2023-2024 Grant Round Grantees: Planning and Design Phase: Votes for Construction Phase

After the MBLC sets and approves the grant award for a project’s Construction Phase, you need to have town/city votes for:

• approval of the project and associated high-level activities*
• authorizing the total project cost for the Construction Phase of your project based on the estimate from the MPLCP Level of Design
• approval to "accept and expend MPLCP grant funds" (Note: you must secure approval to “accept and expend” the grant, not just “accept.”)

These elements may be combined into one article or separated out, depending on your assessment of what will work best in your town/city. The development of articles for individual projects should be based on local Bylaws and the advice of the Moderator, Town Clerk, Select Persons and/or Counsel. 

*For the construction phase, approval is given for activities that include the completion of design work from the MPLCP Level of Design through bid documents, the acquisition of real property (if necessary), and the reconstruction, construction, renovation, preservation, rehabilitation, demolition or expansion costs of a facility to be used as a free public library under M.G.L. c. 78.