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Old Town residents feel compromise rejected harshly-worded letter criticizing the Chamber for requesting a study be conducted with the goal of keeping the library in its present location, improving accessibility and maximizing use of the available space. It accuses them of not first obtaining the facts, and says it is particularly disturbing that a "publicly funded body which purportedly represents the interests of the community would make a recommendation in regard to another publicly funded organization without making any effort to obtain the facts. You damage your own reputation and inadvertently cast aspersions on a respected member of the, business establishment in another community" (Chamberlain Architect Services, the author of the report). Thomson's response indicates the Chamber - not a publicly funded body but one which receives money from the town for the services it provides - did have access to the report, "which is but one part of the evidence which touches on the issue. It is clear from the public debate which has been ongoing that other aspects, such as the life and vibrancy of the Old Town sector, will be impacted if the library should move." TEMCO's concerns have also been ignored, and have drawn the ire of the library board - the town's own tourism management advisory committee has been cautioned not to release results of its recent survey, which contains a question concerning the fate of the library, until council has made its decision. To publish the results would "unfairly influence the decisions affecting the library." The board's letter, sent anonymously to the Advance, says that if TEMCO persists in interfering with the political process, the library board would have to "seriously consider taking appropriate action." TEMCO heritage representative Ken Douglas wouldn't comment on the letter, but he is disturbed that the town is not addressing the advisory committee's requests for actual costs and impact studies - Kirkby's motion asks for studies on potential uses for the Court House, not the impact of removing services. The town has also not taken TEMCO up on their offer to elaborate further on their recommendations, Douglas said. And although there were some problems with the distribution of the survey, the results can still be considered reliable, he believes. Ron Dale, who as superintendent of Parks Canada Historic Sites shares the Court House with the library, says the motion Kirkby made allows for anything from a bar to a retail store to move in. The library staff works under atrocious conditions, he agrees, "but what they want is the Rolls Royce" of library facilities. Instead they could have what they need, while keeping a small lending library and a revenue-producing research centre for historians and genealogists who come from out-of-town and would be willing to pay for their information. There are creative solutions that would serve the community better if council will look at them, he added. Lord Mayor Art Viola, who called last Tuesday's community centre meeting "perhaps the largest public meeting ever witnessed in this town," said the message council received was loud and clear - a request to defer action, strong representation from the Old Town that essential services not be moved and that assistance be given to other communities that want or need a pool, library or community centre; the negative consequence of pushing ahead in a piece-meal fashion. He spoke of the benefits of a group recently formed called the Coalition for Old Town Advocacy, and asked that everyone work together for a positive solution. Kirkby's motion, he said, will give council the time to look at solutions, and there is nothing to prevent those who want to be part of the process from coming forward and asking to be included. Mary Jane Grant, representing the coalition, says the discussion back and forth Monday, with more time spent arguing about the motion than the library, was confusing, as was the outcome. "It's hard to understand what they did and even harder to understand why they did it," she said, of the rejection of some sort of ad hoc committee with a broad-based cross-section of representation, "by denying broad public input, council is delaying just to gather the facts they need to support the single option - the extraction of services." So many people offered to help, and were totally ignored, she said. "It confirmed what we already know - that we have no voice." The coalition will continue to generate options and gather objective information," she added. "They have not asked for input, but that does not mean that they will not get it." The three aldermen who voted against the motion wanted it defeated so the town could go back to square one and look at each issue separately. Alderman Rob Copeland passionately argued a new proposal be examined, saying the issue is splitting the community and splitting council. It's not something we can deal with lightly. If we make a decision tonight we have to live with it. I think we'll live to regret it." Alderman Judy Rylands called the whole library process just short of "a fiasco." The library decision should be treated like a decision to build a new home - find funding and a suitable location and then move. "In this case, the decision was made to move and then find the answers." By making the decision prematurely and then looking for answers, "You have now created even more than ever 'us versus them, Old Town versus the rest of the municipality." She urged aldermen to defeat the motion, find some answers to the questions residents are asking, allow for more dialogue of council members, and look for a solution that will help everyone. Alderman Terry Flynn, seen by some as the Old Town representative because he lives there, says he was elected to serve the community as a whole, but he did reflect long and hard on the library issue. The town needs a facility for everyone in the community, and he believes an acceptable use can be found for the Court House, such as a meeting room. He'd like to see a small volunteer library, the Chamber office and other town agencies, and the police using the Court House. He is confident council will find a compromise that will benefit the whole community, he says. Kirkby says the focus should be on finding a use for the Court House that will bring residents back to the main street, such as a shoe store or antique wine store. "If we work together we can find some uses for that building."