Town Committee, Board of Education Support Student Pick Up at The Library

The Montville Township Committee and Board of Education agreed at Tuesday's joint meeting to recommend to the library committee that parents will be allowed to use the library as a morning and afternoon pick-up and drop-off point for high school students.

"Parents know that [the high school] could be characterized as nothing less than a log-jam between 7 and 7:15 a.m.," Deputy Mayor Tim Braden said at the meeting. "It's my opinion that if we can help alleviate the strain by making the library available for drop off, [we should.]"

Mayor Jim Sandham, who acts as the township committee's liaison to the library board, said there were some objections from the library regarding using its lot for student pick-up and drop-off, especially in the afternoon.

"Morning drop-off does not present a problem because there is nobody in the library at that time," he said. "There is some concern from the board in the afternoon due to the number of cars going in and out. [The library] has a story time that lets out at the same time as the high school."

Sandham said that, from the library board's perspective, the issue was mainly a matter of safety, not of parking congestion. He said that Police Chief Cook had observed the library and did not see what the concern was about.

"There are some cars, but I don't think its really that big a deal," Cook said. "I spoke with the director and I think he has some concerns with the afternoon, but my personal opinion is that there isn't a problem."

Board of Education member Jackie Ritschel agreed with Cook and Braden, saying that parents would appriciate using the library as a collection point for students.

"As long as you aren't having students park there, it's mostly adults," she said. "I think they're going to be extra cautious if they see children around."

Despite having what Committeewoman Deborah Nielson described as "a common interest in continuing this practice," Sandham was opposed to issuing a memorandum urging the library board to sign off on using its parking lot as a collection point, saying that it could "set the wrong tone."

"I have no problem personally putting something together," he said. "The library brought it up from a safety perspective. There is no need to urge them. The right tone is cooperation. We should day it's been reviewed by the police, that the committee and board of education are in agreement. I don't want them to ever be discouraged by a piece of paper."

Board of Education President Dr. Karen Cortellino supported presenting a memo to the library board in the spirit of public cooperation.

"[We don't want to] make the board feel pressured," she said. "Maybe they would be willing to sing off in an effort of cooperation."

The two bodies agreed that Cook would send a memo to the library board presenting findings and recommendations.

The library board addressed the issue of parking lot congestion on its meeting on Aug. 10, agreeing that morning drop-off would not be an issue. The Board of Education was aware of the issue as well, discussing it in earlier meetings. The discussion item was added at the request of the township committee.