The goal had been to break ground for the new library during the summer of 2009 and, hopefully, that goal is still on target.

Architect Tom Lonardo had presented copies of two library designs for review at a meeting held on Wednesday, April 22 – a one-story version and one with two stories. Lonardo brought the plans with him to a board of trustees meeting held on Monday, hoping a decision would be made.

It was, but only after a lot of back-and-forth various aspects of the project.

Traffic flow is a major consideration, since the property in question – located to the rear of the current Mohr library – adjoins N.A. Ferri Middle School and Johnston Memorial Park. The entrance to the schools from Atwood Avenue is currently one-way, as is Memorial Drive, which starts at Hartford Avenue. There was a discussion of the possibility of changing Memorial Drive to once again allow two-way traffic, since it also provides access to an adjacent residential neighborhood.

The trustees also wanted to know which way the library would face – toward Atwood or toward the park?

Paul Ciccone, a member of the Friends of Mohr Library, had hoped that the design would include “green technology” and had facilitated a field trip to a library in Tiverton in February to learn more.

“There is stimulus money available [for that],” he said.

The group had previously produced a building schematic that did not specify the shape or exact size of rooms and areas, but defined their functions and capacity, addressing which areas should be adjacent to or distant from one another, and listing probable types of equipment and furniture.

The deciding factor in the design, however, turned out to be the ground beneath the building.

Lonardo favored a one-story design, which eliminated the need for stairways and elevators that consume valuable floor space. He estimates an elevator and two stairwells would eat up as much as 2,000 square feet of the 10,000 square-foot plan.

A single-story design, however, would necessitate changing the existing site, which includes a 12-foot grade and possible ledge.

“I asked the civil engineer to come in – I’d like to level the site, to use it for its best potential,” Lonardo said. “The ‘cost differential’ outweighs the cost of leveling the site – a slope would have to be cut, fill brought in. From an architectural standpoint, I like this plan, but to make it a one-story site will be very expensive.”

“That adds a ton of dough to your costs, when you have to move roads and pave,” acknowledged Allan Mawhiney, vice-chair of the library board of trustees.

Because of the grade, one side of the library will be one story and the other side will be two stories.

“As much as I don’t want to do it, the site is driving the design and forcing my hand,” said Lonardo.

In 2001, the town council passed Resolution 2001-80 acknowledging the need for a library five to six times bigger than the current one. The latest design will not be much larger than the existing 6,000-square-foot facility built in 1961, but will meet state fire codes and ADA handicapped accessibility standards.

Lonardo was hired by the town in 2001 to design the library; at one point, it was to be 30,000 square feet and the $8 million estimated cost would be paid for through bonds. He has since had to change the design many times.

At Monday’s meeting, the room was full with people representing every possible interest in the town. Eric Alhborg, president of Ahlborg Companies, a construction management firm, was there, as was Town Attorney William Conley, School Department Director of Facilities David Cournoyer and members of the Friends of Mohr. Representing the staff of the library were director Jon Anderson and Grayce Moorehead, associate director of reference.

A building committee has been created, and will include the mayor’s chief of staff Robert Parker – who was unable to attend Monday’s meeting – in addition to library staff, “Friends” and trustees. The committee, working with the engineers, will help to manage the construction of the new building, with the approval of the board of trustees.

“We’re trying to forge forward – we’re in a ‘crawling mode,’” Lonardo told those at Monday’s meeting. “My only agenda is to give you a great building.

The “great building” will have to come in for a price, however. Last November, residents had voted in favor of a $3 million library bond, with 7,604 votes (about 61%) for and 4,840 against. An additional $750,000 might be forthcoming from the Champlain Foundation, but that will not be announced until October or November.

“The bond has been approved and is ready go to market – everything the town has had to do, it’s been done for you,” said Conley, who also approved the contract with Ahlborg. “Conditions are favorable for construction.”

Anderson has documented on the library’s Web site the history of the quest for a new building; the library has created a blog about the new facility. Both can be seen at http://mohrlibrary.org.