Mayor Says New Pugwash Library by Fall

The Mayor of Cumberland County says the time has come to build a new library in Pugwash and if they get a reasonable response to a call for proposals work could start within a month.

Murray Scott, speaking on the Morning Talk program on the Six Rivers Radio Network, said Cumberland Council is committed to the project and ways it doing by fall.

The mayor says council has committed $1.5 million to the $2 million project. He added they will not wait for the community to raise the $500 thousand remainder before starting construction.

This stands in stark contrast to the history of the project which goes back many years, has endured numerous studies, and concept drawings, only to start over when the budget ballooned out of reach.

Deputy Mayor Jennifer Houghtaling, who is also the District 3 Councillor serving the Pugwash area, is confident the community has the leaders and the capacity to raise the $500 thousand required from residents.

While a small but undisclosed sum has already been set aside, Houghtaling feels a campaign can be mounted quickly which may include naming rights to the new facility. A last report would include adding a special area tax rate to fund the community share.

While the library would be located in Pugwash, all parties recognize the asset would benefit a much larger area. Mayor Scott said it would reach the entire North Shore of Cumberland.

A concept plan suggests the proposed building would provide four times the space than currently in use by the library in the old train station.

The call for design and build proposals closes on April 7th. If there are acceptable bids, the mayor says council will decide quickly and hopes for construction to start within ten days of approval.

The site, across the street from Langille’s Service Centre, was formerly the home of Shelly and Norval Benjamin. It was purchased for the library back in July of 2016. The house was torn down and the empty lot has been waiting ever since.

You can listen to the interview with Mayor Scott and Councillor Houghtaling this evening on the daily replay of Morning Talk on Six Rivers All Hit Radio—click the radio tab on the above menu. The replay starts at 8 pm with an interview with Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources, and the library interview airs about 8:45.

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