Montclair Library Trustees Respond To Town’s Funding Proposal

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Talks are underway for a proposed funding agreement for the Montclair Public Library, officials said during Monday’s town council meeting. But library trustees say that a “collective agreement” isn’t in place yet.

The proposal was mentioned in brief while discussing the upcoming agenda for the Nov. 15 meeting. The agreement would be for a six-year term, Montclair town manager Timothy Stafford said (watch the video below).

After Monday’s council meeting, the Board of Trustees of the Montclair Public Library issued a joint statement about the proposal. It read:

“At the township council meeting last night, the council discussed a proposed funding agreement for the library to receive funding above the statutory requirement. Statements made at last night’s council meeting give the impression of mutual communication and cooperation. However, we have not yet achieved a collective agreement. Until it was mentioned at last night’s meeting, the library was unaware an agreement would be on the agenda for the council meeting in two weeks.”

The trustees continued:

“The library received the audit report and draft agreement on Friday, Oct. 15 and members of the library board had insufficient time to review it prior to meeting with the Township Finance Committee on October 18. At that meeting it was concluded that further conversations and negotiations would be had. The township CFO also specified what documentation was necessary for the library to receive the additional funding through the current fiscal year that has already been approved by the township. That documentation was provided to the township within 24 hours of that meeting and two weeks later we have yet to receive that funding.”

“The board continues to review and analyze the forensic audit initiated by the township and will be responding with more details in the coming days,” the trustees said, adding that they want to ensure the library “remains solvent and a good steward of taxpayer and donor funds.”

“We remain committed to transparent and accurate communication,” the trustees concluded.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Sign up for Patch email newsletters. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Montclair Facebook page.