The next meeting of the Library Board is Wednesday, March 16, at 7:00 p.m. This is, of course, a public meeting. The issues of the last two months, specifically the library making a contribution to the Township for the 2011 budget, and the terms of same, have been in negotiations since the last meeting. Last week, to our surprise, the Township Administrator and Attorney revealed to the press the amount of money they are asking for, $500,000. There are other terms which are still part of the negotiations. I can tell you that these are viewed as protections for the library from some of the threats that have been publically made. I cannot say, in truth, whether there is an agreement that will be struck by Wednesday night or not, but the Library is cautiously optimistic, and has given over much time and deliberation to the process.
If the Library transfers funds to the Township of Middletown, there are strict procedures stated in the law that must be followed, among these are the Library must prepare an Annual Report on the state of the library, it must submit a three year Technology Plan and a three year Strategic Plan. These last two plans are submitted to the NJ State Library for approval. Once these plans are approved, the Library can apply to the NJ State Library for the transfer to take place. The State Librarian has 45 days to approve or deny the transfer. These procedures were developed in tandem with the Department of Community Affairs, which oversees all municipal budgets in the State of New Jersey.
The intent of all this is to ensure that the library has sufficient funds remaining for current year operations and for the future plans it has adopted. In fact, an early version of the law was vetoed by Gov. Christie, because he saw that the safeguard provisions for the local libraries needed to be improved in the bills that were passed. If the Middletown Township Library Board of Trustees does decide to transfer monies to the Township, it is committed to following these procedures accurately and completely.
Once the terms have been negotiated and an agreement has been made, the Trustees desire is that a joint announcement of the terms will be made available to the public.
You are, of course, welcome to attend the upcoming Board Meeting when the agreement, if done, comes before the entire Board of Trustees for a vote.
17 comments:
Watch out,Susan,
This TC has proven time and again,they are about as trustworthy as snakes. Always have witnesses to what transpires and trust no one.As the saying goes,"get it in writing".
It is good all of this must go through approval before anything is given to Middletown Township. There's no one in administration that has illustrated a talent or expertise for managing finances !
You should audio record all meetings and negotiations.
If the Library gives the TC and Administrator the $500,000; let's HOPE that money is used correctly and where it is SUPPOSED to go....TO SAVING JOBS or bringing back some of the 26 employees who got Lay Off notices! NOT being used for huge RAISES for the overpaid, unprofessional and incapable Administration and non-working Department leaders! Why should the "Big Guns" at the top be rewarded with a huge raise when the working people are canned? SO TYPICAL MIDDLETOWN!
I hear the library passed the transfer of $500k to the Township.
All that wasted time trying to lobby support for the library board to turn against the TC.
What will you do now??
One thing about the internet, it makes it easy to spread unsubstantiated rumors. The trouble is that salary information is accessible to the public so everyone can see who's lying...
Anon 10:29
Based on Susan O'Neal's update it would come as no surprise if indeed that was the case.
I have heard from 3 people on this and each wasn't so sure that the proposed plan would move forward as it was presented last night.
Anon 7:26
I don't understand your point, what does salaries have to do with anything here and the spreading of unsubstantiate rumors?
Mike, Anon at 8:26 is talking about "huge raises" for administration and department leaders.
That is an unsubstantiated rumor.
Oh, and the Library Board apparently DID approve the $500K as they should have...
The stupid bunch of yo-yo's on the TC should have been doing financial planning these last couple of years and many of the lay offs would have been done before now. The TC thought they could manage by "osmosis" and the taxpayers in this town would pay for the incompetence of those on the TC.
THEN CAME THE 2008 ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, BIG TIME !!
THESE pea brains couldn't manage their way out of a paper bag !! And Trasante is far fr4om any genius. Just another conniver hired too late to make any difference and who has trouble with the facts.
The carpetbaggers run this town and two lawyers (Nelson & Carton) who were not elected to office.
GOD HELP US !!
The legislation guiding the transfer and the use of the dollars from the library board to the township isn't crystal clear on how the legislative stipulation that the township has to use the dollars to reduce or prevent taxes from rising is to occur.
Using the money to save jobs would not reduce taxes. It would probably raise taxes because it would maintain salary levels, health care costs and pension payments. All of these will increase in the near and distant future and will have to be supported by raising, not lowering, taxpayer dollars.
Anon 1:18 p.m....remember there are now caps on tax increases that are in excess of the 2% required by the state. We need to reduce the work force to achieve the necessary reduction in salaries. Benefits are reduced as a result of the reductions in the work force.
The onus is on the TC and the confidence of the taxpayers is questionable today because this TC is not noted for fiscally responsible conduct! In fact the facts indicate the contrary is the truth of the matter !
According to the Middletown Patch online paper, after the board approved this, they also approved raises for all of their staff. So much for needing the surplus money. Good for you Township Committee!
Anon:10:11.
The Middletown Patch is an online paper for somewhere in RHODE ISLAND!
Get your facts straight will ya !!
Anything at all to make the thugs for the TC look good. GRASPING AT STRAWS!
Anony 10:18,
What kool-aid are you drinking?
There is no such on-line paper for Middletown,N.J.. It's in another state.
Anon 10:11 &10:18
There us infact a Middletown patch website. It ha been up and running for about 6 weeks or so.
You can find it:
Middletown-nj.patch. com
Thanks,Mike,for the heads up info.
There is a Middletown Patch" blog or on line paper by Elaine Van DerVelde,who used to be a reporter for the Independent. Interesting to be sure and I hope Elaine will be a voice for all sides as she was when reporting the news. At that time she clearly saw the flaws in government.
Anon 1:56
That's the one I was speaking of.
www.middletown-nj.patch.com
Post a Comment