Letter to the Editor: Taxpayers Have Had Enough

It is important that everyone who has interest in the New Library Expansion Article be at the Town Meeting, Monday, October 17th to vote, Meeting being held at the High School.

It was stated before by the Center Library Trustees that the vote on the 17th was only to accept the Grant, and there would be another meeting to raise and appropriate the money, however, according to the copy of the Article 5, that is not the case.

Here is a copy of Article 5 as written in the Annual Town Meeting Warrant:

Article 5. Grafton Public Library Expansion
To see if the Town of Grafton will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the preparation of detailed plans, specifications, bid documents, acquiring any easements, if necessary, and the Construction, renovation and expansion of the building at 35 Grafton Common, to include remodeling, reconstructing or repairs, equipping and furnishing to said building; Including a provision for temporary operating quarters; and that to meet this appropriation the Treasurer with the approval of the Board of Selectmen is authorized to borrow up to $11,704,769 under G.L c.44 S7(3) and/or (3A) or any other enabling authority; provided that the amount of the authorized borrowing shall be reduced by the amount of any federal or state aid received for the project prior to the issuance of bonds or notes under the vote; and that the Board of Selectmen is authorized to take any other action necessary to carry out this project; provided that any appropriation hereunder shall be subject to and contingent upon an affirmative vote of the Town to exempt the amounts required for the payment of interest and principal on said borrowing from the limitations on taxes imposed by M.G.L. 59, Section 21C (Proposition 2 ½); and further to authorize the Grafton Public Library Planning and Building Committee, appointed pursuant to the vote of the 2011 Annual Town Meeting under Article 6, to oversee said project.
Submitted by: Library Board of Trustees

Taxpayers, if you have had enough tax increases in the past and want to pay off what we owe now before adding additional tax increases to your already empty pockets, you must attend Monday, Oct. 17 meeting to vote on this important issue.

Catherine Fenton