WEST MILFORD — The township council agreed Wednesday night to change the number of Library Board of Trustee members from seven to nine, as the discussion about the building of a new library continued.
The law allows up to nine board members. The Library Board of Trustees requested that their board be expanded, bringing more volunteers into their group as they move forward with a new library project. The council tabled the motion two weeks ago awaiting information from the township attorney. Attorney Fred Semrau reported back Wednesday night that while the mayor would make the appointments to the Library Board, the council would give advice and consent on any appointees. That sat well with the council who approved it, 5-0.
Talk switches to building the library
Former councilman Joe Smolinski said there are a lot of questions that remain unanswered about the proposed library project. He suggested the township hold a forum at the town hall with the Library Board of Trustees and anyone with questions. He said going to the library board meetings puts residents in a position where they could feel outnumbered when asking questions.
He also commented on a regularly emailed newsletter sent out by Mayor Bettina Bieri regarding the library project. Smolinski said the newsletter was “incomplete and questionable.” The newsletter was a Q and A type forum where Bieri gave information about questions that have been brought up at council meetings and also to address rumors, she said.
Resident Carl Steele said he and his wife support the library but they want to hear the pros and cons of the project.
"We need to hear from the board what are the stumbling blocks," he said. He compared the inaction here with what is wrong with the process in Washington.
Andy Gargano, a member of the Library Board, said the board has been very open about everything it has done.
"We meet the second Tuesday of every month," said Gargano. "We welcome anyone who wants to address the board. I don't think we get militant. We support the new library. What we have now is 12 seats for a community of 29,000.
"We're not trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes," he continued.
Gargano said the board has had public forums where about 20 people have shown up. He said their meetings are not as formal as the council meetings and encouraged anyone with a question to come.
A civics meeting
While Smolinski called for a public forum, one is already being planned. Councilwoman Ada Erik and former councilwoman Marilyn Lichtenberg have formed a Civics Club, which will hold its first meeting on Thursday, June 13, at the Passport Cafe at the Greenwood Lake Airport. This club's goal is to have speakers come to spread knowledge to the residents on any number of pressing issues. The first presentation for the club will be by Doug Ott, chairman of the Library Board. Anyone with questions on the proposed project is encouraged to come to the meeting. It starts at 7:30 p.m. and light snacks and soft drinks will be served.
More questions?
Councilman Mike Hensley questioned how much the entire project could cost. The Library Board has $2.5 million in their coffers earmarked for a new building. The Library Board receives its funding through tax dollars via a state-provided formula. For years, the Library Board banked the money it did not use, all to be put toward a new library. Mayor Bettina Bieri, who also serves on the Library Board, said that until they go out to bid for the project, it would be impossible to provide an estimated cost.
The approvals they've received will allow a 24,000 square foot, three-story building just adjacent to the town hall property. The Library Board bought the property a couple of years ago and the council at the time agreed to bond for the remainder of the funding needed to build the new library. The Library Board has said it doesn't need the entire space and intends to build about 16,000 square feet of that building. It has offered for the township to use the remainder of the space since several departments in town hall are not accessible to residents with disabilities. The council has not responded yet. Since the state sets the library tax amount, the Library Board has said a new library will not cost taxpayers any more money. The township, which collects the taxes, would deduct the bond amount each year and then give the rest of the library tax money to the board to run the library.
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