03/20/1981
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LIBRARY BOARD
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MINUTES
, DATE mAJUA ~~ /YI
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CLEARWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD
~nNUTES OF THl1 MEETING
20 MARCH 1981
Mnyorts Conference Room
9:30 AM - 10:10 AH
, PRESENT:
AR~ENT:
Mr. Homer Royer, Chairman
Mrs. Herbert E. (Helen) Diller
Mrs. Arta Gates
Mr. George E. Harris
Mr. Claude P. Hutchens
Mr.. Fred Korosy
Mrs. Ann Wickersham
Mrs. Lucile Williams
Mrs. Candace H. Gardner, Vice-Chairman
(excused)
Mr. Walter A. Krick (r.;'ClI",('(t)
Dr. Geor~ Lowenstein (excused)
Miss Predericka Dixon, student ex-officio
Mrs. Aleta Cozart, Interim Library Directo
GUESTS:
Mrs. Althea Andersen, Head of Youth
Services, Clearwater Public Library
~fr. Jeff Butler, Assistant City Manager
for Finance
Mr. Ed Nichols, President of Friends of
the Clearwater Library
Mr. Charles Finton, interested citizen
i
Chairman Homer Royer called the meeting to order at 9:30 ~i. Mr. ROYCT
announced that the Friends of the Clearwater Library have asked him to attend
Library Day in Tallahassee on April 14 to meet with representatives from
Pinellas County.
~rr. Royer reported that the County Library Services Committee is looking
for interested persons with experiencc in Federal Grants to volunteer to help
with their committee.
The candidates for Library Director have bcen screened from thirty-seven
to six. Mrs. Andersen from the Library staff is one of the six candidates to
be interviewed on April 6.
Mr. Royer asked Mr. Butlerj Assistant City Manager for Financej to discuss
possible means for funding future branch libraries, Mr. Butler explained that
the least expensive means of financing would be through a Genernl Obligation
Bond issue requiring a referendum. ~lr. Butler stated he is not aware of any
restric.tion on delaying the sale of bonds after a referendum if that is felt
to be the wise thing to do; however, after a positive referendum, Mr. Butler
felt it might be wiser to proceed expeditiously due to increasing construction
costs. If the City Commission decided not to go through a referendum processj
then the City would be constrained to issue not more than $1,000,000. It is
possible to combine some debt (less than $1,000,000) plus some contribution
of current revenucs to finance a branch. Bonds could be sold for several
consccutive years only for different projects or clearly distinct phases of
the same project.
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CLEARWATER PUBLIC r..IBRARY BOARD
Minutes of the Neeting March 20~ 19&1
Page 2
Mrs. Diller inquired about the cost of a 22tOOO square foot libral'Y
fully stocked with books. Mr. Royer stated that the City Connnission'hns
the responsibility of planning tl,e buildings to meet the need5 of the
community. Board members discussed figures used in the last referendum
four years' ago ($1.2 million for a branch less than 22,000 square feet
and without books or land.) Mr. Butler suggested that the Board ask
the City Manager to supply figures on the cost of a 22,000 square foot
library facility with books.
Mr. Butler stated that, in addition to some borrowing, it is legally
possible for the City Commission to levy a tax rate that would generatc
a surplus to contribute money over a period of years to help 11ay for
construction. This tax rate could be temporary or permanent. Lease
purchasing might be considered for the book inventory of a library facility.
Mr. Butler noted that the cheapest means of funding would be a (;eneral
Obligation Bond issue; however, the risk is that a referendum might be
~urned down by voters. Mr. Butler noted that while these funding ideas
are legal, they may not be politically possible. Mrs. Gntes remarked
that expenses for staffing, maintenance, and book purchases must also be
examined when looking at the costs for future facilities. Mrs. Wickersham
asked about the availability of federal grants at the present. Mr. Butler
reported that grants seem to be much tightcr, less available. Board members
seemed to agree that if a decision was made to go for two branches at
one time, then a referendum would be the only possible means of funding,
due to the costs involved.
Mr. Butler asked if the Friends of the Clearwater Library might have
the resources to conduct a survey of voter preferences on library services
as a preliminary research matter and report back to the Library Board to
indicate whether there is a reasonable chance of passing a refcl'endurn.
Based on that information the Board could determine what type of recommendation
to present to the City Commission. Mr. Nichols, Prcsident of the Friends
of the Clearwater Library, agreed to bring this matter before the Friends
Board at their next meeting on April 9. Mr. Royer suggested that some
estimate of the tax increase involved be included in such survey data.
Mr. Butler offered to discuss this matter with Mr. Nichols. All Board
members favored such a survey idea and agreed to wait for the results of such
.a survey before formulating their recommendation to the City Commission.
Mrs. Gates asked if delaying the saie of bonds after a refcrendwn would
present any problems. Nr. Butler stnted that, as long as the bonds were
valid, they would be as good a security as anything else available.
Mrs. Gates reported on a remark made at a City Commission work session
concerning possibly combining a mini-police station or mini-City Hall \\'1 th
a Countryside library. Board members felt they should keep posted on
remarks on this matter.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 AM.
Susan Doel. Secretary