From left: Library trustees Harry Lutz, Peter DeNegris, Toni Mulle and Dorothy O'Sullivan join library director Robert Lusak as they dig in to officially mark beginning of construction.

It was nearly two years ago that the residents of Babylon Village gave their library the go ahead to pursue a $4.96 million expansion and renovation project. On Monday, September 13, 2004 some of them gathered with library trustees and employees, school administrators and Astoria Federal Bank representatives to break ground, signaling the official start of this long awaited construction project.

"This is a happy and historic day for the Babylon Public Library," said Peter DeNegris, president of the library’s board of trustees. "This expansion plan has been in the making for 20 years. It will bring the library up to the standards the community expects."

The project will add a one-story addition totaling 8,500 square feet and increase shelving space by 20 percent in the adult services area and 15 percent in the children’s services area. The purchase of a southern portion of the Astoria Bank parking lot will provide 37 parking spaces for library patrons. Additionally, the renovation will allow the library to more fully comply with all state and federal mandates for handicap accessibility.

"It has been a long, drawn out process," said Robert Lusak, director of the library. "But with any public works project you have to go through the necessary steps first. Now that the time is here, we’re excited to begin. Although there will be some inconveniences, the end result is that we’ll have a state-of-the-art facility everyone in the village can enjoy."

Members from Justice in Construction demonstrate outside the library at the ground breaking ceremony.

Lusak said the library will be open regular hours for the duration of construction. However, the current parking will not be available to patrons during the construction or until the Astoria Bank parking lot is ready.

Four construction contracts were awarded: All Weather Temperature (heating and air conditioning); Maccarone Plumbing Inc.; S.J. Electric; and L.D. Wenger Construction Company (general contractor or GC). Any public works project in New York State that is more than $50,000 falls under Wicks Law and requires separate contracting for these four prime areas. Contracts are awarded to the lowest, responsible bidders. The law is meant to safeguard taxpayers and ensure that money is spent wisely and cost-efficiently.

Members from Justice in Construction, an advocacy group for skilled, unionized laborers, were also present at the ground breaking ceremony. They were there to voice their concerns that the general contractor hire skilled, union laborers for the portions of work that fall under the general contractor’s purview — such as masonry, concrete and demolition work. "We have gotten no answers from the GC as to who will be their skilled laborers, and today is the ground breaking," said Andy Culpepper, organizer for Justice in Construction, which represents the Laborers’ Eastern Region Organizing Fund.

"I don’t differentiate [between contractors] based upon union," said David Wenger, president of L.D. Wenger Construction Company. "I differentiate based upon competitive pricing and responsiveness. That’s what makes a project successful. If a union contractor can bid a project in line with the competition, then I’ll use them."

At several times during the ground breaking ceremony, demonstrators blew whistles and sounded foghorns. "This was a library celebration for the community," said Lusak. "What they did was disruptive and uncalled for."

Lusak added that the library is following New York State municipal laws that govern public works projects. "If they have a problem with the public works project [process], they shouldn’t picket outside, but bring their concerns to lawmakers in Albany."

Weather permitting, steel should be in place by mid-October.