N. Merrick Library plans $6.5M bond

The North Merrick Public Library’s $6.5 million renovation plan will go to a public vote on Monday, April 11, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The vote will be held at the library.

According to Tom Witt, the library director, 86 percent of the $6.5 million will go toward library renovations, and 14 percent will go toward construction of a new community room. Two construction firms that the library has been working with, H2M and Park East Construction Corp., generated the totals. Witt said that, if the bond were to pass, property taxes for a home assessed at $450,000 would increase by about $11 per month, which represents a lower figure than the quote that Witt received last year. “Construction costs came down, which made us want to act now,” he said.

Witt said that the library’s Board of Trustees had discussed renovations for years. When he became library director in June 2009, he suggested that the board move ahead, and members agreed.

Witt’s primary concern is building a new roof. The library’s current roof is original from when the facility was built 55 years ago. The roof, Witt said, requires constant patching because of leaks, which is costly and potentially dangerous. "You don't want to be reacting to a crisis,” he said, referring to the possibility of a cave-in. “You'd rather be intelligently planning ahead and proactively addressing the issue before you do have a crisis."

Other renovation plans include a new boiler (the current one is original also), as well as installing an energy-efficient HVAC system (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning), lighting systems, insulated windows and solar panels on the roof. In total, Witt said, the cuts in energy expenditures would save the library an estimated $12,000 a year.

In addition, Witt said that he is also planning an interior space redesign. He wishes to build a large meeting room to better accommodate the library’s programs and events, as well use existing space to carve two smaller rooms, one for children and young adult programs, and the other for board meetings and book discussions.