Library funding will be discussed at a special meeting of the Plainfield Public Library board of trustees Thursday (Oct. 16).
The meeting is 11 a.m. in City Hall Library, 515 Watchung Ave. and is open to the public. The board expects to be meeting with City Administrator Rick Smiley and Finance Director Ron West, library director Joe Da Rold said.
At the Oct. 6 City Council meeting, several residents expressed concern about shorter hours imposed at the library starting Oct. 14 "due to budget cuts."
Asked about library budget cuts, Mayor Adrian O. Mapp said by email Monday that Da Rold raised concerns in late August about the amount charged back to the Library by the City for library employees’ health benefits contribution.
"Although this method of charge back goes back to 2009, it was the first time any concerns were expressed to me. It is my view that those concerns should have been expressed during the budget process, not after the horse had been out of the barn with the doors closed. The situation could not be remedied at that point. Nevertheless, the news of reduced hours comes as a surprise to me." Mapp said..
He added, "Although I have an appreciation for the concerns expressed by the Library, I should point out that the budget cuts that were made by the governing body have created a shortage of almost $400,000 that must be found in order to avoid an over expenditure in violation of the budget statute. This gap is one of the effects of budget cuts that should not have been made.
"However, there are certain expenses that are the responsibility of the Library and must be borne by the Library. With that said, my Administration remains firmly committed to supporting our Library at the appropriate level of funding."
The administration presented the 2014 budget to the governing body in March. The council held deliberations in April and amended and passed the budget in May.
Da Rold said the library has made staff cuts three times and may have to close one evening without a budget increase.
--Bernice
(Disclaimer: My son has a part-time job at the library.)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I grew up in NYC and used taxis on a regular basis and didnt mind but I live across from a large apartment building 70 something units in a single family home and the taxi's are a regular annoyance. Soria happens to be the most frequent one picking up customers in there yellow vehicles, although whatever company has the blue taxis is there often as well. There are numerous issues, 1st its a busy street with lots of vehicles parked on both sides so they stop in the street with flashers on blocking traffic or they pull into my driveway apron to wait for customers while laying on the horn nonstop 6am or 10pm doesnt make a difference. The apartment building has a huge parking lot they can easily pull in there but dont. Also someone called to pick them up how hard is it to call them back and say i'm outside, instead of laying on the horn. the other issue is they will call a few companies and just get in whatever taxi arrives first leaving the others to wait honking the horn until they realize they are already gone and they leave. I agree people need to get around but they need to be more considerate of other people living in the city as well
ReplyDelete@12:45 -- the same person who calls 3 taxi companies to leave the other 2 honking their horn is the same type of people who blast music at all hours and throw trash on the street. They are low-class, ill-mannered, selfish, and uneducated with no care or concern about anyone else but themselves.
ReplyDelete