The Belleville Area District Library Board unanimously authorized putting expenses related to planning for a new library in a subsidiary ledger so that these expenses can be reimbursed from future bond proceeds.
The action was taken by resolution at the March 13 meeting of the board.
Treasurer Elaine Gutierrez said the ledger was, “So we have that ready when we do pass a bond issue so that it will be reimbursed on the budget, so that we can add that money into the fund balance so that we’ll have more assets.
“Right now we’re using that money in the budget and our fund balance is going down, whereas we’ll be reimbursed for that later and build up the fund balance again,” she said.
City Councilwoman Kim Tindall asked from the audience if these amounts will go back to cover retroactive expenses.
“We’ll have to go back and break out the expenses and this will take a little time,” Gutierrez said.
“You may need to go back into last year’s budget to identify some costs,” said Belleville resident Mike Renaud.
“It’s the fund balance and that continues year after year,” Gutierrez said.
“Being devil’s advocate, what if the bond doesn’t pass?” asked Belleville resident George Chedraue.
“The resolution states future bond proceeds,” said vice chairman Christina Brasil. “This could happen two years from now or, God forbid, 20 years from now.”
“Are you going to make it public?” Renaud asked, pointing out it was public funds involved.
Library Director Deb Green said the reports could be made quarterly.
Attorney/closed sessions
Vera Howell, a Belleville resident, told the board that she feels the library board needs its own attorney, which should not be the Belleville city attorney. John Day represented both the library and the city, but now the city has replaced him.
Howell said she thinks there should be two attorneys – one for the library and one for the city.
“We do have another attorney, and if there is ever a conflict of interest, she can step in,” said secretary Joy Cichewicz. “Her name is Anne Seurynck. She is a well-known attorney for libraries. The reason we have two is having a local attorney is much more cost-effective. She lives in Grand Rapids.”
(Seurynck was officially hired by the board on Feb. 8, 2011 at a cost of $190 per hour.)
“Think about it,” said Chairman Mary Jane Dawson. “What’s the big slogan? Shop in Belleville. Mr. Day is a local attorney… We had her (Seurynck) here about a year ago.”
“We may have two attorneys, but I think John Day handles most of the legal issues,” said Chedraue, an attorney who lives in Belleville.
“He’s handling this land acquisition transaction. I think that’s why Vera is wondering why you have the same attorney for the city and land acquisition.
“That’s not my question,” Chedraue continued. “I wish John was here because of one of the questions I have.
“My theory has always been, ‘What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.’ At the last city council meeting the fact was brought up that members of the library talked to members of city council concerning what happens at closed door meetings.
“Don’t look surprised, it was, and it was in the paper. And, what happens at closed door meetings … what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
“Once you start opening and telling people outside of the closed-door meeting what you guys talked about in a closed door meeting is no longer privileged and is no longer a closed-door meeting.
“So, I can technically ask everyone here tonight: What was your discussion during your closed-door meetings because somebody went and talked to people at City Council at the meeting.
“Don’t look surprised. Kereen [Mayor Conley] said it. She talked to someone on this board, whoever that was. I’m not your attorney, but my advice would be, you know they used to say ‘Loose lips sink ships?’ And, Eisenhower did have a couple people executed because they talked too much because they caused problems.
“If you don’t want to have this problem of me asking that question at the next meeting, my advice is please don’t talk to other people confidentially about what goes on in closed door meetings,” Chedraue concluded.
In other business at the 59-minute, March 13 meeting, the library board:
• Discussed problems with maintenance of the present building. Board member John Juriga said the railing on the porch was loose and Mark Burger was called to take care of that. Burger pointed out the supports of the portico roof are rusted and it could blow away in a heavy wind. Davenport was called to look at solutions. Also, the parking lot drain grate was lifting up and cutting people’s tires. They had Davenport take it out because it hadn’t functioned for 25 years;
• Heard Director Green report that the City of Romulus may levy a library tax, which does not take a vote of the people, to support the library;
• Heard Green report the library had to call the police for its first-ever fight on the porch a few weeks earlier. Both girls were taken into police custody and banned from the library for one month. Several library patrons expressed concern;
• Heard Green report that Chuck Syer, the security guard, has found a replacement for himself when he moves: Aaron Saylor. The two will work together to increase the patrol from five to ten hours a week;
• Heard Green report the Friends of the Library are helping to promote National Library Week and are purchasing a Kindle Fire to give away as a grand prize. Raffle tickets can be earned by checking out a book, getting a library card, or submitting a “Why I love my library” note;
• Heard support for the library board’s work offered by Julea Ward, a seven-year resident of Van Buren Township. She said the idea of a library on the lake was exciting and she would like a big library;
• Heard Regina Miller of Van Buren Township voice concern about the hydroponic shop and the cleaners who are in the area, 397 Main, being considered for a library site. “We owe it to them to let them know,” Miller said and Chairman Dawson said it was her understanding that the owner of the building alerted them;
• Heard Green announce the library fund raiser “Murder Maestro Please” dinner theater at the Bayou on May 8 for $25 per person; and
• Heard board member Mike Boelter say that when the board went to the city council meeting, the council was going to make a list of questions. Chairman Dawson said this list has not been received. She waved a copy of the Feb. 12 city council minutes in the air and then tossed the document over to the secretary, apparently to include in the minutes of the library board meeting. “They passed a motion,” she emphasized.