#1 2010-01-16 02:36:29
“If the Legislature passes Sen. Pacheco’s bill, the (MBLC) will approve Wareham’s waiver application at the Feb 3 (MBLC) meeting,” Bruno said. “If the legislation does not pass, Wareham will not be certified in the State Aid to Public Libraries program.”
The town is currently submitting the necessary documentation for a waiver from the MBLC in the event the legislation passes.
Carty, at the time of writing her letter, said the MBLC has received four of the seven required documents from the town. She points out these documents were originally due Oct. 16 of last year as part of the state aid application and petition for a waiver of the municipal appropriation requirement.
Selectman Brenda Eckstrom, however, said it is her understanding that back the town “was not asked to provide anything to anyone” in October.
“When we did hear the rumblings about the deadline coming up, we did ask and were told all the documents were ready but one, and that the one document could be late,” she said.
She said she then asked Griswold for a copy of the letter from Carty, where the remaining documents needed were listed.
The documents the town still needs to supply are: one letter, written and signed by the acting director and acting chairman of the Wareham Library Board of Trustees, explaining the fiscal situation preventing the library from meeting the municipal appropriation requirement; a second letter, from a municipal official, explaining the fiscal situation preventing the library from meeting the municipal appropriation requirement and finally backup budget documentation summarizing the fiscal 2009 and 2010 budgets for all town departments, including the library.
Legislation could help Wareham Free Library
P-SPAN
TAKEBACKWAREHAM
April 6, 2010
Offline
#2 2010-01-16 05:59:16
I know for a fact that Susan Pizzolato sent emails and made phone calls to Acting Library Director on more than one occasion (with cc's to some BoS) offering her help in preparing required documents for the MBLC and reminding everyone about the deadlines and the importance of meeting those deadlines. Her communications went unanswered but copies of said emails are evidence that they were sent.
This is not an easy process for a seasoned library director which was why, even though she no longer worked for the town, Susan was willing to help. After Susan started working in Mattapoisett, she came to the WFL on several of her days off to help Griswold prepare some of the documents. When Griswold and Susan both happened to be at a SAILS meeting last fall, Griswold was singing Susan's praises to the SAILS staff for helping her. (SAILS staff can verify this!!! In fact, I think some of them might even read this blog!!!!)
There is no reason the library/town should be in this mess. There is NO EXCUSE for this not being done. The people involved should step up and take responsibility for this.
A new library director should have been hired in a timely fashion. Susan left July 1st. In my opinion, it is the fault of the ITA and the BoS for not hiring a qualified library director. It has been 61/2 months without a director. I believe this is another demonstration of poor leadership and a way to "punish" the library even more.
An acting library director who had been made aware of the importance of getting this paperwork in on time should have sought help (the MBLC, SAILS, and other local library directors could have and would have helped if she was told not to work with Susan anymore after she had been working with her and praising her in public). In my opinion, it is the fault of the acting library director that this has not been done. She is paid with our tax dollars and was (?? still is) receiving a stipend for her library director work. I want more than this for my tax dollars. Don't you?
Offline
#3 2010-01-16 08:19:15
This is another example of poor leadership. The personnel decisions by the BOS have crippled this town. When the citizens step up and try to help, they are rebuffed. In the end, the BOS and their "staff" have performed WELL BELOW what is necessary for this town to succeed.
Offline
