Sherborn Library Trustees Prepare For State Grant Announcement And Fundraising

In their first meeting since Sherborn residents voted in approval of the Sherborn Library applying for a state grant to expand and renovate the building, the Sherborn Library Board of Trustees discussed what they would be doing in the coming months to prepare for the next stages of the process.

“Everyone was instrumental in doing this,” said Stacey Brandon, chairman of the Sherborn Library’s Board of Trustees.

Dudley Willis, member of the trustees, congratulated Brandon on her poise under the pressure of presenting information in front of so many committees and in front of the residents at Town Meeting.

Brandon said the article went through because they did their homework and educated the public. She said they met with Sherborn Selectmen George Pucci who said he would get the trustees legal recommendations needed from town counsel. Brandon stated that Pucci told her he was “amazed” their article passed so easily.

Willis said he heard many at town meeting saying the trustees should find more than the proposed $1 million in fundraising for the new building.

In the past, the trustees have reported the cost at approximately $6 million with inflation costs figured in. They are hoping the town will have to pay approximately $2 million, with the potential for $3 million coming from a state grant.

Brandon said they do not plan to stop fundraising when they reach $1 million.

They will find out if they received the grant on July 14, at which time they will have six months to accept it. 

The trustees were going to have to ask for an extension because normally they would have to wait until next spring for a Town Meeting to vote on it. However the project could end up on the warrant of a special fall Town Meeting.

Brandon stated that she was recently contacted by the Save Our Sherborn ad hoc committee, she believes that it would be wise to invite them to the trustee’s June meeting.

Trustee Steve Borgeson reported that he met with trustees Lisa Easley, Dudley Willis, Stacey Brandon and two other Sherborn citizens to discuss fundraising.

So far, he said, they have come up with 350 “potential prospects” identified as “major gift prospects” which could donate $5,000 over the next two years.

Borgeson said he’s also been in contact with a foundation in New York City that has interest in donating to the library’s reconstruction. 

Easley said they should do a town-wide mailing this summer to reveal the details of their fundraising campaign.