Voorheesville's Library: a Question of Location Pool Bids Way Over Budget
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November 12, 1986 0 Vol. XXX. No. 47 • The weekly newspaper serving the towns of Bethlehem .and New Scotland Voorheesville's library: a question of location By Lyn Stapf If the executive board of the Voorheesville Public Library has I its way this Thursday, Nov. 13, will be a lucky day. I I "We're very optimistic", said_ I Board President Ed Donohue, referring to the upcoming vote on I the $890,000 bond issue to finance the proposed new public library. That optimism is tempered with .-. some concern that - so far - ---. i~terest in the project has been light. And board members are ).- anxious that district voters understand why they chose the Prospect St. site and decided on a 10-year bonding period for the project. The referendum will culminate a three-year study aimed at providing the Voorheesville Central School District with a modern new library. "The past 36 years has seen our rapidly growing community out Dr. Edwin Pesnel grow the present facility," said Donohue, referring to the obvious of space providing for an meetmg, would provide a: place overcrowded condition in the expanded children's reading section for area clubs and organizations building on Main St., which was as well as a well-equipped adult to meet as well as additional room Parents who listen previously a Presbyterian Church. reading area which includes to house the library's popular "It's definitely time to consider the pefsonal computers and a typewriter children's programs" said former need for a new building which will still best medicine for use by the general public, as board president Hugh McDonald, better serve the needs of well as a leisure reading area. The who serves as the chairman of the By Ann Treadway everybody, from pre-schoolers to plans also call for a community project. senior citizens." In today's Age of the Pamper, nervous new parents donl have room which could serve 50 people. to worry about stabbing· their babies with diaper pins. The T-shaped building on a I. 7 To do this, Delmar architect acre site would also include a But Dr. Edwin Pesnel, who retired last month after a 38-year Leslie Bender has been retained "This space, which can also be divided in half to accommodate career as a pediatrician, has a vivid memory of a young father left and has designed a building of . (Turn to Page 9) in charge by his wife who did pin some skin along with the diaper. approximately 7,000 square feet smaller groups or two separate The baby screamed, the mother-in-law was summoned and fainted dead away, and Dr. Pesnel had to order the paralyzed papa to bring the baby to him for removal and repair procedures. While this was an emergency he could handle a bit better than Pool bids way over budget that parent, Dr. Pesnel said during a recent interview he would never claim to "have all the answers" about raising children. Board meets in secret to discuss contract award He would only advise that they not be allowed to "rule the By Patricia Mitchell want to discuss changes in the bid discussed personnel matters and . roost,'' that behaviorial limits be set and enforced, and that orders, the executive session was current litigation in Wednesday's parents spend the time to really listen to their children - at all After a discussion and an allowed under a section of the law executive session, Dr. Briggs ages. adjournment to an· executive session apparently not allowed that covers ~·proposed acquisition, McAndrews, acting superintendent, Dr. Pesnel and his wife, Irene, who moved from Darroch Rd. under the state's Open Meetings sale or release of real property ... said Friday the board also in Delmar to a townhouse in Chadwick Square, Glenmont, two Law, the Bethlehem Central While the district would not be discussed if there was a possibility years ago, have two grown children 9f .their own, and six Board of Education has accepted buying or selling property, of litigation if change orders on grandchildren. bids on replacing the high school Harvith said, the executive session the bids were accepted. Perhaps this personal experience has kept him humble. In spite swimming pool that came in at was permitted because the bond "The executive session discussion of having "read all the books," he said, he and his wife "wandered $300,000 over estimates. work would add to the real estate was concerning the change orders from one extreme to the other" in their parenting techniques. But values of the buildings. However, because bids on other then he chuckled and added: "But it seemed to work out okay." projects were accepted below However, the executive director Now a vigorous-looking 70-year-old, Dr. Pesnel moved to estimates, the district is only of the state Committee on Open Consultant hired Albany from New York City with his family as a sixth-grader, $98,000 over projected costs for Government said Friday the use for superintendent graduated from Christian Brothers Academy, Cornell the $4.5 million capital improve of executive session to discuss University, and Albany Medical College, and began his private ments bond issue approved by bidding is not covered by the law. search pediatric practice in 1948. From 1974 until his retirement on Oct. district voters last December. ''It doesn't fit,'' said Robert Poge4 17, he served as chief of pediatrics at St. Peter's Hospital. Bids were opened on Oct. 28 to Freeman. uln my opinion, it He cited two reasons for his recent decision to retire: an ueye replace the swimming pool, and would not have constituted a problem" that he feared would affect his ability to treat patients, for hardware, mostly for locks at release into executive session. It and any litigation involved with and a feeling of "disenchantment" with current trends in the field the highschool. Atlas! Wednesday's has nothing to do with the sale or them," McAndrews said. release of real property." of medicine. meeting of the board,.the district's The Open Meetings Law allows The state's Opening Meetings · Doctors today function under the constant threat of having to architect Ben Mendel, of Mendel, a board to discuss current, Law, passed in 1977, says all defend their actions in court, he said, which leads to excessive, Mesick, Cohen, Waite, and Hall, pending or proposed litigation so meetings of public bodies are often unnecessary, testing and an overly-c;lUtious approach to presented the high figures and the board does not have to reveal diagnosis and treatment. suggested some alternates. The open, except for specific actions, its strategy when going to court, including collective negotiations, board then adjourned into a Freeman said. Because the board In addition, he said, questions that were once decided by matters that may imperil the closed executive session. was not discussing court strategy. doctors -such as whether a· person should be admitted to the public's safety, and matters (Turn to Page 13) Before the executive session, Board President Bernard Harvith concerning particular employees. said while board members might While BC board members (Turn to Page J) ·, I • I Open Daily 10 to 9:00p.m. Saturday 10 to 6, Sunday 12 to 5 0 STUYVESANT PLAZA 'ill~ BROIIDWAY Al.BIIN"( N.~ 12203 SARATOGA SPRINGS. N.~ 128bb BE:ll~N~ at · 518-~sa- 7'10'1 516·58'1· 5731 JIJYEHILE DESIGNER FURNITURE LADY MADONNA i·- I I Shop AMISCO TUBULAR BUNK BEDS l THE END I RED * WHITE* or BLUE OF 62 Reg. Price $329. THE I BUNK BED Sale Price $239 . • PUSH-UP I Reg. Price $430. i . Fine LOFT BED Sale Price $329. 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