AMHERST — Trustees for the Jones Library and the Library Building Committee will have another six months to identify a general contractor to handle the estimated $46.1 million project to expand and renovate the 43 Amity St. building by the end of 2026.

In a unanimous vote Thursday morning, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners granted Amherst officials an extension, through Dec. 31, to identify and hire a company to undertake the work.

The vote came in response to a written appeal made by trustees President Austin Sarat and Town Manager Paul Bockelman, whose request came after the lone bid for enlarging the building from 48,000 square feet to 63,000 square feet, overhauling mechanical systems and doing other renovations, came in $6.5 million over the amount for construction, forcing Bockelman to reject the bid.

The letter from Sarat and Bockelman explained that the project is complicated, on a tight site and that receiving only one bid likely increased the costs.

The project is being funded by $15.8 million committed by the town, which is being leveraged for support from other sources, including an MBLC grant, federal money and private fundraising.

Meeting at the Palmer Public Library, the commissioners heard from Jones Library Director Sharon Sharry, who explained so-called “value engineering” cuts totaling $3 million will reduce the project’s complexity, but not compromise the required programmatic vision or community expectations.

Among the proposed reductions, supported by trustees and the building committee at a meeting two days earlier, are not reinstalling historic millwork inside the 1928 portion of the building when the wood is removed, saving $1 million, and replacing the planned cross-laminated wood structure with a steel and metal deck, saving $500,000.

“We understand there is risk in this plan, but we have done our research,” Sharry said, adding that the risk is worth it because Amherst can’t pay more than $15.8 million, and simple repairs of the existing building, including a 1993 addition, are projected to cost the town far more.

“And the result will be a library the town cannot be proud of,” Sharry said.

Finegold Alexander Architects of Boston presented the value engineering proposals and will have 12 weeks of additional design services to put those in a revised bid package, with Bockelman expected to sign a new contract with the architects in the coming days.

Council President Lynn Griesemer also spoke to the commissioners, emphasizing that repairs will cost the town more than the larger project and telling them that Amherst can’t afford to lose the state grant opportunity for a greatly enhanced library and community center.

Griesemer also commented on the vigorous debate in town over the project, saying this isn’t surprising. “It’s raised a lot of stir in Amherst. It’s Amherst, come on,” she said.

Andrea Bono-Bunker, a library consultant for the MBLC, said the six-month extension makes sense since the sole bid was 18% higher than estimates.

Bono-Bunker explained that the MBLC has granted all similar requests during the COVID-era, pointing to the town of Sharon public library when it got no bidders initially, then received one bid that was 5% higher than estimates and proceeded with the project. Bono-Bunker also cited Deerfield and Swansea as communities that have experienced a challenging bidding environment.

“The amount of bidders does matter in this process, as competition between general contractors does lead to more competitive numbers,” Bono-Bunker said.

She also pointed to three affirmative votes in Amherst — the Town Council’s original vote to support the project in April 2021, followed by a referendum vote in November 2021 and then the December 2023 vote increasing the town’s authorization. The extension is about granting the town time to explore options and decide if there is a path forward, Bono-Bunker said.

MBLC commissioner George Comeau said granting an extension is wise, leaving it up to the town to figure out if it can work. “Our role as commissioners is to build public libraries,” Comeau said,

The request for the extension brought out a mix of supporters and opponents, with a number participating via Zoom, and messages in the chat indicating their advocacy for or against the extension. Many had also sent letters, and while Comeau noted the unusual level of participation, he was also disheartened to see a community so divided.

Carol Gray, a former Jones trustee, said Amherst doesn’t need a $53 million library and asked the MBLC to put an end to the project. “It’s tearing our town apart,” Gray said.

District 1 Councilor Cathy Schoen said she would like to keep the integrity of the building and there has been a rush to consider cuts that would affect the building’s solar readiness and the preservation of its historic integrity, such as the Philippine walnut and mahogany woodwork. But MBLC members indicated that is outside the purview of ensuring library buildings are meeting the needs of the commonwealth.

Amherst resident Melissa Giraud spoke in favor of the extension. “I think the renovation and expansion is needed to serve all community members,” Giraud said.

Others who backed the extension included state Rep. Mindy Domb, who also spoke on behalf of Sen. Jo Comerford in endorsing the project, while trustee Tamson Ely urged support for the extension so the vision for the Jones can be achieved.

Another trustee, Farah Ameen, referenced the needs for her daughter and other teens to have their own space, recalling that when her daughter was younger she did a lemonade stand to raise money for the library.

“This is a community hub and this project is really important to our town, we understand the repair-only option will just not give us what we need,” Ameen said.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.