FROM THE NEWSROOM: Putnam officials continue searching for a site where a new library will be constructed, and despite the taxpayers rejection of a potential property on Church Street back in December, the Library Exploratory Building Committee has not yet ruled the site out. Building Committee Chairman George Tsanjoures said the referendum last year was too confusing to voters, saying the date change caught the public off guard, and reiterating Mayor Tony Falzaranos theory that residents did not comprehend the difference between voting for a land purchase for municipal purposes and voting for a land purchase specifically for a library. Tsanjoures also said this time around, if the waterfront Church Street site is chosen to go to the public again, there will be new reasons to persuade the public to accept it -- the plans for the library community room space are being reduced, the plans for the library area itself are being reduced, and further grant options are being explored. All of this would reduce the cost of the library to taxpayers, he says, one of the primary concerns from residents who rejected the property purchase. There are additional sites being explored by the Committee as well; Tsanjoures said one includes approximately 1.4 acres of land adjacent to the Putnam Police Station around the tennis courts and skate park, the Wicker Street Armory site and several other possibilities previously researched. Options will be discussed further at the next Building Committee meeting February 4th, at 6 p.m. at the Putnam Public Library. Tune in for the full report.
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 11:47:40 +0000