Despite No Increase From Town, Library Staff to See Small 'Bump' in Pay

Although the 2013-2014 town budget includes a zero percent increase for the New Canaan Public Library, the library staff will nevertheless see a small "bump" in pay this year.

During the Town Council meeting on April 3, it was revealed that despite the Board of Finance's decision not to provide the library with an increase for staff salaries this coming fiscal year, the Library Board has enough funds in its budget to give staff an increase comparable to that given to the non-union town employees.

The Library is funded in part through local taxpayer dollars, via a public-private partnership and in part through private donations.

During the meeting, Town Council member Roger Williams said he had spoken with Susan LaPerla, interim director and director of programs for the New Canaan Library, who said the library management was "determined to provide raises to the library staff... similar to what the town non union employees would receive."

Williams said the funds for the pay increases would come out of the salaries of two unfilled positions — library director and director of library fundraising. He said he was told that because those salaries are already budgeted, yet the positions have been unfilled for some time, "the library might be able to use some of those unexpended funds for the increase."

Town Council Chairman Mark DeWaele said while Williams "articulated the dollar side of the issue well, the only other issue is the sentiment toward those employees."

"I think it's very important that we let them know that we support what they do…," DeWaele said.

He then turned to the library staff, who were in attendance, and said, "I applaud you're willingness to sharpen your pencils to get to the point where they will be able to have those raises."

Town Council member Kit Deveraux, however, said she was "disheartened that the Board of Finance did not see fit to give the library a cost of living increase."

"I think the library has acted heroically for our community," she said. "Had I'd been on the Board of Finance, I would've voted to have given you that money."

Town Council member Penny Young encouraged the library to staff to work to resolve the "stumbling blocks to your relationship with the Board of Finance… in a speedy way… " through the establishment of board liaisons, "so we don't have to address these same issues again next year."

During the Town Council meeting on April 9, at which the Town Budget was approved, Town Council member John Emert explained that while he was "concerned last week that library budget did not include an increase," he had assurance from the library board and director "that they will find the funds to give the employees the same increase the town employees [will] receive…."

Emert said therefore he had decided to support the library's budget.