Franklin Lakes January 18, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Trustees submit capital plan to state librarian by Frank J. McMahon The Franklin Lakes Library Board of Trustees has submitted a strategic plan outlining the future capital project needs of the library in accordance with a new state law that requires libraries to transfer any excess funds they retain to the municipality in which they are located. Municipalities are mandated by state law to allocate a certain amount of funding each year for the support of the library. The library board engaged a library consulting firm to help develop the plan in accordance with guidance from the New Jersey State Librarian and, according to this plan, the library’s ad hoc committee has preliminarily identified $250,000 in excess funds that must be returned to the borough for tax relief. Mayor Frank Bivona and the borough council has objected to the strategic plan prepared by the library board of trustees claiming that the list of capital projects should be reduced and the amount to be returned to the borough should be much higher than $250,000. Bivona claims he attempted to set up a meeting for himself, members of the council, and the library board of trustees, but they declined, claiming they did not want to attend an open public meeting about the matter. He said he was disappointed that the library board of trustees has prepared a wish list of projects instead of focusing on the needs of the taxpayers. Bivona claims the capital projects in the strategic plan are not specific, but include very broad descriptions without any bids to back up the cost estimates. He said it was not the intent of the statute to allocate funds for projects that are not specific. Councilman William Smith agreed with Bivona, saying the law requires that, unless funds are assigned to specific projects, those funds must be returned to the borough and the library board of trustees is not in compliance with that law. “The law states that the money must be returned to the borough for nothing else but to reduce taxes, and people want lower taxes and spending,” Smith said. Prior to the submission of the strategic plan, Bivona threatened to formally challenge it with the state librarian. The trustees, however, believe they have been operating in a fiscally prudent manner while upholding their oath to act in the best interests of the library. They claim the consulting firm they hired conducted surveys, met with focus groups, and held town hall meetings of diverse groups of residents during which they heard the desire for continued investment in technology and opinions about how to improve the use of library space. Based on that input, the board believes the library needs to provide not only the materials desired by the residents, but also new formats and the training to use them. The library’s capital improvement initiatives list that has been in place since 2004 has been updated as part of the strategic plan. In addition to technology and space initiatives, the plan includes safety considerations such as a canopy in front of the handicapped parking area. According to the strategic plan, the library’s reserve balance as of Oct. 31, 2011 was $721,559, and the remaining capital improvement projects will cost $240,093 with another $100,000 in seed money allocated for creating and maintaining an energy efficient building by the potential installation of solar energy or other valid energy saving projects. The estimated cost of potential projects resulting from the strategic planning process amounts to $131,466, and includes reallocation of space in the children’s room, reallocation of space for a group study room, a technology center, the repurposing of space in the café area, and the repair of the roof. The Franklin Lakes Board of Education has announced it will have three vacancies in the April 17 annual school election. A full term on the board runs three years. Candidates must file a nominating petition with the local school board in order to be placed on the ballot. The deadline to submit a petition is Monday, Feb. 27 at 4 p.m. Prospective candidates may obtain a School Board Can- Board of education announces vacancies didate Kit online at www.njsba.org. Published by the New Jersey School Boards Association, the kit includes a sample nominating petition, information about the legal qualifications for school board candidacy, and the role of the school board member. Information about the New Jersey Ethics Act and important dates in the school election process are also included.