marny wrote:

Bob I think Brenda was blaming both the friends of the library and the old trustees for not helping the library.

Marny, you may be right and I'm sure BE meant the former trustees but she stated the Friends have not deposited the settlement $$$ into the newly appointed trustee's account.  AGAIN, she spews without knowing what she's talking about.

I'm curious.  Has the "acting" director, MG, ever asked for support from the Friends ?  I'll guess not.  She has no people skills and no communication skills.

Did I tell you all about the time she flipped me off downtown and included lip service to go with the gesture (she didn't know it was me) ?  I followed her to the WCTV studio and told her to her face that she better never flip me off again.  She tried some lame excuse about being use to driving around Roxbury or Dorchester.  I reminded her that she was in Wareham now.

Marcia always is always asking for money from these groups and when she doesn’t get what she wants she bad mouths them. I know the friends of the elderly use to give $25.00 gift cards for groceries but she somehow pissed them off and they longer give her anything. The friends of the elderly are having their Christmas party at the Multi Service Center today I will be leaving shortly to join them. I good time will be had by all. The only negative will be Marcia showing her face, all smiles until she goes upstairs and tells everyone how much she dislikes the friends.

Nora I know you posted that information here it would be nice if  that information could get out to the rest of the town so everyone would know the truth about how much the friends of the library have contributed.

Last edited by marny (2009-12-09 11:01:50)

Nora Bicki wrote:

Marny, I will speak with the Friends people to see how much if any other information they want to be made public. I posted those other numbers with permission from all parties. They knew about the blog post, but sending info to newspapers now would require their permission again.

Speaking for myself only here, I don't ever recall Ms. Griswold asking the Friends for money to pay for anything. Prior to her requiring that all bills be given to her by the library staff member who is responsible for that (sometime around October when we stopped paying for the books), the book bills were simply put into our Friends folder and the Friends paid for them. (MG has our invoices to "prove" we aren't lying about this). It is true however, that the Friends bank account was pretty much depleted by then with our membership going down and the fact that we paid for ALL the books and materials for the library for the past two+ years. We did have a successful holiday fair, and we make money on the used books sold in the lobby. Our cook books are also selling well, so our regular account, has recovered somewhat. The Friends will have their monthly book sales again starting in January (always on the 4th Saturday) so hopefully, our coffers will look better then.

Keep in mind, that in order to get our certification back, we will have to have proven that 15% of the library budget was spent on books and materials. Since there is no money in the library budget for that, having the Friends buy all the books up until October was very generous and will help in the future. Just because you are decertified for low hours open, it does not mean that you get a pass on the other certification requirements.

As you all know because the Friends have said this on town meeting floor, in the local newspapers and on this blog, the money in our bank accounts for the Spinney project are restricted funds. That is, donors made their donations earmarked specifically for the Spinney library. The AG's office told us that if we spend ANY of that money on the main library, that office will sue us for fraud and misappropriation of funds. I believed her!! So even if it looks like we have a lot of money, the Spinney money is held in separate accounts and does not mingle with our regular fund-raised/membership dues money. All fund raisers for Spinney have clearly been advertised as such.

Finally, I have said this before. Call around to other local libraries to see what the Friends do for those libraries. Most raise only a few thousand dollars a year and support a few programs with that money. The do NOT pay for all the library's books for over 2 years, nor do any of them donate money for salaries. It is unheard of. So, instead of being thanked by our elected officials and our acting library director, we are accused publicly of refusing to support the library. What will happen in the future? Why would Friends want to keep working so hard to raise money only to be vilified for doing so?

I just watched section #7 of the Dec. 8 BoS meeting (See PSpan's link) where Brenda et al discuss the nasty library people. I didn't see it on Tuesday but now that I have watched it, I have much more to say!

Brenda said that Marcia Griswold said that she has "gotten the run around" about getting forms to apply for a grant from the Foundation. Truth: the person she first contacted did not have those forms but gave her the name of the president of the foundation, which quite frankly, for a person who claims she is so good at getting grants, you might have thought she would have, oh I don't know, gone online to the website, or asked ANYONE of the library staff the name of the president??? Not exactly brain surgery, but if she had done that, she wouldn't have been able to complain about getting the "run around." I heard she finally called the pres. of the Foundation. Great management skills.

Then, Cronan said our attorney Phil Beauragard has "dicked" around with the MIAA attorney and gotten his $40,000. In fact, until the MIAA attorney signs this release form, the $40,000 will not be released to Phil. Of course, recall on the other thread where Cronan claims that even after two years of litigation, he never read any of the court pleadings or documents. But he sure had a lot to say.  Ignorance is bliss and after slamming the library folks, that was one happy man (who does not deserve to be re-elected!)

Let's see, why don't we ask the Friends and Foundation to give money to the library, but first, let us grind them into the dirt with our nasty comments even though we don't know what the F we are talking about!! Good leadership and management skills might direct them to ask for a sit down with the presidents of both of those organizations, but then they might have a good result and would lose the chance to grind us into the dirt a bit more.

We know they read the blogs so we also know that they have read EVERY word I've written, yet in public, they say things they know not to be true. 

As above, I said the Friends available cash had been spent down on books and materials since the town hasn't bought any of those in the past two+ years. There were plenty of witnesses at the Friends meeting where the Friends said to Ms. Griswold herself that we could help again in January after we replenished our checking account. So, why criticize us now? It's just a month away and we are selling cookbooks, had a holiday fair, will get some money from Cosi's tomorrow!! We are trying. What more does she want from us? Blood doesn't buy library books.

I'm sick of these people bad mouthing us. This afternoon I will sign 3 copies of the release agreement. By Sunday night, all the library parties will have signed the release agreement. It is up to the BoS, and the MIAA attorney to sign the agreement and then we will be done. Phil B. will send the town the check from his escrow account where it has been sitting since August.

Of course, I'm shocked that K and P did not inform their clients about the status of the library case. OR perhaps they did, but the BoS only read the blog and not the important town documents as they have readily admitted. (See my postings where they all admit to some degree to not reading important documents including signing contracts without reading them!).

Come April these folks will have wished they had not been so mean and nasty to so many people in town. You reap what you sow and all that. Take Back Wareham.

Nora Bicki wrote:

section #7 of the Dec. 8 BoS meeting.

Here's the segment


12/08/09

P-SPAN
TAKEBACKWAREHAM
April 6, 2010

Last edited by P-SPAN (2009-12-12 14:35:31)

Thanks P-Span for getting this clip up. And Dick, good catch. I didn't notice that Jane D was quiet since I was so focused on the lies. I was very disappointed though that Cruz (aka Sleepy) did not say a word in our defense. WHY am I disappointed?

Because Cruz was at the same Friends meeting with Marcia Griswold when the Friends said we will begin helping out financially in January after we raise some more money. He should have had the (fill in male anatomy part here) to speak up.  When someone or a group is being badmouthed unfairly, to sit quietly is just as bad as joining the group who are grinding said target into the dirt. They went on for about 10 minutes, so he had plenty of time to speak up.

People of Wareham unite!  We can no longer let this "rogue" group of selectmen run our town.

(Here is the reference to the "rogue" comment: During one of the BoS meetings after they "ousted" (also Brenda's word) the Trustees, Brenda called them a "rogue group of citizens" then those who were asked about it, all denied that in the depositions. Ironically, the person who typed up the minutes for that BoS meeting said Brenda called the Trustees a "role" group of citizens which makes absolutely no sense, yet the BoS accepted those minutes. We, however, have the actual transcript. As far as using the word "ousted," she later told the lawyers in the deposition that she didn't mean "ousted" since, of course, the former trustees were simply asked to "reapply" for their positions and were in no way kicked off the Board. Yeah, right. Nice people we've got running our town!!)

bbrady wrote:

marny wrote:

Bob I think Brenda was blaming both the friends of the library and the old trustees for not helping the library.

Marny, you may be right and I'm sure BE meant the former trustees but she stated the Friends have not deposited the settlement $$$ into the newly appointed trustee's account.  AGAIN, she spews without knowing what she's talking about.

I'm curious.  Has the "acting" director, MG, ever asked for support from the Friends ?  I'll guess not.  She has no people skills and no communication skills.

Did I tell you all about the time she flipped me off downtown and included lip service to go with the gesture (she didn't know it was me) ?  I followed her to the WCTV studio and told her to her face that she better never flip me off again.  She tried some lame excuse about being use to driving around Roxbury or Dorchester.  I reminded her that she was in Wareham now.

That sounds like a threat bob. You are such a tool.

If only I were as eloquent as thee!

Most of us were taught to stand up to bullies. Turning the other cheat just gets you slapped on the other side of the face. Sure flipping someone off is inappropriate (unless it is meant to push back and defend one's self).

What does it mean to "know" someone in this case. When a bully is threatening you you know them well enough! Cheek was the correct word, it must have been a Freudian slip.

Nora I was very disappointed to read that Mr. Cruz was at the friends meeting and heard what was said about the friends helping out in January. To know what was said at the friends meeting and not at least mention it the BOS meeting is extremely disappointing.

Mr. Cruz may not read this blog but I’m sure he must read his emails. I think as many people as possible should email him to express their disappointment and encourage him to share the information he has about the friends publicly at the next BOS meeting.

I will personally be sending him an email and I will also encourage him to read this blog especially Nora’s post about how much money the Friends have given to the library this year.

Dan,
I've yet to judge Cruz completely. He is still fairly new and just getting a foothold on what is going on. Perhaps he needs support and information to assist in his pursuit to serve the people?

Dick Wheeler wrote:

My hunch is that Walter WANTS to understand the difference  among the three money sources: The Public Money, The Friends, and The Foundation.

Dick..Great point (though I don't give Sleepy the slack you do)...I believe "people's" general belief that the Library is a public institution, and therefore all $$$ public $$$, and that any moves made are "shifty" by the Friends, etc...It a basic misunderstanding of the difference between "Private" and "Public"...

Like Dan has repeated..umm alot...I am really beginning to believe strongly that Government should NOT be involved in the Library..I feel very much that this Town had a much better "Library situation" when that was essentially the case..

Like I've heard in statements by the BoS to ADM..they seem to want to "bash" you (or impede your efforts)..and then have the gall to ask for donations, concessions, etc..or else...

April 6th..

P-SPAN
TAKEBACKWAREHAM
April 6, 2010

Last edited by P-SPAN (2009-12-13 15:13:00)

Have any of those people ever taken a high school public speaking class? For crying out loud....   "um...., "ahhhh.......," "uuuummmmm"

"And I would ask, um, that they, um, and aahh, then thank, um...."

Take the marbles out of your mouths and learn to talk like an adult. I don't know how anyone could watch that video or the meetings on TV, let alone in person.

If you really need to pause and collect your thoughts, just keep your mouths shut.....

"It's been difficult, um, ah"

Last edited by GladToBeAway (2009-12-14 02:22:43)

Dan has raised words of caution regarding  government meddling and P-Spam has made the apt observation that things at WFL seemed to be better when the BOS gave support but let the professionals run the place.

I want to make the point that although all of the  current library problems are due to BOS meddling, The Wareham Free Library never would have become the shining light of our town without the understanding and support of prior generations of  Select Board members  who valued the library. They saw it not as a frill but as the underpinning for "Cradle to Grave" education in our community. They were right.  Not only did WFL become a shining light for our town, it was a state-wide model for all towns of our size.  Prior BOS members also had the "business smarts" to recognize that  the strong library that developed under the leadership of Mary Jane Pillsbury was one of the best selling points to people and to businesses who were considering a move to Wareham. If the current board's major goal was to drive away people who value education they have succeeded.

The chaos began  three years ago with the " Tuesday Night Massacre"...The clumsy ousting of the WFL trustees on the trumped up charge that they had been illegally appointed, but which really was an  illegal -and obscenely expensive-attempt to gain control of  endowment funds  that have double protection by law. The endowment funds have come from gifts and bequests over the years  from WFL lovers who wanted the principal to remain untouched, with the annual interest being distributed as the endowment board sees fit.  This board is separate from the WFL trustees.  The  "double protection" I mentioned not only keeps  the BOS "sticky fingers" off, it also keeps the self perpetuating endowment board in line by keeping them from draining the principal in hard times such as we have now."Interest only" is the rule. (illustration: A $500,000 endowment might, in a boom year, yield $50K...The $500,000 principal would "go back to work" intact, and start earning interest for the next fiscal year. The BOS behave as if they don't understand this reality. My "read" is that they do understand but want to deceive the Town.)

Now what we are seeing is a BOS that wants to make Wareham taxpayers think the the WFL is sitting on money that should be used to replace what the town is mandated to give. By their behavior they are sending the signal that they want the library to fail, but want to make it seem as if the failure was caused by selfish people  hiding "secret money".

If the WFL were to be forced to stay afloat without the tax payer support that is mandated by the state ...the library would soon cease to exist.  There have been hints from FinCom and from the ITA that this is going to happen. What we are seeing is a plan to make it seem as if the Town, alas, could have kept "our dear Library" afloat, but "The Embezzlers made it impossible."

So back to Dan and P-Spam: It's possible to have government tax support without having the BOS meddling in the day to day stuff....Consider our schools. The government input is to hire the Superintendent and then let him 'do his thing", with periodic reviews.  The Library should be run the same way.

Last edited by Dick Wheeler (2009-12-14 13:03:32)

danoconnell wrote:

I love you, Dick Wheeler!
Let me say this, as I have to Nora, you, your wife and dozens of others: Government has no business in the library business.
When all of the libraries in Wareham were free and independent of the government, they survived, thrived and grew.

During your tenure on the BoS Dan, the library was still in the Tobey building and the PRIVATE corporation known as The Wareham Free Library, Inc. paid all the bills and had done so since its inception in 1891. I read one old hand written set of minutes where the Board of Trustees discussed whether or not to pay for health insurance for the small staff. They paid a local man to repair broken windows, put the trash barrels out each week, shovel snow, mow grass etc. All was paid by the corporation.

But even with generous donors, the cost of salaries with benefits, utility bills etc. far outpaced the income on investments. So during the 70s, the town began paying for salaries and benefits while the corporation paid all the other bills. In 1977, town meeting voted to appoint a transition committee that would turn all the assets of the private corporation to the town. I've posted this history on another thread in the past, but to summarize, it was eventually decided that the WFL would remain a public/private hybrid like the other 70 libraries in the state that are also hybrids. There are documents to prove this including town meeting reports.

When the Tobey building became too small, the town applied for a grant and the new library was built and opened in 1991.

For a private corporation to pay for the salaries and benefits of a full staff, all the operating costs, books and materials etc., that corporation would need enough in investments to earn an income of approximately $500,000 (the annual budget where the library was staffed fully and opened more than the minimum requirement in the recent past).

Because in most small towns, there is not such a significant amount in a library trust fund, towns stepped up to finance the local libraries. Without towns paying for libraries, I fear many libraries would have closed.

MY FINAL POINT IS THIS: FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS I SERVED ON THE FRIENDS AND/OR THE TRUSTEES BOARDS AND THERE WAS NEVER A PROBLEM WITH OUR LIBRARY BEING A PUBLIC/PRIVATE HYBRID. THE FIN COM, TA, AND BOS ALL KNEW ABOUT THE TRUST FUND BUT ALSO KNEW THE LIBRARY NEEDED TOWN FUNDING. IT HAS ONLY BEEN IN THE PAST 3-4 YEARS THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE.

I guess our BoS never heard of the phrase--if it ain't broke, don't fix it!!! We have now been decertified last year, and unless Pacheco gets the legislation passed, we will be decertified as of Jan. first. The library was NEVER decertified in the past. What is different now?  You  decide.