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New Beaconsfield library will add to taxpayers' burden: ex-mayor
City seeks grant; Former mayor Briggs says grandiose plan is a bad idea
Anna Bratulic
The Gazette
Thursday, March 27, 2008
A voice from Beaconsfield’s past is weighing in on plans to build a new library.
Edwin Briggs, who was mayor from 1960 to 1982, a time when Beaconsfield’s booming economy saw the building of several of the town’s landmarks, including the current library and recreation centre, says times have changed and getting caught up in costly grandiose projects today is a bad idea.
“Every time you add a burden, it comes down to the taxpayers,” Briggs said.
Beaconsfield has applied for a grant from the provincial government to cover up to two-thirds of the estimated $5-million price tag for a new library. The town intends to seek private and corporate donations to cover the rest without having to delve into taxpayer pockets.
Briggs, however, is skeptical.
“There can be no such thing as a ‘no cost’ project. I don’t care how they slice it,” he said.
“Many years ago, when we built the arena, we went to see the federal government, the provincial government and Montreal to get any kind of support. They said absolutely not, that it was not essential. So we built it ourselves.
“We had a lot of money at the time when the city was growing. We had building fees and so on, and that was all turned into infrastructure.”
“The library is not big, there’s no question about that, but it’s not small,” he added.
These days, he says, the town’s development possibilities are maxed out and the population has even dipped a little in recent years. In addition, Beaconsfield has struck a deal with Kirkland allowing residents to borrow books there.
According to current mayor Bob Benedetti, an architectural report commissioned by the town last year found that several town buildings, notably the library, are too cramped.
“If we get a new book in, we have to get one out,” said Benedetti. “We have people who work in the library who store books at home because they have no place to store them here.”
The whole plan, however, hinges on approval of the grant application.
“If we don’t get the grant, we don’t get the library,” Benedetti said.
If the grant does comes through, the plan calls for building a new library and converting the current library space into a cultural centre by 2010. The overall space for cultural activities would be doubled, he said.
There are no plans as to what would happen to Centennial Hall, which serves as the town’s cultural space at the moment.
Benedetti says renovating Centennial Hall and the library, which needs new lighting and roof repairs, would cost slightly more than $2 million.
“It makes no sense to spend $2 million to renovate when you could get a grant for a better building,” he said.
Responding to Briggs’ comments, Benedetti said the former mayor is entitled to his opinion.
“He has not asked me for any information about this project. He has no official information as to what is behind this project.”
Anonymous postings
I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Murray.
The cloak of anonymity can cover a multitude of sins which is why reputable newspapers have long held to the requirement that letter writers be identified.
Comments should be no different.
Anonymous
I agree with Mr. Murray. The Gazette must stop posting anonymous letters. This news website should respect the same standards of the print version. Full name and city should be mandatory.
Karen Messier
Beaconsfield councillor
Anonymous
It is time for the Gazette to stop printing any reply to this site that is not signed by the sender.
Ian Murray ( Beaconsfield citizen since 1984)
misinformed
If residents would call the mayor, they would get their facts straight. This GRANDIOSE buzzword is getting old already. Either someone has totally misinformed you, or you don't want to understand the facts.
The library is beside the point
The reason the administration wants a new library is to free the space in the old one for use as offices. Just as nature abhors a vacuum, burocracy abhors an empty office, and soon these offices will be filled with yet more city employees, who will busy themselves by feeding even more grandiose plans to council.
I didn't see much council interest in improving the quality of the book collection at the library, which is far behind that of Kirkland and Pointe Claire.
Kirkland or Pointe Claire
Please consider moving there. I hear the councils in those cities never have grandiose ideas.
new projects in Beaconsfield
Has anyone seen the new Sunrise building lately? It's beautiful, and a great addition to our city. The Beaconsfield shopping Center is already starting to make some positive changes. Do any of the complainers realize that these businesses will help lower our taxes?
It's high time we had some progress in this city. I say bravo to the council for having the vision to move this city forward.
The mayor says no grant money, no library, so relax!
pretty good idea
I also commend the mayor and council for their plans for the library and cultural center. Grants and sponsorship money seems like a good idea. If we don't get the grant money, I think taxpayers will end up having to pay for some major repairs to centennial hall and the existing library in the very near future. they are in rough shape.
Mr. Briggs
Mr. Briggs should have met with Mayor Benedetti to get his facts straight before he criticized the project publicly. He appears to have been convinced to support the agenda of an opposition group who would prefer to significantly cut existing library hours as well as staff.
recreation centre
The Beaconsfield recreation centre was considered a very grandiose plan some 30 years ago. even though the city was growing and was "rich", a few angry taxpayers fought to stop the project. Today, the rec centre is the most used and most enjoyed municipal facility in the city.
new library a great idea!
I have 3 children and we are always at the library. It is not up to today's standards, and I would be thrilled with a new one!
library not up to standard
Our library is dark and dreary, and the media room is pitiful. I hear staff members are storing books at their homes cause there's no space in the building. Finally a council is trying to make improvements and they get the usual angry/hysterical minority trying to stop a project that will benefit the majority.
tired of hearing about property taxes. just deal with it.
If the complainers are having trouble paying their tax bill, perhaps they should exercize some personal responsibility, and move to a city with a lower tax rate. It's not terribly complicated. I've lived here 23 years and Beaconsfield taxes have always been higher than the average. Look around. Cities don't come much more beautiful. There is little commercial and no industrial base to tax from. That's what adds value to the place. Don't people check these things out before they buy a house here???? If other cities are so attractive to you people, why didn't you buy there in the first place????
I don't think the mayor and council have issued any laws recently that prohibit residents from moving out of Beaconsfield to a city with lower taxes. You never know, better move fast before they do!!!
Just passing through
What's up? It appears that an angry resident claims the right to criticize the mayor and council anonymously, but anyone suspected of being a member of council is expected to identify herself/himself. I agree with the double standard comment. People, get real.
anonymous vs council members
I believe I smell a double standard.
Double your pleasure?
Its more like a double library.
Grandiose plan?
When the Beaconsfield recreation centre was first proposed, there was a similar outrage from a small group of very angry taxpayers. I'm sure Mr. Briggs remembers it well. Eventually the centre was built and today remains a busy hub of activity for all ages.
The library/cultural centre is a good deal. Do yourself a favour and get properly informed.
Councillors should go on record
Current members of council should identify themselves when posting comments.
Members of city council should not post as "Anonymous"
Councillors should sign their name on their comments!
More on this story
Former long-time Beaconsfield Mayor and current Beaconsfield Citizens Association member Mr. Edwin Briggs has a lot more to say on why Beaconsfield doesn't need another library. The full text of his letter can be viewed at www.bca-acb.org/news_events.htm
What is all the fuss about
The Beaconsfield council seems to be trying to move ahead with improved Library and Cultral facilities at little or no cost to taxpayers.
My family and I find that commendable
Library
The library is already very good,why move it and spend a lot of money to do so? Aren't there more urgent needs for the extra money such as sidewalks ,new surfaces for the tennis courts or more snowclearing of the streets?
Beaconsfield Library
If the money is coming from exterior cultural grants then I think that it will be a great idea to build a new better library with a better collection.The library is very good but it can be much better.
Also the former mayor should have at least called the current one to verify his facts before making his opinions public.
Work on lower taxes
If 1 dollar of taxpayer money goes into replacing a library that meets the current needs of the community along with already having access to Kirkland's library is a wasted dollar. I would spend on facilities that we don't have or on ways to lower taxes. Having the best library on the island isn't a priority for my family.
NEW BEACONSFIELD LIBRARY
NO - NO - NO, Mr. Benedetti. Please stop dragging out new ways to spend our money and increase our property taxes. Your mandate is to run our city effectively and make it a place where property value remains stable and life quality stays at the level we have paid for for many years before you came on the scene. PLEASE give some much needed effort and study towards coming up with ways to get our taxes back to the level promised before you were elected and forget about building monuments to yourself and discouraging the volunteerism which has stood us in good stead for many decades.