Two big decisions were made during a July 8 special meeting of the Addison Township Library Board of Trustees.

One, officials selected the shape of the footprint for the new 5,000-square-foot facility they’re working toward constructing.

In a 4-1 vote, the board chose the Y-shaped concept, which includes an uncovered patio area, on a 3.8-acre vacant parcel along Rochester Rd. between Cantley St. and Milmine Rd. in Lakeville.

The other option was a rectangular building.

Based on a proposed budget submitted to the board its June 18 meeting, the Y-shaped building could cost an estimated $1.284 million, which is approximately $49,000 higher than a rectangular building.

Library Board President James Baldiga said the Y-shaped footprint affords “an opportunity” to create “a more interesting-looking building.”

“Most of the board felt that it was a little bit more special,” he said.

Library Board Secretary Marilyn Szost said “everybody agreed” the Y-shape was “better looking” than a standard rectangle.

“I think the people in Addison deserve something more than (a library) that looks like a polebarn,” she said.

Szost also believes the layout of the Y-shaped building will allow the interior space to be utilized in “more creative ways” to meet today’s needs and whatever will be required in years to come.

“To me, we’re not (constructing) this building just for us or even for the people that are (living) here right now. It’s for the future,” she said.

Baldiga found the Y-shape’s patio area appealing for two reasons.

One, it provides a dedicated space that’s designed to host outdoor programs. “There have been several functions already this summer where we’ve had 50 (to) 60 people and we’ve been holding them behind the (current) library,” Baldiga said.

Two, Baldiga said it would be easy to add a roof and another wall to the patio to enclose it should the need for more interior space arise “at some point down the road.”

Library Board Member James Elsarelli, who also chairs the New Building Committee, cast the lone dissenting vote. He said his decision was based on the potential cost, not the design itself.

Elsarelli explained he was “trying to be budget-conscious” about things and “take the more conservative approach.”

Based on his impressions of what the public wants, Elsarelli said people “leaned toward” the Y-shape when presented with it, but after being told it could cost more, “it seemed like a lot of them then drifted back to the rectangular design.”

That being said, he believes “either” shape would “fit the project just fine” and “give us exactly what we need.”

“They both have their advantages,” Elsarelli said.

Although the board’s decision did not reflect his own choice, Elsarelli has no “hard feelings” about it and plans to continue supporting efforts to build a new facility.

“If anything, having that (definite) direction now is just going to help us continue to move forward and refine the project,” he said. “Even though it didn’t go (the way) I voted, it’s still progress and we’re going to still keep moving forward.”

The board also voted not to attempt to sell, at this time, a small portion of the new building site in the hopes of generating some revenue for the project.

“It’s not critical to the success of the project that we sell that piece of property at this time,” said Baldiga, who indicated the person who donated the 3.8 acres in 2008 “felt pretty strongly about us not selling (part of) it.”

“So, why poke that bear?”

Baldiga believes it was the right call because it’s better to keep a supporter than create a detractor.

“We don’t need anybody else opposed to the library,” he said.

Szost, too, felt it was the right decision.

“It’s always nice for present and future donors to know that we (will) honor their intentions,” she said.

Back in June, library officials voted to engage a Realtor to list a 0.2-acre sliver of its land that has access to Lakeville Lake, but only if the donor was “amenable” to the idea of splitting off some it for this purpose. Legally speaking, the board can do whatever it wants with the land, but out of respect for the donor, they wanted to check with him first.

According to Elsarelli, who spoke with the donor, this individual was “opposed (to) selling any of it” because he wants to see the land “preserved” as a single piece.

“It was given to the library as a whole (piece) and he wanted to keep it that way,” Elsarelli said. “He thought that we could benefit more from having it all together than split up.”

Elsarelli explained the donor seemed to be concerned that if parties other than the library were allowed to acquire a portion or portions of that 3.8 acres, it could potentially be developed in ways that cause it to lose its “country feel.”

“(The donor) wanted to keep the natural features of it,” he said. “That’s what his wishes were . . . We’re going to honor (that). We’re going to keep it all as one (piece), not selling (any of it) at this time.”

Officials indicated the language “at this time” was included in the motion so as to not tie the library board’s hands in the future should the need to divest themselves of this property ever arise.

“We haven’t concluded to never sell it,” Baldiga said.