Holmdel Library Public Question Tabled, 3 Questions Introduced

HOLMDEL, NJ - A proposed public question for Holmdel voters during the November election ballot regarding the Holmdel library has been tabled for now, pending further discussions with Monmouth County officials.

During a July 13 Holmdel Township Committee meeting, Mayor Gregory Buontempo noted that an ordinance set to be introduced - regarding a potential public question asking whether Holmdel residents wish for the Holmdel library branch to remove itself from the Monmouth County Public Library system - was tabled so that the township may further pursue conversations with the county.

Previous coverage: Holmdel's Proposed Nov. Ballot Questions: Library, Open Space Tax

“As Holmdel residents know, our library used to be here at town hall in the basement,” Buontempo, referring to the branch before the location moved to Bell Works in 2017.

“Unfortunately, after the move, the county library system has not increased the hours of operation for our Holmdel branch, even though it is located in the middle of a busy Bell Works facility … while the township has not received a favorable response to increase hours, I do believe that this agenda item has triggered public attention and will encourage the county to reconsider treatment of the Holmdel library branch.”

The Bell Works location’s hours of operation are 1 to 9 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1 to 5 p.m. on Fridays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. That’s compared to 11- or 12-hour operating hours on select dates at other branches like Wall, West Long Branch, Marlboro and Howell (see a sample schedule of operating hours here).

Although the ordinance was tabled, that didn’t stop Holmdel residents from voicing their opinions on the contested library issue.

Holmdel resident Jenny Blumenthal, a retired librarian and former member of the Library Planning Advisory Board, noted the extensive benefits of belonging to a county library system:

“Belonging to the county library has benefits that might not be obvious,” she said, adding that the vast majority of library costs go to technology, e-books, media, IT and expensive research databases.

“It is not necessarily … a good idea to immediately say ‘we’re going on our own’ because we don’t want to pay the county to run this backroom stuff. You need to be wary of what you’re asking for.”

It remains to be seen if the Crawfords Corner Road location will expand its hours in the near future.

In other news, the township committee successfully introduced three other public questions slated for the Nov. 2 election ballot: an open space tax increase, an increase of benefits for first responders and the creation of a charter study commission to assess Holmdel's current form of government and consider a new charter or improvements.

“I think it makes sense to let voters decide if there should be a one-cent in crease in the open space tax to allow for more township investments into open space, Buontempo said, adding that he also believes all Holmdel voters should directly elect the mayor (who is currently elected by the township committee).

“I’m excited about this opportunity to provide voters with direct input into our local government,” Buontempo said at the meeting.