Mayor Gallagher provided an update on the Somerset County Library Commission's decision to close the Somerville branch. He said the county cited mold and health concerns among library staff. The Mayor said he ordered immediate testing after being notified, and testing of both the upstairs and downstairs areas showed no elevated mold levels, including a retest of the downstairs area that had been remediated the previous year. He has since ordered further testing by an environmental engineer and industrial hygienist to evaluate air quality throughout the building. The borough will implement recommended best practices and continue monitoring. The Mayor said the borough wants to work with the library commission toward reoccupying the space once it is certified clean, and toward a long-term plan for a larger library.
Authorize Borough Attorney
Mayor Gallagher asked the Council for a motion to authorize the Borough Attorney to begin preparing documents to ensure the library commission follows the terms of the borough's agreement with the county library system.
Motion: Council Member Conte
Second: Council Member Denys
All voted in favor.
10. Meeting Open to the Public
Motion: Council Member Vroom
Second: Council Member Pitts
All voted in favor and the meeting was opened to the public.
Peter Bramberg, Director of the Somerset County Library System:
Said he was invited to the meeting without a clear agenda and felt the borough had not engaged in good faith, including not returning phone calls or emails since a prior meeting. He said 8 library staff members have reported health issues, including headaches, hives, sore throat, and other symptoms, that improve when they are away from the building. He said the decision to close the branch was not based on the recent mold test results and was made out of concern for staff safety. He said the library system wants to work together on a temporary solution and will continue to fund off-site programming and services for Somerville residents in the meantime.
Jonathan Lee, Borough of Rocky Hill Council Member and Library Committee Chair:
Described Rocky Hill's own past dispute with the Somerset County Library System, including a prior library closure that cited mold but that he said tested lower than outdoor air. He said Rocky Hill ultimately won a lawsuit related to its library endowment and is establishing a new board of trustees. He encouraged Somerville to advocate for its library.
Daniel Pantonio, Eastern Avenue:
Described difficulty purchasing a home on Fairmount Avenue after discovering significant chimney damage during inspection, and said the borough does not require a certificate of occupancy for older home sales beyond carbon monoxide and smoke detector requirements. He urged the Council to strengthen inspection requirements, including for chimneys and sidewalks, before older homes change ownership.
Bob Barth:
Said he was concerned that the Jim Somerville Room, which holds historical materials about the town, had not been mentioned in discussions about the library's future. He asked the Council to ensure the room and its materials are preserved.
Justin Kaiser, North Clark Avenue, board member of SBI:
Thanked the Mayor and Council for approving the new ball field at Carol Pager Park and spoke about the value of youth sports.
Roberta Karpinecz, Chair of the Somerset County Library Commission:
Said the commission is not seeking to permanently close the library but wants to provide service in a healthy, safe environment. She described additional building issues beyond mold, including sewer problems, a broken emergency exit door alarm in the children's room, moldy windows, and damaged pipe insulation. She said the commission is willing to work with the borough but that the question posed to her and Mr. Bramberg in executive session was narrower than a general willingness to collaborate.