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Town gets $1M
for proposed
library
PUTNAM — The Town of Putnam will receive a $1 million grant for its proposed new library from the Connecticut State Library.
“This is great news that our town has received this grant, which is the maximum amount from the State Library Commission. I was very pleased that State Library officials liked the architect’s design and the site,” said George Tsanjoures, chairman of the Library Exploratory Building Committee. The grant was announced Nov. 25.
The Committee has recommended
to the Board of Selectmen that the town build a new two-story library on Church Street next to the Quinebaug River. The site on Church Street is adjacent to the B’nai Shalom Synagogue and across the street from the Town Hall.
Voter approval of two steps would be needed to move the project forward:
The first step in the process will be to have Putnam voters approve the purchase of the land for municipal purposes for $300,000 at a Dec. 17, referendum. The referendum will be held from noon to 8 p.m. at the two town polling locations. Absentee ballots are available at the Putnam Town Clerk’s office.
If the purchase of the property is approved in December, the Board of Selectmen would schedule another referendum in February to approve the library building project. The estimated cost of the project is $7.8 million. If voters approve the library project, the town would seek other state assistance funds and a private donation campaign would be started, Tsanjoures said.