Wellington county councillors are hoping their decision to move ahead with a $5-million redesign of the Carnegie library in downtown Fergus will heal a rift among residents and business people over the handling of the project.
The proposal almost led to the closure of the Aboyne library and saw concerns raised about costs, parking, contaminated soil, lack of public input and the need for a 15,000 square foot renovated library.
“The issue has caused dissension in the community,” said councillor Don McKay, who voted in favour of moving ahead with the revised design.
“I hope the parties come together and reconcile their differences. I think we are moving ahead on the right track.”
Councillor Lou Maieron, a member of the library board, thanked those who presented different arguments on the Aboyne and Fergus library plans and pointed out more public input should have been considered.
“I think we’ve done good, overall it will work, but it has caused dissension in our community,” Maieron said. “We could have done better. I’m not thrilled about the process.”
Councillor Jean Innes was also critical of the process, saying public input was lacking.
“We live in a very involved community,” she said of Fergus. “We needed public input …To the public this has been a very secretive process.”
Innes said when the initial plan called for the closing of Menzies Lane at the rear of the library, it raised concerns and should have paved the way for greater public comment.
Three residents made presentations to council prior to the vote – two opposed and one in favour.
Silvana Sangiuliano and businessman Steve Lund reiterated their concerns about the project and the revised design presented by architect Paul Sapounzi of VG Architects The Ventin Group Ltd. at the Oct. 10 library board meeting.
At that meeting Sapounzi unveiled the new design with a smaller addition to the building, allowing Menzies Lane to remain open and allowing for some additional green space at the rear of the building. The redesign would also require refiguring of inside space, including office and meeting rooms. The architect also attended county council to present the redesign.
Innes suggested concerns raised about changes to the interior should allow for public comment before a final design is chosen.
Sangiuliano and Lund continued to raise concern about the redesign, including parking, the cost of the project and the removal of contaminated soil.
“This is my seventh delegation at the various boards and council since August,” said Lund, who added he represented about 100 downtown businesses concerned about the project. “We do not agree with the size and scope of your plan.”
The businessman said the loss of parking spots downtown, which have fluctuated between eight and 17 with the architect saying he believed eight parking spots would be lost due to the redesign, is serious.
The parking issue has been downplayed by Warden Chris White, who said an additional 25 parking spaces at the county social services building about a block away from the library would be available and used by library staff. The county has contended the parking issue was under discussion between Centre Wellington and the downtown BIA.
“You may say parking is not your problem, but it is your (library) footprint that is causing the problems,” Lund said.
Sangiuliano was critical of the size of the library, its design, contamination, how the process went and incomplete financial information.
“Currently, there are 47,000 volumes, and the design competition specifies there should be space for at least 50,000,” she said.
“This is only an increase of 3,000 books. How does a mere six per cent in additional resources necessitate an incredible 225 per cent increase in floor space?”
She also warned, despite county estimates that removal of contaminated soil will cost about $260,000, she has heard the work could cost as much as $1.5 million.
However, Sangiuliano was later told removal would possibly cost less than original estimates with the smaller library footprint. She was also told, in all likelihood, contaminated soil would go to a county dump.
The warden later said removal of contaminated soil will be done following provincial guidelines.
Sangiuliano also questioned cost sharing with Centre Wellington on the project estimated at about $660,000.
CAO Scott Wilson agreed cost sharing figures still have to be established, but he said the final figure as presented by Gary Cousins, director of planning and development, should be close.
Resident Thomas Homer-Dixon said he represented a large number of supporters of the Fergus library redesign and contended opposition to the project didn’t reflect “strong support for the new building.”
Dixon said despite the vocal opposition, his group felt it unnecessary to provide petitions and different speakers to make their support known for the project.
“We wouldn’t engage in a position arms race,” he said.
He credited the architect with presenting a redesign quickly and stated, “it’s a good one, but it’s not perfect.”
On the parking issue, Dixon said his group felt it was a township issue and not a county issue.
“The Fergus parking problem needs to be addressed locally,” he said. He added concerns about soil contamination and its extent should be left to the experts.
“We should let these people do their jobs … It’s time to move ahead. It’s time to reach a decision to redesign and expand the Fergus library.”
Councillor Joanne Ross-Zuj said concerns over possible cost overruns were addressed by a previous council motion to bring any cost overruns to council for its approval.
“This (redesign) is a vision for our future growth and our future development in Fergus,” she said.
Council voted to move ahead with the project and also voted in favour of allowing the library board to set up public meetings prior to any work being done at the Palmerston and Hillsburgh library, as proposed by councillor Mark MacKenzie, chair of the library board.
