Urban League still occupying our Library building
From Attorney Ed Pikula, Springfield City Law Dept: We have been working with Springfield Library Foundation (SLF) and Springfield Library and Museums Association (SLMA) to secure the monies to cover the costs of the renovations. We expect to go before the City Council on October 4, 2010 for an order to accept and appropriate funds for these initial phases of the renovations required to re-establish a full service library.
The City's relocation expert spoke with Mr. Thomas [CEO of the Springfield Urban League] on 9/23 and was told that documents have been signed to lease space at STCC. He also told [the relocation expert,] Mr. Mollica that he has been working on getting bids and scopes of work to complete their move. He told Mr. Mollica that the Urban League needs funds from the Urban League endowment committee to satisfy the requirement of the landlord that they have funds in place for the build-out work. He also told Mr. Mollica that [Springfield Urban League Attorney] Craig Brown is sending a letter with a summary of where they are at in the process.
[Mr. Thomas] also told Mr. Mollica that he now expects to vacate by the second or third week of October. He told Mr. Mollica that he would cooperate with the Library with respect to access to the property if they needed to do work in advance. I would request that we meet to discuss this new timeline. You should know that I am in the process of drafting a document for the City Council's consideration at their October 4, 2010 meeting for the eviction of the Urban League in the event that they do not vacate on time.
By majority vote of this body [Springfield City Council] and pursuant to authorization at MGL Chapter 79, Section 3, this City Council vote would be issued directing the Sheriff of Hampden County or his Deputy to make entry on the premises located at 765 State Street, Springfield, Massachusetts and to take possession thereof, on behalf of the City of Springfield’s Library Department, in the event that they are not moved out in time.
I will send an outlook invite for a meeting to discuss in more detail.
From Molly Fogarty, Director, Springfield City Library: We have just been notified that the Furniture and Shelving are scheduled to be delivered and installed the week of November 8th. After I meet with Ed Pikula and Pat Sullivan on Monday morning, we will determine a date for rescheduling the delivery and installation.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Received Friday, Sept. 17, 2010, from John Ramsay, Asst. Dir., Springfield Library Dept: We have not received an update from the City Law Department about Mason Square progress. We will pass along any news once there is anything to report.