Fact Check: Did Only One Councilor Promise ‘Not a Penny More’ for the Jones Expansion Project?
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At their April 7 meeting, the Finance Committee spent time debating whether the Jones Library project should receive additional funding in the form of a $330,000 CPA historic preservation grant.
See related: Finance Committee Wants More Information about Jones Library CPA Request
CPA funds are predominantly local tax dollars, collected through a 3% surcharge on Amherst property tax bills. Several Finance Committee members recounted town leaders’ pledge that “not a penny more!” of taxpayer money would be spent on the $46.1 million Jones Library renovation-expansion project than the Town’s share of $15,751,810.
Committee Member and Town Councilor Ana Devlin Gauthier disputed this argument.
“Something is sticking for me. I think that there’s a misinterpretation or misremembering about that “not a penny more statement,” Devlin Gauthier said.
“That was said by one individual — by Lynn [Griesemer] when she was council president. There was never a vote by the Town Council and Lynn was speaking on her own. Not to speak for you, Lynn, but me having sat in that meeting, you were speaking on behalf of yourself. That was not something that the council actually ever decided,” she asserted.
But the record shows that over the years a parade of town and library leaders have given the “no more town money” assurance, and it was a major reason that the council was persuaded to approve the large and controversial appropriation for the project.
Here are some examples:
1. Paul Bockelman, Town Manager — November 9, 2023 memo to Town Council
“It is important to note that this is a vote to update the borrowing authorization. It is not a request to increase the town’s local share, which will not change. The Town’s share will remain at $15,751,810.”
Source: Town Manager Memo to Town Council, Nov. 9, 2023 (amherstma.gov)
Memorandum of Agreement (Town–Library Contract Language)
2. Second Amended MOA between the Town of Amherst and the Jones Library Trustees
“The Library also understands that the town will not pay more than its town Share committed by this agreement and the previous Agreements.”
Source: Amendment #2 to MOU between Town and Jones Library
Town Council Members (November 2023 Public Comment Responses)
3. Lynn Griesemer, Town Council President, District 2
“But I must say, and I want you to make sure you hear this message loud and clear, let me state it without equivocation that as long as I have anything to say about it there will be no more money than what we’re voting tonight.”
Source: Public Forum on Jones Library Appropriations, April 2021 (amherstma.gov)
Separately, at an Amherst League of Women Voters candidates’ forum on October 18, 2023, Griesemer was reported as declaring the town’s commitment of approximately $15.8 million — “And not a penny more.” Source: Statement by Jones Library Trustee Lee Edwards at LWV Forum, October 2023)
4. Jennifer Taub, District 4 Town Councilor
“The town has committed — and the voters have authorized — $15.8 million (plus debt service) for the Jones Library expansion and renovation. I do not believe the town should be at risk for more than the amount taxpayers have approved.”
Source: Amherst Town Council Public Comment, November 2023 (amherstma.gov)
5. Anika Lopes, District 4 Town Councilor
“The Town will not pay more than $15.8M, the amount supported by voters, for the Jones Library expansion and renovation project.”
Source: Amherst Town Council Public Comment, November 2023 (amherstma.gov)
6. Ana Devlin Gauthier, District 5 Town Councilor
“At that time it was clear that the Town would contribute 15.8 million. I do not believe that the town should pay for more than that, and I trust the Library Trustees to manage the project to ensure that remains true.”
Source: Amherst Town Council Public Comment, November 2023 (amherstma.gov)
Gauthier also stated at the June 17, 2024 Town Council meeting: “I’m not concerned that the town will end up paying more than what we’ve committed to, because we know that there’s a backstop there.” Source: WAMC, June 18, 2024
7. Heather Hala Lord, District 3 Town Councilor
“I do not believe the town should pay or be at risk for more than the $15.8 million that has been authorized for the Jones Library demolition and renovation project.”
Source: Amherst Town Council Public Comment, November 2023 (amherstma.gov)
8. Andrew Steinberg, At-Large Town Councilor
“The town allocated $15.8 million. The project can and should be completed without increasing that commitment.”
Source: Amherst Town Council Public Comment, November 2023 (amherstma.gov)
9. Ellisha Walker, At-Large Town Councilor
“I firmly believe that the town should not have to pay or be at risk for any more than the $15.8 million already authorized, in addition to the $9 million in debt service, for the Jones Library Project.”
Source: Amherst Town Council Public Comment, November 2023 (amherstma.gov)
10. Mandi Jo Hanneke, At-Large Town Councilor
“It is my understanding that a technicality in state law requires the council to vote an increased borrowing amount, but that the Town’s share will not increase.”
Source: Amherst Town Council Public Comment, November 2023 (amherstma.gov)
Jones Library — Official Statements
11. Jones Library Building Project Webpage (official library website)
“The Town’s share of the project, $15.8 million, has not changed and will not change even with the cost increase from $34.3 to $46.1 million. The difference will be borne by the Trustees and Friends fundraising efforts, as committed by the Trustees in their 2021 & 2022 Memoranda of Agreement with the Town.”
Source: Jones Library Building Project page (joneslibrary.org)
12. Jones Library Capital Campaign — Official FAQ
“$15.8 million. This is the amount approved by Town Council in April 2021 and in December 2023 as well as by 65% of voters in the November 2021 referendum. This amount has not changed and will not change.”
Source: Jones Library Capital Campaign FAQ (joneslibrarycapitalcampaign.org)