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N'hood appeals to mayor for decision

This former funeral home on State Street is under consideration as the new location for the Mason Square Library. Reminder Publications photo by G. Michael Dobbs
By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD Should the city attempt to take the former Mason Square Library -- now the home of the Urban League -- through eminent domain to house the library once more or should the city seek a new location, a former funeral home on State Street?

That was the question that emerged after an often-heated hour-long meeting of the Mason Square Library Advisory Committee on Thursday night. The committee's answer to that question didn't reach a consensus, but rather they want Mayor Domenic Sarno to make a decision.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Elizabeth Stevens, the chair of the advisory committee, said, "I think what we want is a decision."

Although former Mayor Charles Ryan had organized a formal search committee for a new library site, he didn't select any of the suggested locations. They included the former fire station in the center of Mason Square, the funeral home, sharing space with the Dunbar Community Center, a building on Andrew Street and housing the library within the library at American International College.

John Osborn of the Upper Hill Resident Council said his neighborhood, one of the four served by the Mason Square Library, has forgotten about re-acquiring the Urban League building.

"It's all water under the bridge," he said. "We should be concerned about going forward."

City Councilor Timothy Rooke said he had spoken with Urban League President Henry Thomas about selling the building to the city at a profit, but Thomas is not interested.

Former City Councilor Morris Jones and senior activist Ruth Loving both accused the committee of not making the search process public enough and advocated for a public forum for the community to vote on a site.

Committee members responded that during the last four years, the advisory committee has conducted public monthly meetings, as well as conducted a community meeting at American International College, and participated in the mayor's search committee meetings that were also public and hosted by the Martin Luther King Jr. Center.

City Councilor and former Library Commissioner Patrick Markey reminded those at the meeting that "recriminations aren't helping." He said the legal opinion rendered by City Solicitor Edward Pikula noted an eminent domain fight could drag on for an undetermined period.

When discussion turned to the former funeral home, Assistant Library Director Lee Fogarty said an engineering study of the building would be required to assure it could support stacks of books. The building has a parking lot, a full basement and an elevator.

Mayoral Aide Daryl Moss attended the meeting and said he would be reporting to Sarno.