If it weren't for the lone member of the public who attended this meeting( that's correct, no one else other that then Board members were in attendance), Linda Baum, no one would know that there is a problem brewing over these funds once again.
According to the NJ State Librarian, before surplus funds can be transferred from the Middletown Library to the Township Committee, a strategic plan must be prepared. The plan would need to include a number of focus group opinions, which would take time to complete. Only after this was all completed, could the plan to transfer funds from the library to the township be completed. Library Director Susan O'Neal estimated that it would take until August to complete.
Of course this did not sit very well with Township Commiteeman Kevin Settembrino, who was appointed to the Library Board by the mayor. Settembrino wanted the transfer of funds to take place with in four weeks so that the the Township's budget could be finalized.
Ms. Baum took minutes of the meeting for herself and passed them along to me to share:
The library mtg ran three hours. Got heated in parts. The number of people in the audience including me: One. Here are the main points:I'll be posting more about this over the next couple of days.
There are certain requirements the library must meet before the state librarian will approve the giveback. Formation of a strategic plan is required, and focus groups are a required part. Ms. O'Neal estimated an August 2011 completion date for both. Mr. Settembrino didn't like that at all -- he felt it would delay finalization of the town's budget. They discussed hiring a professional to conduct the groups at a cost of $3K max. A resolution to that effect was voted down 3-2. Some felt it could be done by library staff, while others felt staff lacked the time and that focus group participants would not be comfortable with library staff leading the groups. A few didn't want to spend money to give away money. Ms. Breen asked Kevin if the town would pay for it since they gain from it. He declined of course. Issues were cost, whether they could get community participation, and whether or not there was a need for new focus groups or if existing data could be used -- a survey was done in 2004. Mr. Settembrino proposed using the 2004 survey results to produce the focus group report for inclusion in the new strategic plan. A resolution to do it internally was passed 3-2. Mr. Settembrino revisited the timeline and asked for completion in 4 weeks. Ms. O'Neal said the end of May would be more achievable. Mr. Milne questioned if, by doing the focus groups themselves and/or by utilizing data already in hand, the library would be at risk of not getting the approval from the state librarian. (Let's hope so.) They don't know how much leeway they have.
(I thought of a few good ideas to simplify and speed the process, but I realized whose side I was on and kept quiet.)
It got heated when Mr. Settembrino scoffed about library employees resistance to doing the extra work in light of their recent raises (you know, the one dollar per week). Wendy Latona let him have it. She brought up the $15,000 stipend.
The next issue was about the 2009 audit results. Discussion was specifically about around $88K in library money that was left on the table but not known about in February. Kevin asked if this would affect the decision on the giveback. The board felt the issue was handled and would not affect the giveback. Ms. O'Neal said she had not yet talked with Nick Trasente, and wanted to address 2009 as well as 2010 issues. I got a little confused here. I asked if the board's concern about the audit related to just the $88k issue. Yes, they said. I said that I had reviewed the corrective action plan and felt much was not addressed. I asked them to consider revisiting the giveback decision as new information comes to light.
Mr. Settembrino asked when the preliminary 2012 budget comes out. Ms. O'Neal said the draft budget (in the range of $3.5M) is done in October when the official rateables comes out. Settembrino pushed to get it earlier, saying the rateables is out now. Susan said she is required to use the official figure released in October. Kevin said he felt leaving the initial release till October didn't leave enough time to review or make changes as needed, or whatever. Ms. O'Neal replied, "Duly noted." I don't know if there was any offer to meet an earlier target. Ms. Breen complimented Susan on being a great director and told Kevin it seemed like he was scolding.
There were other topics discussed relating to library spending for travel and repairs. The Lincroft branch has termite damage in the entryway.
Coverage or lack thereof for underground storage tanks was touched upon. Property coverage for the library is included under the town's policy, which is an excess policy. Kevin will check into coverage.
There was a resolution to allot more money to the library's attorney, whose fees ran over due to the recent funding battle. It passed.
Minutes from the 2/16 and 3/16 mtgs were adopted. I have a printed copy of minutes from 2/16 - 19 pages. I didn't get a copy of the 3/16 minutes, but will ask Wendy for it.
Feel free to distribute.
Linda
Things here just don't seem right to me and if Settmebrino or the rest of those on the Township Committee wanted their money right away, then I think they should have done their homework properly to find out if there would be potential problems. But like so much that those that run Middletown do, this attempt to wrestle funds from the Library was done haphazardly and with authoritarian zeal without knowing the consequences of their actions.
15 comments:
What is the $15,000. stipend about that is mentioned in this post? Who gets it and why, etc...?
It seems the two people who have served on the TC with any fiscal sense of responsibility or apptitude...no longer serve,Pat Short and Sean Byrnes.
The rest of these clowns have more "muscle" than brains ! ....and they are too stupid to seek or hire the help needed to put this TC on solid financial footing. The incompetence demonstrated is BEYOND BELIEF !
This town is in desperate need of a change in this status quo ...desperate need.
Is the stipend mentioned the money the TC is giving the Tax Assessor now that the library is forking over their funds ?
Anon's 3:16 & 8:27
The stipend mentioned was in fact a reference to the bonus being given to Middletown Tax Assessor Charles Heck and his assistant for the "great" work they did preparing for the township tax reassessment.
Should the Library Board and the Director dither and delay and cause the Town budget to be adopted without those funds being able to be counted, I expect that the deal will be off and the Library will be a part of the Monmouth County Library system before the Fall, and Ms. O'Neal won't have to worry about submitting the next budget.
The whole of the Library surplus ($1.2 million) would be spent restoring jobs and lowering the taxes for citizens.
It's actually in the taxpayer's favor if the Library Board clowns screw this up!
What idiots!
"Practically extorted"? I don't think so. It was extorted purposefully by Fibber Fiore and his band of thugs. They are a disgusting lot and I'm sorry for you guys...and really, really happy that I don't live in Middletown.
Well if this transfer of funds does somehow get screwed up, the TC just can't hand the Library over to the County. There will need to be a referendum first.
The statute states that the same process that created the library system needs to be followed in order to hand it over.
Actually Mike, that's not necessarily so. My understanding is that a resolution from the TC will do the trick.
In any event, the Library Board's antics would then cost employees, likely Police Officers, their jobs.
I think that a referendum would pass given that it would be a way to bring the police back, don't you?
Anon 8:42
If the Middletown library system was created by resolution than all that is needed is a resolution to pass it to the County. If the residents voted to approve a library years ago than the voters would need to approve it as a ballot question.
the township can include the 500k in the budget without actually having it in thier pocket. as long as it is on paper it should be sufficient. the budget is put together with anticipation of taxes collected. the township does not have all of the property taxes collected either.
Well, I think I heard that the law was changed AFTER Middletown formed the Library, and that it is open to interpretation.
Like I said, in a referendum between Susan O'Neal and police officers, I am pretty sure who would get bounced...
If you haven't heard already the police officers are going to be laid off even with the extorted monies from the library. That was a tactic used by the politicians to put fear into the library board.
Next year their tactic is reported to turn the library over to the county if the floundering arts center is not permitted to siphon off monies dedicated for use by the library.
Remember in November!
Too bad you guys can't get your facts straight - no wonder you lose almost every election.
If the Library Board stalls until past the point where the $500K can be counted in the adopted budget there will have to be layoffs - likely led by police officers.
THAT would be the subject of any referendum on the Library - Director O'Neal or police officers?
I am pretty sure how the town would vote...
The reality is in fact that the tc, like the governor, can not be trusted, We have learned that repeatedly, the hard way.
Our taxes went up nearly 14% last year but the tc denied it, citing a much lower number which was not true.
They lament about difficult fiscal times and hand out bonuses to people who are well paid to do their jobs.
They tell us the swim club is making money when it is not.
The arts center does not generate enough revenue to pay it's utility bills.
The tc's plan all along has been to layoff police officers. They seek to curry favor with the gov. so scharfy can get/keep his political plum job. Perhaps others want to work in Trenton also.
The tc gives health benefits to members of the sewerage authority in violation of the current ordinance.
Need I continue as to why they can not be trusted?
The word has been out for a long time that police officers would be laid off with or without the library money. The tc is looking for a scape goat for their fiscal irresponsibility.
Even your post has turned this matter into the Library vs. the Police Department. Neither of them is responsible for the situation, the tc is.
The members of the tc are not of the character to accept responsibility for the fiscal situation they have put this town in.
Anonymous 5:42...
Like most Republicans, you are the un-informed moron here...
We are a society that follows the rule of law, not the rule of extortion, ignorance, and thuggery, as you seem to prefer.
If there were no rules, we would be all up in trees flinging our crap at each other...
Maybe that's the kind of world that you want to live in, but most of us in the reality based community, do NOT!
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