Webster Town Board
September 17, 2026
A workshop meeting of the Webster Town Board was called to order by Supervisor Scialdone at
6:30 p.m. at the Webster Town Board Meeting Room, 1002 Ridge Road, Webster, New York,
with the following officials present:
Supervisor ......................................................................... Alexander B. Scialdone
Councilman....................................................................................... John J. Cahill
Councilwoman ...........................................................................Jennifer S. Wright
Councilman.............................................................................. Nicholas E. Hunter
Councilman................................................................................ Garrett J. Wagner
Attorney for the Town .........................................................................Kyle Taylor
Town Clerk .................................................................................. Danene M. Marr
Department Heads Present:
Town Engineer .............................................................................. Keith Mortimer
Library Director .................................................................................. Adam Traub
Finance Director ..................................................................................Paul Adams
***
Previous workshop presentation occurred on 4/16/26.
Keith Mortimer, Town Engineer, and Adam Traub, Library Director, provided a continuation
of the presentation first delivered on April 16, 2026, outlining the long-standing crossroads
facing the Webster Public Library. At that earlier meeting, the two had traced the history of the
library’s 2001 move into its leased space, described the escalating demand for library services,
and introduced the core dilemma: whether the community should continue renting a facility it
does not own or begin the multi-year process of building a permanent Town library. The
presentation revisited these themes with updated data and a deeper dive into financial modeling,
setting the stage for what Board members repeatedly acknowledged as one of the most complex
and consequential decisions the Town will face in the coming decade.
During the meeting, Mr. Mortimer and Mr. Traub emphasized how usage patterns have changed.
Active library cardholders have climbed from 27% of the population in 2021 to 35% in 20252026, and door counts are on track to surpass 200,000 visits for the first time. Program
attendance has soared beyond pre-COVID highs, topping 45,000 annually, and study rooms
remain booked at levels that demonstrate sustained demand for flexible learning and
collaboration spaces. These figures were presented not only as evidence of current strain on the
building, but also as indicators of the community’s growing reliance on its library - a theme Mr.
Traub returned to repeatedly, underscoring that space, layout, and functionality are becoming
increasingly mismatched with what residents expect and need.
The lease conversation, first introduced in April 2026, resurfaced with more detail. The library’s
triple-net lease means that even though the Town does not own the building, it is responsible for
nearly all interior repairs and upgrades while also contributing significantly to Common Area
Maintenance (CAM) and taxes as the plaza’s anchor tenant. By March 2032, the Town will have
spent over $13 million on rent, CAM and taxes, and projections show that renewing the lease,
whether on current terms or more market-aligned terms, would continue to cost the community
millions in perpetuity. Despite multiple discussions with the landlord, Mr. Traub reported that
no formal rent reduction had yet been offered; instead, the landlord suggested non-financial
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incentives such as additional square footage or potential furnishings. Board members noted both
the generosity and the limitations of these gestures, repeatedly expressing concern about
prematurely signaling intentions that could jeopardize negotiations or inadvertently push the
landlord toward decisions unfavorable to the Town.
The renovation-versus-construction comparison animated much of the discussion. Mr. Mortimer
explained that renovating the existing library - or any other existing building, should the Town
explore relocation, which would cost between $11.3 million and $20.3 million. These estimates
accounted for structural complexity, ADA updates, mechanical system improvements,
technology enhancements, and the soft costs associated with design and construction
management. Renovation was not framed as a “must” in 2032, but rather as an inevitability at
some point, given the age and configuration of the building. Several Board members questioned
whether a full renovation was necessary, noting that parts of the space remain functional and
attractive, while others suggested developing a wide range of renovation scenarios, from minimal
updates or full gut renovations, to better inform future financial modeling.
The possibility of constructing a new library brought even more attention. A conceptual estimate
of $32.2 million for a roughly 40,000 to 45,000 square foot building was presented, based on
middle-range industry benchmarks. Mr. Mortimer reminded the Board that these figures were
extremely preliminary and emphasized that true project costs would only emerge after a formal
needs assessment, site selection, and design process. The long-term financial model illustrated
that while new construction is more expensive upfront, it becomes financially advantageous
relative to renting around 2065-2067. Board members asked whether ownership would finally
allow Webster to break free from the cycle of investing in improvements only to walk away from
them at the end of a lease, and Mr. Traub expressed that long-term ownership would indeed grant
the Town autonomy over maintenance, modernization, and expansion instead of relying on a
landlord who may or may not share the Town’s priorities.
The Board’s conversation reflected both the magnitude of the decision and the need for careful
pacing. Board members stressed that the Town must consider its current debt load, other major
capital projects on the horizon, and the need for coordinated financial modeling involving the
Town Finance Director, who has not yet been formally included in earlier analysis. Multiple
Board members asked for refined data, including a formal library needs assessment, detailed
square-footage justification, estimates for reduced-size or reconfigured buildings, and alternative
rent projections including hypothetical landlord offers. Several Board members noted that a
smaller footprint, perhaps 30,000 square feet instead of 45,000, could dramatically alter cost
comparisons. Others cautioned against making any commitments now that could bind future
boards, particularly given that the bond vote required for new construction would ultimately be
decided not by the Town Board but by the residents of Webster themselves.
Board members voiced strong appreciation for the library, repeatedly affirming its importance as
a cornerstone of community life and expressing admiration for its growth and service model. At
the same time, the Board emphasized the need for disciplined, transparent, and data-driven
decision making. The dialogue regularly returned to the notion that the Town is at the beginning
of a “long-journey”, one that must balance aspiration with fiscal responsibility, timing, public
input, and the realities of construction inflation and space planning. The meeting ended with
consensus that no decisions were imminent; rather, the September 17th session represented
another step forward in an extended planning process that began in April and would continue
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with additional analysis, modeling, negotiations, and presentations. The spirit of the discussion
was one of commitment to the library’s future, to prudent stewardship of taxpayer funds, and to
ensuring the decision ultimately made is the right one for Webster’s residents, not only today but
for generations to come
***
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at
7:18 p.m.
____________________________________
Danene M. Marr, Town Clerk
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