Library Board Debates Reserving Funds

A resolution for the capital expense plan and reserving funds of $275,000, which includes money earmarked for repairs on the library sign, window treatments and parking renovations, was tabled during last night's public library board of trustees meeting.

The plan, proposed by the buildings and grounds committee chaired by board secretary David Dahlia, doesn't automatically approve all the projects on the list but rather reserves money for projects to be approved as needed in the next six years.

"It's a way of creating items on our budget so [library] surplus doesn't get swept into the town immediately," Dahlia said.

However, others, including board treasurer and chair of the finance committee Thomas Mazzacaro, said allocating extra funds is unnecessary, citing that the library is allowed to keep a surplus of 20 percent of its operating budget each year.

"As a budget committee, we don't recommend that we do that," he said. "We [should] just work within the normal bounds of 20 percent that's allotted."

Assistant treasurer Donald Kostka agreed, saying that in the past the board would keep reserves to a minimum.

"The sense of urgency to lock up excessive amounts of money troubles me," he said.

Many of the items listed in the capital reserve already appeared on the library's 6-year Capital Plan, which was developed earlier this year, Kleiman said after the meeting.

"Each year, the Library Board will look at additional capital or budget items that are needed for the Library," he said.

The board also rejected plans for the north entrance renovation.

"This project has been going on for too long," Dahlia said. "It's been through four different library presidents, four different mayors… the plan is probably older than most board members."

Dahlia suggested that the board pass off the project, which is estimated to cost over $100,000, to the township in order to speed up the process, providing the library with a handicapped-accessible entrance.

The township will be looking at plans to make the library and Pio Costa entrances ADA accessible, Kleiman confirmed.

The board also tabled a resolution to approve the 2010 Trustees Policy Manual, upon requests for further suggestions from board member Robert Lefkowitz.

"The Trustees Manual is still a draft working document," Kleiman specified after the meeting. "Trustees can send suggestions to me to create a new 'draft' that will be presented [to] the entire Board at the next meeting."

Resolutions to accept a $164,792.81 check register and to close on Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day, while remaining open on the Christmas Eve and the Friday after Thanksgiving passed unanimously.

Kleiman issued his report, citing the increasing popularity of the summer reading program, which has 600 members currently and could reach 1,000 by the end of the summer.

"It's definitely bigger this year," he said. "We're making double the amount of new library cards compared to this time last year…The library is super busy."

Kleiman also mentioned several problems, including ongoing incidents of vandalization.

"The outdoor sign is being vandalized on a regular basis," he said, referring specifically to a recent incident. "It was rather crude and rather distasteful what the letters were turned into."

The board discussed the sign, which does not have a protective covering because a staff member was injured by it in the past, concluding that they will look into either replacing it with an electronic sign or repairing the covering.