By LAYLA KALINEN
Eagle Times Correspondent
SPRINGFIELD, VT — The Springfield Selectboard met Monday to hear from the town’s library director on roof repairs and library fees charged to non-residents.
Library Director Sue Dowdell asked the board for support to replace the library’s air handler and heat pump condenser and repair roof, which was installed in 1978, while she investigates grant funding.
Board member Michael Martin said that he noticed the older town buildings need repairs sooner than anticipated.
“We seem to have aging buildings with problems. The air-handler condenser in the library was scheduled to be replaced in 2025, however it is failing,” said Martin.
The cost to replace the handler and condenser is $85,000 to $90,000, Dowdell said.
The board moved to review the needs and money available.
“It was the rainy season this year when we saw it affect the library roof,” Martin said.
Dowdell also asked the board to approve the library’s non-resident membership fee from $50 to $60 on Jan. 1, and then to $70 on July 1, 2025.
“We didn’t want to bring it all the way up to $70 from $50. We felt that in January, we went up to $60 and then in a year and a half, we would go up to $70,” she said.
The board unanimously approved the motion.
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