Town Council Discusses Ways to Pay for Library

By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave

September 13, 2012

“You wanted a building and we got you a building,” Cape Charles Mayor Dora Sullivan told the audience at a Town Council work session September 11. She was referring to plans to buy the former Bank of America building for use as a library.

Vice Mayor Chris Bannon said public response to the proposed new library building has been “fantastic.”

The Town intends to transfer $219,000 from a bond issued in 2010 to connect two new wells to the water supply. That includes $7,000 annual interest on that portion of the bond.

Councilman Frank Wendell asked about the legality of taking bond money intended for the wells and using it to buy the bank building. Town Manager Heather Arcos said Town staff checked with the bond council and was told it was OK.

Wendell asked if a written plan existed for replacing the money for the wells. Arcos said no, but that staff was working on one. Mayor Sullivan said she wanted to replace the funds as soon as possible.

Town Planner Tom Bonadeo said the wells had been drilled but not connected. The unspent money in the bond issue was for connecting them, but current water demand is not high enough to require additional wells.

The estimated cost of immediate repairs and required upgrades to the bank building is $67,000. The biggest cost is $50,000 to repair a leaky basement. Minor costs include electrical upgrades, a handicap-accessible bathroom, higher balcony railings, removal of teller stations, and bringing exit doors up to code.

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Moving expenses and new furnishings are extra. The town plans to request a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to cover some of those expenses.

Town manager Arcos outlined a plan to obtain additional needed funds:

— Anticipated contribution from Friends of the Library: $10,000

— Store Town documents in the bank vault and cancel the contract with Bay Storage: $2,500 per year saving

— Eliminate the unfilled part-time position to assist code enforcement: $19,011 per year saving

— Defer streetlight upgrades: $10,000 saving

— Defer streetscape improvements: $10,000 saving

— Anticipated tap fee from development of old school: $52,000

— Anticipated tap fee from Bay Creek Beach Club: $44,000

— Anticipated tap fees from other Bay Creek developments: $72,000

The Town will also sell unneeded furniture from the old library and the bank building to contribute to funding the library move.

Town code officer Jeb Brady reviewed his inspection of the bank building, which he made with the assistance of Town planner Bonadeo and Public Works director Dave Fauber. Town staff also obtained opinions from local experts.

Brady said the leaky basement needed to be fixed immediately, and eventually should be flood-proofed. This would require installing a modern heating system on the roof and removing the oil-fired furnaces from the basement.

Brady said the roof appeared to be in good shape except for a lower section that needs attention.

A building and property report provided by Bank of America was distributed, which stated that an asbestos abatement had been done in 1987. No existing asbestos concerns were reported.

Mayor Sullivan recommended a public forum to hear community suggestions for the old library building. She said the Town Council could have a public session to find out what the community wants to do with the old building. Two possible uses could be as a recreation center or a library annex, she suggested.

Councilman Larry Veber said the Town might need to sell the building. Councilman Wendell responded that the building was a memorial to service members who died in World War I. Town Planner Bonadeo added that it was the first memorial library in Virginia.