Dear Rick,
On behalf of the Library Board I want to provide this update on several issues.
State Maintenance of Effort
SAlISBURY, MD 21801
The Division of Library Development and Services (DLDS) has reversed itself and after further analysis and consultation has concluded that the projected FY11 County appropriation will not trigger the Maintenance Of Effort provisions of the MD Code and will not jeopardize state funding for the Library.
Our cumulative 39% County appropriation cut from 2009 still presents the Library with the necessity of cuts in staff and services, but the catastrophic loss of state funds has been avoided for now.
Mayor Ireton’s Downtown Site Proposals of April 23 None of these three site proposals completely meet the Library’s site criteria, as outlined in its March 11 letter to the Mayor, nor to the County’s expectations for an enticing offer. All three call for the Library project to pay for replacement parking lost to construction of the building footprint and provide immediate funds to the City for unrelated downtown infrastructure improvements. Also, there is a new provision whereby any purchased site would revert to the City if undeveloped in five years. The proposals also ignore the architectural and engineering shortcomings of Lots 11 and 12, and the present building.
The very existence of three proposals from the downtown stakeholders shows the divisiveness still present among this small group and their failure to reach
consensus after months of discussion and study.
Site Acquisition Grant Reversion
With great reluctance, the Library Board has voted to withdraw from its $375,000 site acquisition grant award from the state and allow the funds to revert, while reserving the right to reapply in the future. The Library’s 39% cut in County operating funds has created a crisis, which makes even this preliminary step toward construction of a new Main Library impractical and inadvisable at this time.
The ongoing highly emotional public discussion of site location orchestrated by downtown stakeholders has hindered public awareness and understanding of the nature and extent of the Library’s financial crisis, which will continue for several more years. The Library’s operating budget crisis is more urgent than its future needs, and that will be the Library Board’s focus going forward.
The board takes its statutory responsibility for Library site selection very seriously and appreciates your understanding and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Valerie Murphy
Chair, Wicomico Public Library Board of Trustees
cc: Ted Shea
Sharon Morris
Jim Fineran
County Council users
Mayor Ireton
John Pick
Louise Smith
Wicomico Public Library Board of Trustees
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10 comments:
Great, If and when a library is built, build it outside of Salisbury. They appear to want their cake and eat it also.
I hate going to the Salisbury library. There is nothing but a bunch of bums standing outside and kids that have been dropped off as a free babysitting service.
Valerie is blaming "the downtown stakeholders" for not allowing Library Board to do exactly what it wanted? Good for them!
Anonymous 3:02:
There are other branches you can go to: Centre Branch, Pittsville Branch (on the school grounds), and Bivalve Station. These offshoots offer the same services and can obtain books for you just like the Downtown Library can.
Like the wall phone and fax machine, technology is making the public library no longer necessary. Money could be better spent for a public pool or recreation center for our youth. There are no real areas for people to go swimming. Public beaches were closed years ago. Rather see money put to something needed rather than wanted.
Awwww poor babies didn't get lot 10 so they are going to cry. Go ahead and have a good cry while the taxpayers that pay your salaries breathe a sigh of relief. Big deal you didn't get what you wanted, when you wanted it. Seems Tom Hehman and the library board think they are ENTITLED to everything they want.
Ever hear the saying, you ain't so big your wants won't hurt? Get over yourselves and be thankful for what you do have instead of crying over what you aren't getting.
I can't believe my eyes reading this!
The downtown people are to blame for the public's lack of awareness of the library current dire straights?
Who brought up the new library idea? Not them! The library people did!
I just lost all respect for the library board. Way to take responsibility for your own irresponsibility! A fine example for the children.
Ya think? Congratulations on being so perceptive, Valarie and group!
now all we hear is keep the library in Pittsville open, if they want it let the Town of Pittsville pay for it.
Anon 7:25
Broken record much?
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