Stonington Free Library asks town to help fund project

Stonington — The Stonington Free Library is seeking to renovate its building to make it handicapped accessible by adding two handicapped bathrooms, an elevator and a new ramp.

The Borough Planning and Zoning Commission approved the project on Tuesday and the library now is asking the town to include $280,000 split over two years in its capital improvement budget to help pay for the $420,000 project.

Library Director Belinda de Kay said the “modest project” came out of the library’s strategic planning process and the fact the library does not comply with accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“This is absolutely essential for the library,” she said.

Plans call for all the work to take place within the existing footprint of the building.

“We’re trying to repurpose space instead of trying to add square footage,” said de Kay, who said the library does not necessarily need more space, as it can expand its reach by making use of digital collections and working with community partners such as the Pawcatuck and Stonington community centers and local schools.

Plans call for eliminating a storage closet and bathroom on the main floor, which will open up the central hallway and allow the library to move its existing circulation desk away from the current main entrance. This will create a more inviting entry space, de Kay said.

There will be one handicapped-accessible bathroom on the main floor next to the entrance for the new handicapped ramp and the elevator. A second handicapped bathroom will be located just below in the basement, which houses the children’s and teen collections and programs. The existing elevator is inoperable and cannot be repaired. Donors have offered to fund the remaining $140,000 of the project, de Kay said.

The town has the project listed as a “B” priority in its proposed 2018-19 capital budget, which the Board of Finance reviewed Thursday night. The board likely will fund all “A” priorities in the budget it sends to voters, as they are considered health and safety items. Approval of “B” items will be more difficult as the town grapples with a $1.6 million decrease in state aid and a $1.8 million increase in debt payments due to the elementary school project.

In addition, de Kay said the library also is asking for a $110,000 increase in the town’s annual contribution to the library budget from the current $147,000 to $257,000.

“We’re trying to change the conversation and make (town officials) aware that we are an agency that provides a lot of services,” she said.

The town does not operate its own public library but makes annual contributions to the Stonington Free, Mystic & Noank and Westerly libraries. The latter two libraries receive $93,000 and $86,500, respectively, in the current budget.

Without an increase in town funding, de Kay said the library would have to cut back its services for residents.