Library thanks

The Friends of the Walker Memorial Library in Westbrook is helping the city raise funds for the second phase of the library’s historical renovation. Raffle ticket sales of $80.50 toward their goal were made with two Mother’s Day baskets – one donated by Friends Group members and the other by Dori Flynn of Curves in Westbrook.

We would also like to thank Sharon Schulberger from Westbrook for donating a beautiful and intricate quilt, which will be displayed at the annual Friends meeting on Thursday night, May 23, from 5:30-7 p.m., at the Walker Memorial Library’s Garden Talk & Perennial Swap. Everyone is welcome to attend this once-a-year event. Sharon “hopes that (her quilt) will provide a significant monetary donation for the library.” The quilt is made of concentric circles that are sewn together (and sewing just 10 circles takes over an hour to do), so you can imagine how many hours of quilting time that Sharon has so graciously donated.

You can view the quilt and buy raffle tickets at the Friends annual meeting, at the Walker Memorial Library booth at the Westbrook Together Days on June 1 in Riverbank Park in Westbrook, or at the library’s lending service desk until the drawing.

The Friends of the Library sincerely thanks all of our wonderful donors who have helped us raise money for the renovation of the library’s historic 1894 building, an architectural gem in our city. If you would like to come and learn more about the project, please come and visit the library, and see our table display of renovation plans on our fundraising table.

The Friends of the Walker

Memorial Library

Westbrook

Expensive mistake

Alas, we have a victory for our city administration. Congratulations. After years of missteps and expensive occurrences, we have a small victory on 942 Main St.

While the fire department costs us hundreds of thousands of dollars, Pike has cost us untold legal fees and staff times to fix the original action by the city or at least almost done if one more party can be appeased, which is doubtful.

Let us assess the latest victory. It comes at a fairly low cost, a $125,000 block grant, which is tax money from us, not anyone named Block .

A review of history is warranted. For at least five years we have had a desire to deal with this private property, an element that should not be forgotten. We passed ordinances that appeared to the owners to be counter-productive to their business interests.

City elected and appointed officials publically described buildings in less than glowing terms as to its appearance. We desire to have a western gateway to our city.

None of these things worked, much to the consternation of our officials.

Note, no one with so much concern ever offered to buy the property. As a matter of fact, why wasn’t it ever suggested as a new site for City Hall? Come to think about it, the existing City Hall is where it is because they wanted it in the Gateway to city. That would be the one with for sale sign that has never been determined to be sold, other than by certain dreams of officials. So we need to have a new direction to accomplish the Gateway plan.

Alas, it is discovered that there is a defect with William Clark Drive. We need a third lane to Route 25! Why? Because the planners or funds did not allow it to be extended to the Main Street intersection, or it is the condition we can create to facilitate our plan.

The real concern, which was brought to the city’s attention during construction, is the inadequacy of the two lanes at Saco Street.

So how do we solve this problem? We have to change zoning so previous restrictions on the 942 Main St. lot are changed to allow drive-through, and we get a strip of land for a third lane for Mechanic to Saco streets and the elimination of Saco Street from William Clarke Drive to Main Street.

Let us not consider the other improvements to Mechanic and William Clarke Drive that will be needed. That could possibly jeopardize the plan, i.e. 942 Main St.

There are aspects of this that need to be paid attention to. If zoning is for a purpose, it appears that that purpose should stand the test of time. If it is going to be changed, it should be for legitimate reasons, not to please the desires of the administration. The very fact that this was done sets a very bad precedent, in my opinion.

Next question: Where is the money to pay for the reconstruction of William Clarke Drive? Is it in the budget? Has anyone ever proposed it previously based on the need? This is a state route. Has DOT had anything to say about the problem?

The answers are no, because the only need being met here is administration’s desire to play developer. This goes beyond establishing conditions for that activity to occur.

The unanswered question is, what is going to happen if it comes down and nothing happens there? One thing is the six councilors who approved this should vote to reestablish heavy item trash removal again. We are losing a business that does that for free every Saturday.

At some point we must stop paying to fix mistakes by the administration. This entire process has been disingenuous and is a mistake and can be an expensive one, with no results except a vacant lot.

There is one positive aspect. If a third lane is created (doubt it will ever happen), the elimination of 14 trees, grass and shrubs will reduce the maintenence we couldn’t do and had to privatize.

Bruce B. Libby

Westbrook

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