AMHERST — The Amherst Historical Commission is accepting cost-saving measures in the plans for the expanded and renovated Jones Library, including removal of a skylight from the roof, use of synthetic slate shingles and streamlined landscaping.

The commission at its Aug. 28 meeting voted 3-1 to support the so-called “value engineering” presented by Finegold Alexander Architects of Boston and The Berkshire Design Group of Northampton, finding them appropriate and meeting the preservation restriction standards and complying with the Secretary of the Interior standards for a rehabilitation project.

The commission, as it had in September 2023, approved the plans and set conditions that the roof be synthetic slate, not asphalt; that the windows are completely replaced with no alternates; and that the book slot can remain as it is. The commission found the project complies with an historic preservation agreement signed in March 2022.

The commission can offer input, but has no oversight, on interior changes to the 95-year-old building.

Commissioners voted identically to how they did several days earlier in allowing the demolition of the building to proceed, with Acting Chairwoman Madeleine Helmer joined by members Antonia Brillembourg and Patricia Auth in favor, and Hetty Startup voting against. Chairwoman Robin Fordham, who is employed by the Massachusetts Historical Commission, and Mikayla Rasnic, an outgoing member, were absent.

This commission vote was seen as the last step of municipal permitting before the $46.1 million project, to enlarge the building from 48,000 square feet to 63,000 square feet and demolish the 1990s addition, is readvertised for a general contractor. The building is supposed to have a dedicated teen space, new special collections area and room for the Civil War tablets and more space for the English as a Second Language program.

The Planning Board previously approved revised site plans.

The only bid received last spring was rejected as being nearly $7 million over what the town could afford.

The town has already again posted for an alternate location for library operations when the project begins. Previously, it identified the so-called Slobody Building on University Drive, but when the only bid came in too high, didn’t sign a contract for use of that space.

Jones Library Trustees President Austin Sarat offered thanks for the hard work of the commission.

“You’ve put in hours and hours and hours and I really appreciate all of that,” Sarat said.

He added that he hopes the community has great confidence in the work of Finegold Alexander and The Berkshire Design Group, which found ways to cut costs, such as removing Goshen stone benches from the gardens.

“They’ve shown us, and I think the whole town, that they are responsive, that they are committed and that they are patient with a process that has allowed everyone in town to have their say,” Sarat said.

But during public comment, Maria Kopicki of South Amherst criticized the decision as not examining the standards and that the appointed commission had been bullied into violating them.

“This was thoroughly disappointing, you guys had a chance to fix your mistake and you didn’t take it,” Kopicki said.

“You had a legal duty to follow the standards,” said Carol Gray, a former trustee.

Mickey Rathbun of South East Street said the historical review process was derelict and might affect the so-called Section 106 review, which is a federal review to avoid, minimize or mitigate any adverse effects that may be identified to the historic property. The Section 106 review is required, in part, due to the project receiving federal funds.

“The town’s dereliction of duty is going to become very front and center in the Section 106 process,” Rathbun said.

Project $6.77M short

Meanwhile, the Amherst Finance Committee learned at its meeting Tuesday, from Melissa Zawadzki, the town’s finance director, that the library project is about $6.77 million short of the $46.1 million project cost. That shortfall is expected to be made up through continued fundraising and grant writing, according to a memo she provided.

Still, several residents with concerns about the library project pleaded with the committee, which includes five members of the Town Council, to put an end to the project. The town is contributing $15.75 million to the project, with about an equal amount coming from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioner grants.

District 1 Councilor Cathy Schoen said she is concerned that the town will be at risk if the next bids come in high and that councilors have to be financially accountable to taxpayers.

District 5 Councilor Bob Hegner, who chairs the Finance Committee, and member Bernie Kubiak, both noted the library trustees are independently elected by residents.

“The Town Council has the appropriation authority, but we don’t really have the authority to go in and micromanage a project like this,” Hegner said.

“They (the trustees) understand what the limits are, and I think they would admit if the prices are out of control, the project is moot,” Kubiak said, adding that none of the trustees “have just fallen off the turnip truck or out of the coconut tree.”

“We just need to let this roll forward,” he said.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.