Date: Fri 28-Feb-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

library-council-Blawie

Full Text:

Council Committee Declines To Fully Fund Library Operations

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

The library's board of trustees remains frustrated with the lack of funding it

has received in this year's budget to offset the costs of a 21,000-square-foot

addition expected to open in June.

The Legislative Council's Administrative Committee Monday agreed to give the

library board about half of the $67,000 it had requested in increases over the

$305,000 it is already receiving, but library board members say the entire

amount is needed to cover the costs of the new addition.

Earlier this month, the Board of Selectmen incensed the Friends of the Library

and the library board when it gave the library only a token increase of under

$12,000. The library board said they simply asked for the minimum amount to

keep the library running just as it has in the past. The town has no

discretion over individual line items.

Jim Larin of the library board said the library needs an additional 100 hours

of staff time each week to be open on its usual 58-hour-a-week schedule. The

$33,000 shortfall, if not restored, would force a cutback in the hours that

the library is open to the public, he said.

"Our proposed budget included increases in electricity, heat, contracted

services and other operating costs which are required because of the larger

facility," he said. "Beyond that, we asked for no additional money except for

salaries needed to staff the building. The size of the building - three floors

- requires more staff. We asked for the minimum needed to maintain the 58-hour

schedule."

The library's request also includes a 2.8 percent salary increase for existing

staff, about $8,000, plus approximately 100 additional hours of staff time

each week.

The council's Administrative Committee Chairman Karen Blawie said she sees the

need for additional staff and for moderate raises, but believes this is not

the year to ask taxpayers to pay the entire request.

"I prefer the result of staff decreases and fewer open hours to higher taxes,

and I think most people would agree with that," she said.

She called the library funding equitable, workable and reasonable.

"We were hoping that with the new building, the council would see the way

clear to fund its operation," Mr Larin said. "We hope the entire council -

when it meets next week - will restore the funding."

The council will meet at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, March 4, in the middle school

library to decide on this part of the budget. The meeting includes a public

participation portion.