Public votes today for Medina library expansion, fire district elections in Albion, Lyndonville and Murray

2 also running unopposed for Barre Fire District

There are elections in four fire districts in Orleans County today, plus a referendum on whether the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library can take out a bond up to $5.2 million for an expansion.

The Albion Joint Fire District will have its first election today from 4 to 9 p.m. at Hoag Library.

There have been five appointed commissioners and an appointed treasurer serving since August, with their first meeting on Aug. 20.

Of the current five commissioners, four will be on the ballot in the Dec. 10 election. Joe Martillotta opted against running to be an elected commissioner.

Albert Cheverie, Craig Lane, Chris Kinter and David Buczek all were appointed and are running for election. Kevin Sheehan, a former village trustee and mayor, also is seeking an elected position.

The commissioners’ terms will be for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years, depending on the vote totals for each. The highest vote-getter gets the 5-year term and then the term length goes in descending order of votes. After the December election, the commissioner election should have one position up for election each year.

Two people are running for treasurer. Victoria Tabor has been in the position since August. She is running for election along with Kristen Marciszewski.

Voters will also be asked whether the fire district can create reserve accounts for equipment and fire trucks.

The Murray Joint Fire District has three commissioners up for election. The vote will be from 6 to 9 p.m. at the fire hall in Holley at 7 Thomas St.

There will be two commissioners for five-year terms and one for a one-year term. The Murray candidates are unopposed: Mark Porter and Dave Nenni for 5-year terms; and Scott Harrington for a 1-year term.

The Lyndonville Joint Fire District also has an election today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Lyndonville fire hall at 148 N Main St., Lyndonville. One commissioner for a five-year term is up for election.

Ed Jay, a current commissioner, is unopposed for a five-year term.

The Barre Fire District also has an election today and both positions are unopposed on the ballot.

William Basinait is seeking a five-year as fire commissioner and Barry Flansburg is seeking a three-year as treasurer. Flansburg has served as treasurer since 1991.

Polls are open from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Barre Fire Hall.

The Lee-Whedon Memorial Library expansion will have voting today from noon to 8 p.m. at Medina Central School District board room, next to the high school.

Registered voters in the Medina school district will be asked whether the library can take out a bond up to $5.2 million for a proposed 4,785-square-foot addition to Lee-Whedon Memorial Library.

The expansion would go on the back of the current library at 620 West Ave. The current building is 11,100 square feet.

The 4,785-square-foot addition would create space for two meeting rooms, two tutoring rooms, a programming room with makerspace, Friends of the Library book sale room, a quiet research room, a teen room and 14 parking spots.

There would also be additional restrooms, a new circulation desk, a new entry portico with automatic sliding doors, about a 10 percent increase in the collection and upgraded technology.

The library already has $795,320 in grants secured and $175,000 in reserves, leaving a $4,229,680 to be financed over 20 years. That would result in a $48 a year increase in taxes for homes valued at $100,000, said Christine Crowley, president and municipal advisor with Fiscal Advisors and Marketing.

That represents the “worst-case scenario,” she said at a meeting last week, because the library is likely to get additional grants and raise money in a capital campaign.

The library is seeking an additional $789,520 grant from the state for library construction. If that is secured, the amount to be financed would be $3,4410,160, lowering the tax impact to an average of $39 for houses at $100,000 in assessed value, Crowley said.

The library also expects it could raise $500,000 in a fundraising or capital campaign. If that is successful, the amount to finance would be $2,940,160 or a $34 impact for property assessed at $100,000.