Carl Goulden, president of the Littlestown Area Chamber of Commerce, is not upset about the fire company taking control of the community center; as a member, he said he understands the need for expansion.

But he assumed the fire company would continue to use the building as a community center and expand around it rather than tear it down.

"If anything, there is a need for more space for more community organizations," Goulden said. "We should be expanding our library."

More than 10 organizations use meeting rooms in the community center. The Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Littlestown Jaycees are the most frequent users.

Ken Thomas, president of the Littlestown Area Historical Society, said his biggest concern is for the Littlestown Library.

"There's no place for them to go," Thomas said "They'll just be left out in the open."

Borough Manager Linda Hess said the borough does not know what the arrangements for the library will be.

"We've made it (space) available to the library as long as we could when we were here," Hess said. "But we don't have any space in the new building."

The borough and Adams County Library System are working together to find a new location.

Rob Lescher, system director for Adams County Library System, said that "it is a priority" to find a new home for the Littlestown Library.

"We most assuredly want to have a service outlet in the greater Littlestown area," Lescher said "We're optimistic we'll find a space."

The new borough building will house the borough offices, council chambers, the mayor's office and the Littlestown Police Department.

Originally, the borough agreed only to give the fire company the building with the stipulation that it be kept a community building. But in April, council members changed their minds and, by the end of June, the fire company accepted the borough's offer.

"We (the borough) just can't afford both buildings," Hess said.

But Goulden feels giving up the stipulations in the agreement was "a bad call." He said he thinks the public should have been given a larger say in the matter and the borough gave up on the needs of other service organizations too quickly.

"I understand the borough didn't want to maintain the building because of budget drains," Goulden said "But I'm disappointed they didn't explore other options."

Hess said through a newsletter or at a borough meeting the council let the community know the community center was available to anyone interested. She said when no one came forward the borough decided to give it to the fire company.

The borough plans on moving its office by February 2009.

According to Council member David Wheeler, the new building on Queen Street was purchased for $250,000, and with renovations, the total cost of the new building is currently $600,000.

Hess said the new borough building was formerly a bank office and needed only some renovations and clean-up before the borough could move in.

Borough Secretary Sandy Conrad also believes that the new building was bought because of the square project and it made more sense for the borough to move to the square.

Sheely said that Alpha Fire Co.'s plans are "not etched in stone," and that the fire company would consider other expansion options before tearing down the community center.

Thomas and Goulden have set a meeting with the Alpha Fire Co. on July 31 to discuss the matter. Hess will also be in attendance.

Goulden said he hopes to make an appeal for the betterment of Littlestown and reach a compromise so the community center can stay standing.

HISTORY

The community center was built in 1901 and originally used as a school. In 1902, the first high-school class graduated from the 46 E. King St. building.

In the 1930s, a new high school was built, leaving just the elementary school in the building.

In 1952, a new elementary school was built.

In 1963, the school district gave the building to the borough to be used as a community center.