Select Board advances Old Town Hall use request

Select Board · Meeting of August 17, 2026

Longmeadow library renovation could run $14.8 million to $18.7 million. Library Director Jean Maziarz and architect Phil O'Brien of Johnson Roberts Associates told the Select Board a single-phase fix would cost $11.99 million in construction and $14.80 million total, while a multi-phase approach through 2035 would reach $18.69 million. Vice Chair Shelly Maynard-DeWolf asked Finance Director Ian Coddington for a debt-impact analysis before the library's targeted November 2026 Special Town Meeting vote.

Select Board member Joshua Levine said "our libraries are literally under attack" in backing the project. Separately, the board's Future Building Use Task Force recommended soliciting non-binding developer concepts for the vacant Old Town Hall, and the board referred its debt management policy, which runs about 14 percent against a 12 percent target because of the middle school project, to the Finance Committee. Treasurer Erica Brunell reported $1,098,805.58 in quarterly interest earnings.

All votes passed 4-0; Clerk Andrew Lam was absent.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,669 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of August 17, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.