Politics & Government

Is $3,000 Reinstatement for Library Materials or Salaries and Benefits?

Library BOD Seeks More than $3,000 in Salary and Benefit Increases

 

The Bethel Public Library has been requesting that a $3,000 budget cut be reinstated for materials for the library, yet the reinstatement they are requesting is closely matched to recommendations for salary increases and benefits.

 A Special Meeting of the Executive Committee for the Bethel Public Library was called on March 29 to discuss increases in “Personnel Salaries and Benefits” for the Library Director and personnel.  Lynn Rosato Library Director, Trisha Lewis, Chair, Jane Bickford and Robin Kahn were the only library representatives present at the meeting. 

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 Several motions were made including:

  • Full time staff receive 2 1/2 additional paid personal days for 2012-13 fiscal year.  Motion passed unanimously.
  • Part time staff receive a 15% increase in vacation time for 2012-13 fiscal year. Motion passed unanimously.
  • A change in the libraries personnel policy beginning 2013-2014 fy to grant full time staff two personal days annually.  Motion passed unanimously.
  • Consideration of a 3% salary increase for the Library Director for a total of $2,274 and to authorize the chair to discuss with  the town Comptroller the effect, if any the increase might have on benefits and payroll deductions. Motion passed unanimously.
  • That a one time two week paid vacation be granted to Library Director Lynn Rosato after the completion of the Library Building Project. Motion passed unanimously.

 Minutes from the meeting stated that the salary for the Library Director would be taken from line items to be determined by the Board.

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 At the April 4 Public Hearing on the Budget, Library Board member Tia Murphy requested that $3,000 be reinstated into the budget and that the Board of Finance budget cut would eliminate the purchase of 107 books, or 150 children’s books, or 120 DVDs or 60 audio books.

 At that same hearing,

 According to Bill Kingston, Chairman of Bethel’s Finance Committee, the library has asked the Finance Committee to reinstate $3,000 to their budget, “for procuring books and materials.”

Lynn Rosato, library director, said she could not comment on the meeting, however, she said that the requests were recommendations that would have to go before the Library Board of Directors for any changes or approval.

 Trisha Lewis, Chair of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, could not be reached for comment.

 The Library’s Special Meeting minutes were brought to light at Tuesday night’s Board of Selectman meeting by Billy Michael, chairman of the Bethel Action Committee. Michael said, “You are looking at things that are astronomical in a recession, and that was not brought out at the public hearing.  All of this was hidden somewhere.”

First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker said he was not aware of the information from the Library minutes. 

The Special Meeting was announced March 28, 26 hours before the meeting, and as an Executive Committtee Meeting, was closed to the public.  Besides the call to order and minutes, there was nothing else on the agenda.  Salary and benefit discussions do not appear in any meeting minutes since.

Chairman Kingston said that the new information, “Gives us something to think about. This is the first I have heard about it, and we have to get to the facts.”


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