Exeter Library faces budget shortfall after $48K emergency wall repair, seeks town's help

EXETER — The library is seeking financial assistance from the town to help cover the cost of emergency repairs completed to the building, which could result in a budget deficit and affect the services offered.

Library Director Hope Godino explained they initially planned to just repair water damage to a roughly 4-foot-long granite wall by the parking lot at 4 Chestnut Street . However, it was later discovered that a significant portion of the exterior wall was "deemed a safety hazard" and needed to be replaced due to prolonged drainage issues. The wall, built in the 1980s, was not included in the 2021 $4.5 million renovation and addition .

“Two places of the wall had fallen down,” she said. “One part of the wall was falling down because of the incline that the wall was on… and one part of the wall was just from (wear and tear).”

The repair cost totaled $48,000, and the library is seeking $30,000 in assistance from the town. Godino explained that the library did not have a budget allocated for the repair, and it required specialized personnel and tools.

The library recently approached the Exeter Select Board to help cover their expected budget shortfall due to the wall. Although the library has its own independent budget, Godino stated that without the town’s assistance, its budget could be in the red by the end of the year.

At last week’s Select Board meeting, Town Manager Russ Dean said the library might have to cut some services or risk going over budget. Despite the fix being an "unexpected emergency," Dean said it wasn’t an insurable expense as it was considered regular wear and tear.

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While the board expressed willingness to assist the library, they were displeased with being notified about the repairs after they were completed.

Select Board Chair Niko Papakonstatis voiced his frustration, saying he was "incredibly upset" the library is seeking a "bail out" post-repair “with the expectation and the promise that it could affect library services by the end of the year.”

“We’re happy to help, but that’s not the right way to do this,” added Selectman Dan Chartrand. “They should have come to us before they did the fix, in the future.”

Dean said the town could take $15,000 from its maintenance project budget. He said that would mean $15,000 less in maintenance work getting done in town.

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The board made no decision as they wanted to meet first with the library trustees.

"I like to give the benefit of the doubt and hear from the trustees and their side of the story," Papakonstatis said."I like to hear what the trustees knew and when they knew it."

Dean said he and Papakonstantis met with Godino as well as Kathy Corson, chair of the library trustees on Wednesday, Sept. 18. He said they plan to give the public and Select Board an update at their Sept. 30 meeting.

Corson said the meeting was positive.

"I think we can find a solution,” she said. “The library building is one of the most used buildings in town, and we really cater to so many different age groups and income levels, and without the library, we wouldn’t have the town that we have.”

Corson stated in a Facebook post on Wednesday, Sept. 25, that the library trustees met Tuesday and that the emergency repair will not impact library services.

"As the current chair of the Exeter Library Board of Trustees, I would like everyone to know that our board met last night," Corson stated. "We are not in a budget shortfall. No programs or hours will be affected by this misconception. The library is a very important place in town where people gather to not just read books but enjoy programs geared to all ages. If you haven't been in the library lately, we invite you to come on in!"

In a phone interview Wednesday, Corson explained that if the town does not assist, the library will manage within its budget.

She noted that the library lacks an emergency fund.

“In years past, if we had some leftover budget, we were allowed to keep it for things like emergency repairs,” she said. “In the last two years, we haven’t been allowed to retain any unspent funds. The town has taken it back.”

Corson added that the Library Trustees plan to request a $30,000 “non-capital reserve fund” for emergencies on the ballot at the next Town Meeting.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Exeter Library faces budget shortfall after $48K emergency wall repair, seeks town's help