Russell Library / City Hall Feasibility Study Committee

Russell Library/City Hall Feasibility Study Committee Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 5:00pm Present: Ramona Burkey​ John DiFilippo​ Benjamin Florsheim​ Sheila Jones ​ Anthony Mangiafico​ Joseph Samolis​ Eamonn Wisneski 1. Call to Order: Chairman Mangiafico called the meeting to order at 5:02 pm. 2. Public comment: None. 3. Approval of Minutes- Sheila Jones made a motion to approve minutes of the August 27, 2024 meeting. Eamonn Wisneski seconded. The motion passed 3-0, with Joseph Samolis abstaining. Chairman Mangiafico noted that the Committee need not vote on the draft minutes from September because there was no official meeting that month due to lack of quorum. 4. Unfinished Business Timeline and deadlines: Director Burkey updated the Committee on the timeline, noting an issue with the Committee allocated funding reverting to the City at the conclusion of the prior fiscal year. Anthony Mangiafico stated that we will have more information to inform how future timeline and deadlines after the November 2024 city referenda are concluded. Discussion of next phases of feasibility/capital planning- The Committee discussed the next stages of feasibility planning. The City Council will have a walk-through of the Russell Library on December 3rd to tour the library and then have a chance to ask questions afterwards. Budget status: Director Burkey will begin working on a resolution to restore the Committee's funding. 5. New Business Economic Impact Study- Chairman Mangiafico stated that an economic impact study could help show to city leadership and residents how city investments in the library and city hall would have a positive economic impact on the community. Mayor Florsheim stated that the library and city hall studies should be done together to show potential impact on the community- this would essentially be an economic master plan for a part of the city. The Committee discussed potential issues for the economic impact study to address. Eamonn Wisneski opined that the economic impact study should not just encompass the economic value to proceeding in a certain manner, but should also include the negative economic impact of not moving forward with certain projects (citing both the increased costs to renovate in place at City Hall and the opportunity loss for the current parcel as outlined in Howard Weissberg's prior presentation as an example). Chairman Mangiafico moved that the Committee expend funds for an economic impact study, Joseph Samolis seconded. Unanimous in favor. Chairman Mangiafico made a motion that Director Burkey draft a resolution to ask the council to reappropriate the unused funds to the Committee, Joseph Samolis seconded. Unanimous in favor. Meeting format- Chairman Mangiafico stated that due to attendance issues in recent months leading to a lack of quorum at the last scheduled meeting, and technical limitations at available Russell Library and City Hall locations that prevent efficient hybrid meetings, we should maintain the current virtual-only format. Joe Samolis noted his agreement. Eamonn Wisneski infomed the Committee that Steve Nelson had attempted to log in to this meeting, but encountered technical difficulties. He also noted concurrence with this plan for now, but that the Committee should retain the ability to move to an in-person format in the future depending upon the timeline. Chairman Mangiafico made a motion to continue the committee meetings in virtual only format, Joseph Samolis seconded. Unanimous in favor. Meeting schedule, January 2025 - January 2026- Director Burkey reviewed the proposed meeting schedule distributed to committee members in advance of the meeting. Joseph Samolis moved to approve the proposed schedule, Sheila Jones seconded. Unanimous in favor. Chairman Mangiafico announced that Mayor Florsheim will nominate Phil Pessina to serve as a member of the Committee, and thanked Sandra Russo-Driska for her service to the committee. 6. Adjournment- Joseph Samolis moved to adjourn the meeting, and Sheila Jones seconded. Unanimous in favor. Meeting adjourned at 5:27 pm.