Petition to Withdraw from the Small Population Grant is Turned Back
By Stephanie Skinner, Otis Library Director
November 2025
After a record-setting crowd showed up on October 21st, the Select Board, on advice from the Fire Marshall, was forced to cancel the vote on a citizens petition to withdraw from the Mass Library Board of Commissioners grant program that funds 75% of eligible costs for a new library building. The vote was rescheduled to October 23rd at a larger venue, the gym at the Farmington River School. A slightly smaller crowd showed up, with many folks not able to cancel trips or plans on such short notice. Five citizens came to the microphone, one of whom is new to Otis and simply wanted to know if the Select Board would be willing to consider a different location for the new library. He was told no. The others speaking were:
Rosy Crittendon, from a multi-generational Otis family, spoke first and movingly of growing up in “our sweet little library” but that the town had outgrown its footprint. She asked for more time to finish what so many had started years ago in applying for and receiving this extraordinary grant.
Record-breaking attendance at meeting. Photo by Terry Gould
Tom Burke, Library Trustee and Building Committee member, spoke clearly about how the money for the current phase, the Design and Planning stage that we are engaged in right now, was allotted by the town in May 2024 and there was no harm in continuing on until actual facts and budget could be determined for the vote on funding the remaining 25%, which will come in May 2026. He also pointed out that fundraising has been ongoing to offset that already, but that a completed design and budget will allow the team to apply for additional grants.
Patty Strauch, bookkeeper for many non-profits, was brief and clear and echoed both Rosy and Tom’s plea to allow time for the Library Building Committee to soldier on.
Diane Provenz, Otis Historic Committee co-chair and longtime supporter of Otis’ future, spoke eloquently about the fact that turning down this grant in mid-stream would (1) tell the many library and other town volunteers that their efforts were unimportant, and (2) that this would tarnish the town of Otis’ reputation for all future grantors. She cited the $1 million, from a wide range of grantors, that had already been raised for the future Otis Cultural Center at Historic St. Paul’s and the East Otis School House, and that future grants for those were also on the line.
In the end, the vote was 159 to 106 to continue the design and planning phase. We are all reminded that we live in a democracy and that opinions vary, but there is strength in community.
Special thanks to moderator Dave Sarnacki for keeping this meeting on track; members of the Select Board for opening up discussion; Town Administrator Brandi Page for her calm clarity; and, as always, Lyn O’Brien for being the absolute best town clerk Otis residents could ever hope to have.
