Southington Library Impacted By Charter Plan

SOUTHINGTON, CT — With a $17 million building project approved last November, the town now seeks a charter change regarding the Southington Public Library and Barnes Museum's organizational structure.

On Monday, June 27, the Southington Town Council will host a public hearing at 7 p.m. to garner input on proposed town charter changes as they relate to the local library.

The hearing is at the John Weichsel Municipal Center, 196 N. Main St.

Revisions approved by the Southington Charter Revision Commission, which are subject to a council hearing, essentially formalize the duties of the library board, the fiscal management of the library and museum and how the library will be staffed.

The current charter section pertaining to the library, which is located on 255 Main St., only states that library board members operate under Connecticut statutes.

Under the charter revision, that sentence would be deleted and specific details about the board, finances and staffing would be included.

For example, the charter changes state the town manager hires the library director.

After the hearing, the council will discuss and vote on the issue, paving the way for voters at a referendum to have the final say on the revision in the fall.

The charter change would be one of many changes afoot in Southington regarding the library, with a new, $17 million library building project approved last November.

For more information on the Southington Public Library, visit this link.

For the notice of Monday's Southington Town Council Public hearing, visit this link.

For the full charter revision proposal regarding the Southington Public Library, visit this link.