Houlton council allocates funds for library repair

HOULTON – The town will contribute nearly $9,500 in surplus money to make repairs to the Cary Library, town councilors decided Monday evening.

With little discussion, the group voted to transfer $9,330 from the undesignated fund balance to pay for the project.

The decision came more than two months after library officials approached the council with the news that chunks of mortar had been lost from several portions of the 102-year-old building.

Former Librarian Betty Fraser, who is now the librarian at Houlton High School, told councilors on July 10 that the defect had allowed water to seep into the building, especially during heavy or wind-driven rainstorms.

Although steps were taken to protect the endangered materials, the leak threatened thousands of dollars worth of electronic equipment.

Fraser appealed to the council to help fund the repairs to the building. While the councilors agreed that the leak needed to be fixed, they hesitated to release the money to do it.

Each year, the town allocates money to help support the library, which also subsists on money from endowment and trust funds, contributions and volunteer labor.

During the July 10 meeting, Councilor Dale Flewelling asked if the money to pay for the repairs could come from endowment funds.

The idea did not sit well with Fraser, who told councilors that those who have endowed or contributed money to the facility over the years have done so with a specific purpose in mind. As some of those benefactors are now deceased, permission to spend the money on anything other than its originally intended purpose would need to be obtained from the court.

She also expressed fear that such a move would “destroy the confidence of the citizens who support us, or undermine that generosity and giving.”

Councilors requested a legal opinion from Town Attorney Dan Nelson, who ruled that Dr. George Cary established the funds for the library in his will and included a provision mandating that the funds were to be made available if “the town provide a suitable structure and maintain it perpetually for the library.”

The requirement prohibits the library’s board of trustees from using library funds for a maintenance project.

The bid for the repair job was awarded earlier this month to Harville Painting and Roofing of Skowhegan.