"These shouldn't be at the library for free when people are trying to sell the same service in town."

Are you kidding me Ms. Manners? Just because somebody is trying to make a business out of a service that is an intrinsic function of a town library, and yes - for free, doesn't mean the library shouldn't offer it. And yes - for free. What happens next? Are you going to argue that the library shouldn't loan books because there is a book store in town?

Come on people, these programs are what the taxpayers in any town should expect to be offered at the library. It's what libraries do and services such as these are part of what makes a town a desireable place to live.

Perhaps Selectwoman Manners is a little to close to the Chamber of Commerce and not close enough to the taxpayers in town.

A means test? To use the library? So, if you make over, say, 100,000 dollars a year you have to buy all your books? Because that's essentially what she's saying.

Build it (the right way) and they will come.
I think a new library has the potential expand its role within the community, enhancing and complementing the overall business, educational, cultural and arts environment. There seems to be a need for stronger/broader education/collaboration programs for adults and youths in Town looking to learn new skills, get better educated, start a new business or provide a new community service. Could the new library offer a rich set of ‘knowledge assets’ and meeting rooms that are professionally equipped to support programs sponsored by businesses, academic institutions, the library or other non-profit organizations?
What would it take to get a university to offer credited summer or off-hour courses right here in Ridgefield? How about courses in software development for iPad apps or a Web-based business? Or a summer program for aspiring entrepreneurs, movie producers or mad scientists. Even the adult education program in Town might benefit from having a high quality yet affordable facility at its disposal. Business networking/collaboration groups that help local businesses could meet there rather than in the CVS community room. The list of possibilities is long, very long.
A new library could be the central hub of our community’s enrichment programs – programs that provide significant and relevant value in addition to those offered today.

In case Selectmen are reading this thread, add my nod to what the others are saying here. They say it better than I can. Manners missed badly on this one.

The programs at the library and those planned for the future are not really free; we'll be paying for them in our taxes with the $5 million subsidy. Shouldn't we all get something more from the library if we agree to that subsidy. Nothing is really for free, it just comes out of another pocket.

You are all missing the bigger picture! The Library is not telling the whole truth on how much money they have! They are basing the 15 million on the sale of the playhouse at 2.2 million which has not gone thru yet! They also have promissory notes for a few million dollars from a few years ago. Let them show these notes so that the taxpayers can see just how much money they have! The other fact is that at the last meeting the Library had not even gone to P&Z with the plans !! The taxpayers of this town do not have $700 per household to give to the Library, so let them build it with the 15 million that they say the have and just down size it a bit!! The blue prints look like an over sized Starbucks !! No now is not the time for this !!!!!

Ms. Manners, perhaps we should get rid of public education in this town as well. Why should the town provide this service "for free" when there are private schools competing? Get a clue.

The library offers wonderful programs and most residents I talk to enjoy having an active library. The real issue, as Mr. Coles has pointed out, is that the plans are too extravagant for what we can afford right now. There is a Starbucks in town for those who want to read with a cup of coffee, perhaps the library doesn't need a large coffee room? The library committee has worked very hard to raise close to $15 million. They should therefore build a $15 million library. Taxpayers' incomes are NOT going up, they are falling. Interest on this debt will haunt us for years, becoming a "fixed" expense in yearly budgets. (Same with Schlumberger...a boondoggle if there ever was one.) Our pockets are no longer deep, where do we draw the line? Education? Road repair? Or do our leaders think they can just tax us into oblivion?

Thank You, LInda, I would also like to mention that The Library is pushing for a special
ref. because if this goes to the town budget they will loose like last time!! We need to stand up to the Library and the BOS and say no to the 5 million!! Not now and not with our tax dollars!!!!

NNNNNNNNOOOOOO I am Dorthy and I will not be told what to do by any person or group of people, just because they want to waste my tax dollars!! Bah hum bug on them and their planned waste of our tax dollars and these spacial meetings that they hold at night so that no one wants to go too! Show me a revised plan of a 15 million dollar Library, and I will bet it looks just as good and is just as workable as a 20 million dollar one!!!!!!

Since the article states that the library has become the town's community center, let's sell the Lounsbury House (a/k/a The Community Center) and use the funds to help pay for the new library.

The 'old' community center is obsolete. The Dayton Room at the library has cut into the community center's viability.

Maybe someone would like to restore it back to a residence.

I disagree with people who say paying for the library programs through taxes is the same thing as paying privately, it just comes out of a different pocket. So wrong. Paying for the library programs through taxes is forcing me to subsidized your child's fun hour. Why should I have to do that? He's your child, you pay for the clown to read him books. I think it's a deplorable scam to get our senior citizens to pay for your kids!!

Building a new library but not adding any new programs seems pointless to me. It's like buying a new Porsche but not have any money left over for gas. Like what would be the point... other than bragging rights over your neighbors. Is that what this new library is about, bragging rights over Westport and Darien?

Build a less extravagant library (or I like the idea of re-purposing Schlumberger) and save some of the money for new programs. I think parents should rethink this current plan. I think everyone should vote no on this library until it changes into something more practical.

It makes no sense. We will be spending millions to purchase the Shlumberge property, then million(s) more to raze the buildings on that property. Then we should pay millions more to build another building a few blocks down the road?

No one in my family has been to the library in six years. My kids do their research on their computers. Between that and a bookstore (or Amazon) we are all set. Times have changed.

Up for decision tonight - weds. feb 1st @ 8:00pm BOS Special Meeting - Town Hall Large Conference Room - when/where/how will the vote for Library Expansion take place. I urge everyone following this subject to attend and speak NOW.

Close all your eyes and picture this for a moment!! 30 plus people in a room talking and have a cup of coffe! Ah Dah!! Star Bucks all over again!!! the Library is not telling you all the truth!! The BOS knows the truth and does not care! 14,000 dollars for a special ref. is insane!!!! Lets wait till May and then vote on it! No because if we do the library will loose again like, and they do not like to loose!! We as taxpayer need to demand to see to see just how much money they really do have? i will be you a cup of Star Bucks coffee {yuk!} that with out the sale off the Playhouse they are no where near 15 million yet!!! Please go to the meeting tonight and force the BOS to wait for May for the vote! Again not now and not with our money!!!!!!!!!

Manners is one of the most dedicated and busy volunteers in this town. I view her as one of Ridgefield's greatest assets. I think you owe her an apology.

Clearly you are easily PLEASED. Manners is WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Apoligy for WHAT. Dont do it Manners should be GONE. Shaking down store owners. What a disgracefulness person

Well< Last night meetind did not go so well! neither the BOS nor the Library Board were to happy with putting off the date for a special ref. The Library is pushing this because they are scared that if this goes to a public vote in may the will loose!! Do what is right for the town and wait for the vote in May. Kudos to Manners Bodner and Masters for standing their ground, maybe just maybe we have a group thatw ill stand up and do what is right for this town!!!

As much as i hate the 3 musketeers i do admit they are doing the right thing putting it on the may ballot. This way we can vote both the budget and library down at the same time YES

Something troubles me about this new library idea. I don’t think people really want it or need it. I think it’s a case of their eyes being bigger than their stomachs. If we were a town filled with college professors who were hell bent on producing brilliant children, then I’d say sure, give them a new library. But as I see it, the people in this town aren’t very interested in their kids’ education. Don’t get me wrong. I find the local parents to be nice people, but learning isn’t a big focus. Sports are a favorite pastime. As is socializing. But not studying. So I don’t see the need for a new library.

Very true and the budget does reflect you statement 100% at 1.4 million for sports and basically no money to speak of kicked in by the parents your post is 100% correct. Good post and absolutely TRUE

NASCAR is the most family oriented sport on this planet and it does not cost me ONE DIME.

http://www.petewilliams.net/blog/?p=810

Can't have it both ways. We think we can, but we can't. People think sports are important and contribute to the greater good. Okay, fine. So we build a stadium (soon to be expanded) and a rec center and spend thousands each year on equipment.

Now suddenly learning is important, so we will build a library for $5 million plus countless more dollars in increased overhead (even though very few are willing to admit this is going to happen).

Sounds like you can have it both ways....

Except that our taxes go through the roof. In fact they are so high that Ridgefield parents can't afford to send their kids to good private colleges. It was definitively shown that Ridgefield sends more kids to state schools than any other drg town. I think that's because we can't afford to do better.

So what's the point of any of this spending if in the end we have failed the students? They will not be able to compete against students from other towns when they need to get a good paying job one day. I think we are very short sighted.

Eaglesfan seems awfully similiar to a dozen or more sockpuppetts on the Patch and the Forum.