News

Guilford set to reconsider library vote

Informational meeting takes place May 16; library will host event to see library and meet trustees

GUILFORD — Prior to the revote regarding the Guilford Free Library renovation project, the Selectboard will host a public informational meeting as required by law on Monday, May 16, at 6:30 p.m.

Polls will be open at the Town Office on May 24 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The question will be handled via Australian ballot.

At this point, the informational meeting will be held virtually via Zoom, as was the meeting prior to the first vote on March 1.

Chair Zon Eastes said he will find out if the meeting can be held as a hybrid, with people also in the room in person.

State law demands that the entire process be replicated as closely as possible to the way things went before the March 1 vote.

The vote to reconsider the $1,013,300 project came after 10 percent of voters- 5 percent more than needed - petitioned the Selectboard.

The article will again include that not more than $205,000 of the total renovation cost be financed over 30 years or fewer, that it be subject to available grants-in-aid, and that the town reallocate $195,000 in unused money held with the Vermont Bond Bank originally allocated to a water project that was paid for by other means.

The original March 1 vote of 348–333 approved the plan by just 15 votes.

Because it is a revote, if the prevailing vote on May 24 to reconsider and allow the project to move ahead is “no,” it would have to be by a margin of 67 percent of the March 1 vote to overturn the initial vote.

In other words, the “no” votes would have to exceed the “yes” votes by more than 235 votes to rescind the previous vote.

This Saturday, April 30, a “walk-about” will take place at the library, starting at 10:30 a.m.

This is an opportunity, said Library Co-Chair Laura Lawson Tucker, for folks to “engage with the trustees” and to “ask your questions and meet us and be there.”

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