2024-10 Resolution of the Council, re: Increasing the Allowance For Reimbursement For New Library Construction.

RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN

INCREASING THE ALLOWANCE FOR
REIMBURSEMENT FOR NEW LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION

WHEREAS: The Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS) Public Library Construction Reimbursement Program is governed by regulations under the RI Department of Administration, and

WHEREAS: OLIS is authorized to award state grant-in-aid to reimburse the construction of a public library facility in a city or town pursuant to RI General Law §29-6-6 and to create regulations pursuant to RI General Law §29-3.1-7(8), and

WHEREAS: The amount of reimbursement allowed for construction costs in the Regulations 1.6 Construction Reimbursement Funding and Priorities E.1 ff. has not been amended since the regulations were first released in 2018, and

WHEREAS: As written, the allowance for reimbursement of costs for new construction is 50% of expenditures up to the amount of three hundred dollars ($300) per square foot for new construction and that this amount does not reflect the current costs of new construction, which has appreciated significantly in the last 6 years,

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED: That the Middletown Town Council respectfully requests that all State Representatives, the Speaker of the House, the Governor and all cities and towns in the State of Rhode Island support an amendment to Rhode Island General Law and to the Regulations governing the Public Library Construction Reimbursement Program to increase the allowance for reimbursement for new library building construction to a rate that reflects the actual costs of new building construction, and

BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED: That the Town Clerk shall submit a copy of this resolution to the Town of Middletown’s State Representatives, the Speaker of the House, the Executive Director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, all cities and towns in the State of Rhode Island, and the Governor in consideration of their support to increase the allowance for reimbursement for new library construction.

February 20, 2024

READ AND PASSED IN COUNCIL

Wendy J. W. Marshall, M