At Town Meeting 2017, the Library warrant article said there would be other renovation plans besides this one, for the town to consider. Do those plans exist?

Yes.  Some of the Trustee funds committed to preparation of the grant application were allocated to concepts for three lesser projects, each with an estimated cost -- two involving less construction, and one involving no construction.  Our purpose in doing this was to show what might be done at the Library -- aside from doing nothing -- if the state grant is not accepted by the Town.  The alternative concepts, which are not full designs but only sketches of what might be done, are available here or at the Library.  

Two points should be borne in mind, however.  First, in the view of the Trustees, these alternatives do not meet the Library’s real needs for the present and future, as the recommended project does. Second, these projects would have to be funded entirely by the town; no state money would be available.

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1. Why are you doing this right now? Why the time pressure?
2. Didn’t we just remodel the Library a few years ago? Why do we need to do it again?
3. Why can’t we just move the Children’s Department to the front of the building?
4. I’m shocked at the total cost -- $26.2 million seems huge. Why is it so much?
5. How would that affect my property tax bill?
6. I heard that the state would have given a 75 percent grant to a joint Library project submitted by two towns. Is that true? If so, why didn’t the Trustees submit a joint application for a regional Hin
7. At Town Meeting 2017, the Library warrant article said there would be other renovation plans besides this one, for the town to consider. Do those plans exist?
8. Couldn’t you have just waited until the next round of state funding?
9. If Town Meeting does not approve the funding, can’t we apply again next time?
10. In the last renovation, I remember the Library moved to the old East School while the work went on. That building is gone now. Where would the Library move temporarily this time?
11. If we approve this at Town Meeting 2019, how long would it be before the renovated Library opens?
12. Why can’t we see a model, or more detailed outside or inside color drawings?
13. We have so many other needs in Hingham: a new school to replace aging Foster School, at least one new fire station to replace 75-year-old buildings, a cramped Town Hall and even more cramped Senior Ce