Tuesday vote set on Lewiston Library referendum

Library trustee candidates generally in support of referendum

by Terry Duffy
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, November 6, 2004

This Tuesday, from noon to 9 p.m. at the Lewiston Public Library, town and village residents in its service area will have opportunity to determine how the library will conduct its operations well into the future.

That is the day when voting on the much-debated library re-chartering referendum takes place. At issue is a proposal to create a Special District Library status, remove the town’s municipal funding responsibility, establish a tax-payer funded $350,000 operating budget for 2005 and elect a new board of seven trustees out of a field of 14 potential candidates. (See related detailed story in the Oct. 23 Sentinel issue)

The Specifics

On Monday evening, the library hosted a public information forum attended by roughly 30 residents and candidates, where the specifics of the plan were presented.

Discussing her $392,942.19 2005 budget proposal -- $350,000 of which would from the voter approved referendum -- Library Executive Director Lisa Seivert itemized such expenses as:

• $48,565 in housing costs (building maintenance, utilities, and insurance);

• $55,625 for materials (books, magazines, newspapers, books on tape, children’s books, computer expenses, etc.);

• $34,332 in administrative costs; and

• $254,420.19 in payroll costs, which includes benefits for full-time employees. Seivert pointed out that under her proposal the employees would paying a share of their health insurance costs in a group plan arrangement.

Anticipated Revenues

She then outlined anticipated revenues, which would include $10,299.66 in collected fines; $3,109.20 in copier monies; a grant of $18,300 from Niagara County; $2,500 in State-LLSA funds; $900 from the town of Niagara; $2,333.33 in gifts and endorsements; $5,500 in miscellaneous funds; and the aforementioned $350,000 Special District funding from library taxpayers if the vote passes. Both the town of Lewiston and the village would be removed as a funding source under the plan.

Arguing the need for her proposal, Library Executive Director Lisa Seivert told attendees that in recent years the library has been struggling with funding shortfalls from the town of Lewiston which has funded the majority of the library’s operations since the early 1990s.

“The last two years we have been working with a deficit budget,” said Seivert. She went on to point out that that has meant a reduction in operating hours -- from 57 hours per week in 2000, dropping to a low of 38 hours in 2002, to its current six-day, 40 hours weekly schedule. And with that has come reduced circulation, varying revenue appropriations from the state, county, town of Niagara and other sources, a smaller staff and reductions on its ability to acquire new books, maintain other print and non-print items for circulation, provide computer services and a host of other offerings for area residents.

Seivert said that if the referendum passes, the library’s operating hours would increase to a 47-hour week schedule. Such a scenario would see the library open Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cost to Residents

As to its impact, Seivert said the should the proposed measure pass, the new tax would appear as a Special District Tax itemized on residents’ county tax bills. She then offered a detailed cost impact schedule on what the plan would mean money-wise for library district property owners, based on assessed value.

For the owner of an assessed property of $75,000, the yearly tax cost would be $42.75. For a property assessed at $100,000, it would be $57; $125,000 -- $71.25; $150,000 -- $85.50; $175,000 -- $99.75; $200,000 -- $114; $225,000 -- $128.25; $250,000 -- $142.50; $275,000 -- $156.75; $300,000 -- $171; $325,000 -- $182.25; $350,000 -- $199.50 and $400,000 -- $228.50.

Seivert emphasized the library’s re-chartering proposal to become an independent entity and its cost impact only affects those property owners within the Lewiston Library service area. Property owners in the areas serviced by the Sanborn-Pekin Free Library, the Youngstown Free Library and the William J. McLaughlin Free Library in Ransomville are not impacted as they operate as free association libraries, she said.

Trustee Candidates

But the opportunity to vote on the re-chartering also affords the affected property owners a greater say in library operations, she added, with the election of a new library board of trustees. Those vying for the seven available seats include:

•James Mudd, a Lewiston resident since 1961, who has served on past village and town boards, and was deputy supervisor when the current library building opened. “I’ve had a long history with the library,” said Mudd. “I’m in favor of re-chartering the library.”

•Dan Kilmer, a current member of the Lewiston Town Board, who expressed reservations on the special districting proposal, but stressed as trustee he would work to serve as a financial watchdog for taxpayers. “I want to (help) control the costs of the library,” said Kilmer. “If the people decide (on special districting) I hope to be part of the financial (overseers),” he said.

•D. James Langlois, current member of the Lewiston Town Board, and a library backer who maintains a strong interest in its operations, having been a member of Friends of the Lewiston Library for many years. “I think this is a way to ensure some equitable financing for all residents in the district, including people in the village and town,” said Langlois. On actual chartering he added he would prefer a situation where the Library would not be a town-village library, but a whole town library funded by whole town funds. Such a scenario would be difficult however, Langlois added, due the situation of other libraries within the town.

Langlois -- as did Kilmer -- both stated they would not be in favor of a fluctuating yearly budget plan that could have the potential to grow from its proposed $350,000 base in future years.

Sharing the Cost

•Frank Collins, a 40-year resident of the town and a former seven-term member of the Lewiston Porter School Board. Collins indicated he favored re-chartering as it spreads the cost more equitably among village and town residents, something the current plan fails to do.

•Mike Shaw, a 33-year Lewiston resident who described the library as “being a valuable resource. This library is one of the community’s extraordinary treasures,” said Shaw.

On special districting, Shaw is in full support, saying “it works.” He likewise supports the budget package, arguing the library as it stands today is at a crossroads, adding, “We must do everything possible to protect it.”

•Alonza Jackson-McCabe, a village resident for the past four years, who professes “a love for Lewiston and its library.” The library is a vital resource to the community,” said Jackson-McCabe, who favors the re-chartering proposal.

•Gretchen Denk, a longtime library user and current library trustee who also supports the re-chartering plan. “I love it,” said Denk, “and I’d love to be on a new board.”

A Valued Resource

•Teresa Sharp Donaldson, another current library trustee, who also is fully in support of special district status. “We have a fabulous past” said Sharp Donaldson of the Lewiston Library, “let’s ensure a secure future.”

•Nancy Smith, a resident of Lewiston since 1955 and a current trustee member. “The library is a place of learning, of knowledge and community resources which benefit us all,” said Smith, who also supports the re-chartering proposal.

•Robert Prusetti, president of the current Library board of Trustees, who is also very supportive of the re-chartering proposal. Regarding the budget he said re-chartering “is the only answer for funding ... (removing it) from town political interference.”

•Harrison L. Coppock, another library supporter who backs the re-chartering proposal. “Library’s need to operate out of the political scene,” said Coppock.

Trustee candidates Craig Drachenberg and Dave Baird were not in attendance at the Monday forum and did not furnish remarks..

As noted earlier, the referendum voting will take place Tuesday from noon to 9 .m. at the Library, located at 305 South Eighth St. Two voting machines will be on location for use that day.

For those desiring further information on the referendum issue, contact Seivert at the Lewiston Public Library, 745-4720