Voters OK update to Smith Mansion

The Gov. Smith Mansion, which houses Hillsborough’s Fuller Public Library, will be brought up to life-safety standards as mandated by the state Fire Marshal’s Office, and renovated otherwise to protect it from disintegrating, thanks to Tuesday's vote.

The article on the warrant at Tuesday’s annual meeting passed with a landslide vote of 248 to 29. It needed a two-thirds majority to pass.

With chairman of the selectman Joe Collins and chairman of the library trustees Bob Woolner both extolling the Mansion as a “jewel” of the community, there was very little resistance voiced by the crowd.

Strong sentiment in the crowd for the library inspired one resident to share her childhood memories. Alice Jean Hilliard described going to the library and struggling to open its big thick door when she was a student at the elementary school, when it was located just across the street.

“A town that can raise money for a food pantry to feed bodies can raise money for a library to nurture minds,” Hilliard said.

Town treasurer Bob Charron spoke to the various financing methods that could be used, settling on a 15-year bond that would have a six-cent impact on the tax rate with 3.40 percent interest.

The bond will be for $400,000, with the library trustees contributing $200,000 out of the library fund, to make for a $600,000 investment in the building. However, Woolner and selectman Rob Buker explained that some of that money will be used to pay for a grant writer.

“Grants may double that $400,000 investment,” said Buker.

The trustees and selectmen have explained at several meetings that getting grants is nearly impossible without showing a fiscal interest in a project. Woolner also explained that he had spoken against a similar article last year because the trustees did not feel that the appropriate groundwork had been laid for the project.

“Last year I spoke against the plan, because it was a poor plan,” said Woolner. “This is a very good plan. . . . The trustees whole-heatedly support this article.”

There was some concern as to how many phases the project will ultimately entail, with plans being made to expand on town office space.

“I would predict there would be at least three phases,” said Woolner. “But this is a stand-alone phase for what must be done. We will not be back next year.”

Resident David Fullerton asked if the article did not pass, if the trustees could use the library’s $200,000 contribution “to do some” of the work. He was told by the town attorney and moderator that the article legally could not be changed to that degree, and would then have to be proposed another year.

Resident Alan Urquhart also voiced concern of the expense of coming phases, saying, “I’m just concerned about phase two and three. I’m concerned about people with foreclosures and losing jobs.”

Phases two and three focus on developing the community building behind the Mansion where town offices are located. Buker pointed out a recent selectmen meeting that it could be years before any further proposals were made.