Committee and Architects hold Public Forum to present a new design for 1 School Street site.
January - Library Building and Selection Committee Panel Discussion. This meeting was held for the abutters plus anyone else from the community. Three hundred and ten letters were mailed to all the abutters. The Architect reviewed the plans and answered questions about the schematic design. Questions concerning space for more materials, the exterior appearance of the replication, grant process, and the list, when we will find out, and traffic concerns.
Time Line 2016
December 16 & 23 - The library updated the Town with new design approvals for 1 School Street
December 9 and 16 - Community Open House from 2-4 PM with Library Director.
December 7 - Last meeting with architects for final review and questions.
December 5 - Library submits Project Notification Form to the Massachusetts Historical Commission.
November 2 - Sharon Historical Commission members review and approve historical
facade' from North Main Street. Exterior building design and color are determined by SHC.
November 2 - LBSC and SHC vote and approve exterior renderings.
October 20 - Director attends required grant Information Session
October 19 - Review of exterior renderings in accordance with historical rebuild of 2-story 1892 Centre School
October 14 - Site Borings (Geotechnical Services, Inc.)
October 7 - Library submits Letter of Intent to apply for public library construction funding
October 5 - Final approval of library floor plans per the required building program and needs assessment.
October 3 - Library submits 5-year Strategic Plans
September 16 - Site Survey (Jacobs Driscoll Engineering)
September 9 - Hazmat testing (Smith & Wesel)
September 7 - Perc Test (Dick Morse excavating and DeVellis Zrein, Inc.)
August 9 - Library submits Action Plan update
August 9 - Board of Selectmen meeting to discuss Sharon Historical Commission's determination regarding the current library site and use of School Street as the Library's primary site for the library feasibility study and schematic design. The vote was unanimously approved.
July 26 - Board of Selectmen meeting to discuss the following: Library plans, determination letter about the current library site, and preservation laws and regulations.
Read the condition assessment of 1 School Street - the old superintendent's building.
July 25 - Library Building and Selection Committee and Sharon Historical Commission meeting to review the project, and historical preservation for 1 School Street.
July 21 - Meeting of the Sharon Historical Commission to discuss new library project. Sharon Community Center Room 26 at 7:30 PM. The Commission voted 4 to 3 to approve the project site as 1 School Street. SHC will determine what the building envelope/exterior will be while the Library Building and Selection Committee will determine the library program spaces.
July 13 - Meeting of the Sharon Historical Commission to discuss the Library Expansion Plans. Sharon Community Center Meeting Room 26 at 7:30 PM. The Sharon Historical Commission did not approve the plans to go forward on the current site. A vote will be taken at a subsequent meeting to determine if they will support our project at the 1 School Street site.
July 2 - The LBSC was notified as follows, The Sharon Historical Commission met and is drawing up a letter to the library with their decision. They are planning to inform the LBSC by July 12 which is the date of the Selectmen's meeting.
June 27 - A member of the Sharon Historical Commission calls Town Hall on Friday asking to be placed on the next Board of Selectmen's agenda to discuss the library, particularly alternative sites. They don’t believe the current site will work based on Mass Historical Commission’s findings. The Library Building and Selection Committee has not been notified as to the results of any findings, either by the Massachusetts Historical Commission or the Sharon Historical Commission as of June 27th.
June 23 - The Sharon Historical Commission met to discuss the library expansion design plans. The Library Building and Selection Committee was not informed as to the results of this meeting.
The Sharon Public Library Carnegie Building was built by Andrew Carnegie in 1914 at no cost to the Town of Sharon. This library was 2,000 square feet. It was Andrew Carnegie's vision that "A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people." The Carnegie Building is part of the Sharon Historic District. And because of this, the Library Building and Selection Committee and Architects met with the Sharon Historical Commission on May 11, 2016.
On May 13, 2016, the library submitted the Project Notification Form to the Massachusetts Historical Commission. The purpose of the Massachusetts Historical Commission is not to stop a project from moving forward as described in 950 CMR 71 but to recommend that all parties work together to find a solution. " The MHC will determine whether the project will have any adverse effect, direct or indirect, on any property listed in the State Register of Historic Places. The MHC must make a determination of effect within 30 days of receipt of notification. If the MHC determines that a project will have an adverse effect on a State Register property, then the MHC, the state body, and the private project proponent will immediately consult to discuss ways to eliminate, minimize, or mitigate the adverse effects. The state body or the private project proponent undertaking the project must adopt all prudent and feasible means to eliminate, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects. 950 CMR 71.02 detail the process for compliance with M.G.L. c. 9, §§ 26 through 27C by establishing a forum for the resolution of disputes arising between proposed developments and historic properties; the emphasis of the process is on interested parties negotiating an agreement after a thorough and good faith examination of alternatives. State law does not give the MHC veto authority over proposed developments but does direct state bodies to adopt all prudent and feasible means to avoid damaging historic properties. The MHC's role is to provide information, technical assistance, and a forum to assist project proponents in developing projects that consider historic values and preserve the Commonwealth's historic heritage."
The Architects described the plans while the Library Building and Selection Committee discussed the requirements of the grant. The Library Building Program is the set of plans that describe the requirements as set forth by the MBLC, the survey of community needs, 20-year projected growth figures for the Town of Sharon, public, and staff, and utility space required to operate a library. It is the 20-year projected growth requirements that determine the size of the building program. The reason for this is that the State of Massachusetts does not want to pay for a project that won't last into the future.
The Town of Sharon has expanded the library twice already. The first addition, which towered over and enclosed one side of the exterior of the Carnegie building, was completed in 1960. As the community grew and the library couldn't handle the increase in services required, another addition was completed in 1979. The new library has a building program size of 20,000 square feet (public space) which is the minimum required by the Donahue institute figures for the Town of Sharon based on Sharon's community and needs. This is a requirement for the grant. The total square footage for the new library is 25,000 square feet which includes the utility space (elevator, bathrooms, mechanical room, electrical room, etc.)
The original Carnegie building was 2,000 square feet and the two additions brought the total size to 10,500 square feet. The entire back wall of the Carnegie Building was removed in this renovation and the Southside of the Carnegie building was covered with the new addition. Zoning variances had to be secured to take most of the .33 acres of land that the library currently sits on.
May 2 - Annual Town Meeting - The Board of Library Trustees receive permission by unanimous vote to approve the Library Building Project and to apply for the grant to see if the Town will get funding for the new library project. It is understood that this process is long and could take from 5 to 10 years for the project to be funded by the State of Massachusetts due to a waiting list process. Libraries that are in poorer communities and communities dealing with failing buildings usually receive priority for funding.
Time Line 2015
2015 - The LBSC followed all appropriate Massachusetts Design Procurement regulations to hire the Owner's Project Manager and the Architect, with help from all appropriate town departments. The LBSC hired Design Technique to serve as the Owner's Project Manager and Lerner Ladds Bartels (LLB) Architectural firm to complete the feasibility study and prepare schematic designs and cost estimates.
2015 - The Town of Sharon was awarded a $49,245 planning and design grant. The library established a 6-member Library Building and Selection Committee (LBSC). This committee hired a Library Building Consultant to create and send out a survey and to meet with the community and all parties who had an interest in the project. The building program is the term used to describe all interior service spaces, equipment, and furnishings.
Time Line 2014
May 2014 - At the Annual Town Meeting the Town of Sharon voted to approve the $25,000 1/3rd match required for the state funding. An application for a Library Planning and Design grant was submitted to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.