Library trustees secure funding to finish design for major repairs and renovation

Westborough town meeting approved borrowing to fund final design and bidding for a major Westborough Public Library repair and renovation project. The library building committee presented a schematic design and a conservative total project estimate of $15.6 million that includes essential maintenance (roofs, HVAC, windows, restroom and code upgrades), ADA and fire-safety work, and modest program improvements such as a teen room and upgraded meeting-room AV.

The committee asked voters to authorize $1,178,632 for design development, detailed cost estimating and bid preparation so that the project could be put to bid and (if priced acceptably) returned for a March 2025 construction vote. Trustees said the $1.18 million request includes final design fees, engineering, permit support and contingencies; they emphasized value engineering would be undertaken during design to control costs.

Trustees noted the building has a history of deferred maintenance and recent equipment failures (a fan coil fire in December 2022 and a pump failure last month) that underscore the urgency of updating systems. The committee also said temporary relocation costs were included in the project estimate and that the library foundation intends to undertake fundraising to reduce the town's share.

Town meeting approved the borrowing authorization by a two-thirds vote (333-59). Next steps include final design work, competitive bidding and continued outreach to identify temporary relocation options and philanthropic support; the building committee will return with firm construction costs before any construction borrowing is approved.