Below is the video showing the portion of the June 20th meeting. Trustee Cunningham, the library treasurer, gave a presentation titled, "Voice of the Resident's Budget", detailing the proposed budget for October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014 if the vote is favorable to re-charter as a school district library.
If the vote is not favorable, they will need to either look for additional funding or reduce their budget to an amount set by the town board at budget time.
We also prepared a spreadsheet comparing their present budget with their proposed budget as a school district library:
Click here for a full page view of our spreadsheet.
The budget they proposed will not be in effect until October 1, 2013 when next year's school tax bills are paid; therefore, ALL Town of New Hartford residents including NYM and Chadwicks will still be taxed for library expenses on the 2013 town budget.
According to Treasurer Earl Cunningham, the budget includes 10% pay raises for all employees because they deserve it. It also includes a pay increase of $20,000 for the library director; $10,000 extra for the assistant and 2 new full-time employees.
Trustee Wiatr questioned the payment of 100% health benefits for library employees. Mr. Cunningham replied giving an example that you can't ask someone making $22,672 a year to contribute to their health costs...that would take a lot of nerve.
Another area of concern for Trustee Wiatr was that library employees are paid to come to work one hour early to open the library. Of course, other library trustees had an answer for everything Trustee Wiatr had to say regarding his concerns over the budget increases.
It's all on the videotape. We encourage New Hartford Central School District taxpayers to view this videotape to get a clear understanding of the proposed budget that will be put before district voters on August 23, 2012.
According to Board President Linda Romano, she has been working with Supervisor Tyksinski for assurances that the $400,000 currently in the town budget for the library will not be spent on other items, but will instead be taken out of the 2014 town budget. [Psst...are you buying this?
Here is the video portion of the June 20, 2012 Library Board of Trustee's meeting regarding re-chartering:
At least one person in New Hartford [other than 99% of the library trustees] feels that the proposed almost $1,000,000 library budget is actually inadequate to meet the needs of the community. He warned the library trustees to think about their future needs. Shortly, we will be showing that excerpt from the May library board meeting. We are waiting for some FOILed documents.
The next meeting that normally would have been held at 7:00 p.m. on July 18, 2012, has been rescheduled for noon that same day. The August meeting has been cancelled. So much for an effective public relations campaign. Tick, tock...
6 comments:
It seems to me that there must be more to the story on the issues you are raising. The Directors increase pay for example. Is the NHPL Director making a fair salary compared to similar positions at similar size libraries? A 10% pay increase for staff seems to be high but it wouldn't be if they haven't had increases over several years which may be possible giving the austerity status I have been reading about.
Anonymous,
First of all, it is obvious that you are one of the library trustees. No one else would make the statements you just made. But we won't hold that against you. Here is our answer...
Were they similiar sized libraries? We don't know. If we recall, the library treasurer would not disclose the libraries that were being used for comparison. He said that libraries are not allowed to compare themselves to other libraries by name.
Many people in all walks of life haven't had pay increases over the last few years because of the economy; even people who are making less than $22,000.
In fact, many people have lost their jobs and are unable to find employment. They would be damn glad to have a job that pays $22,000 with full health benefits. This is true even right here in our beloved Town of New Hartford...not everyone is part of the "elite" club.
The library has to recognize that taxpayer dollars are not finite.
The NHPL has never been audited; the 990 reports they submit to the IRS each year do not make sense when comparing them year to year; they have never filed the required Annual Update Document report to the State Comptroller's Office even though the State Comptroller sent a letter stating that they must comply.
The above are just some of the things that are troublesome regarding the operation of the library. One is left to wonder if they are spending taxpayer dollars prudently.
Yet, except for Trustee Wiatr, no one on that board asks questions. That in itself is troubling and makes one wonder the motives of the other trustees. Is it merely to push the agenda of their "friends"?
We are sure you will agree that the above shortcomings would not be allowed in private industry so why should it be allowed when using taxpayer dollars?
And just when will the library trustees let our seniors know that they will be paying library tax on their full assessment because STAR exemptions do not apply? Remember the seniors...the ones that the library trustees claim to be so concerned about?
You should get on the personnel committee. Good luck finding qualitfied staff for $22K. By the way I'm not a trustee. Apparently,you are though and you consistently refer to the trustees as them and their. Should it not be us and our.
You're not a trustee? ...bet we can prove differently or at the very least you are very closely tied to someone who is a trustee.
Apparently, the library has found someone for $22,000 as they are currently paying that to a staff member according to Trustee Cunningham...or are you saying that person is not qualified?
And you, my friend, would be wrong in thinking that I am a trustee. I am not. I prefer to have no connections to the library or the town. That way, I cannot be accused of being partial to any partciular situation and I can write free of pressure.
Why don't we meet for coffee [I'll buy] so you can see for yourself who I am...I have nothing to hide...do you?
It is quite obvious you have no idea who owns this blog. HaHaHa!
We all know who you are and please don't call me your friend.
Anonymous said...
We all know who you are and please don't call me your friend.
Correction...my friend!
You merely think you know who I am...why not accept my offer of coffee...you might be very surprised!
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