Woodstock Library officials are still waiting for the Miller/Howard Investments board of directors to approve a purchase agreement for its offices at 10 Dixon Avenue in Bearsville. The library Board of Trustees had called a special meeting December 2 in anticipation of approving an agreement, but the Miller/Howard board, which met earlier that day, did not move to approve it.
“Now for what everyone is here for…I hate to disappoint you, but the Miller/Howard board did not sign the purchase agreement,” library board President Jeff Collins said. “We’re still in negotiations with them.”
Resident Sam Magarelli, a former County Legislator and a critic of past library expansion proposals, is amenable to the 10 Dixon Avenue purchase. “… assuming that the price comes in at something that’s doable, I think there’s a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and support the library, and I think the bond has a great chance of succeeding,” he said. “As you all know, moving the library isn’t my first choice. I always thought the other approach (renovation of the current building) was more reasonable and would be more acceptable for the community. But the Miller/Howard building has one thing that the library has always needed. That’s parking.”
The library board previously voted to bond only for the purchase price of the building and a $1.2 million renovation and not for a planned expansion. If the library pays the current asking price of $2.579 million, the total bond will be $3.779 million. If the bond passes, the library will also start a fundraising campaign to pay for a $3 million addition so taxpayers will not shoulder the full cost.
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