New City Library Board Warned Funding In Jeopardy (VIDEO)

Robert Hubsher warned the New City Library Board of Trustees that it risked losing a $67,000 construction grant if it did not act soon.  The grant agreement signed by the board president in August 2011 for renovation of the library’s audio/video department expires on June 20.

Hubsher, the executive director of the Ramapo Catskill Library System spoke at Thursday’s board meeting before an audience of about 50 library patrons and employees. He reminded the board that it received a $67,000 two-year grant for a construction project estimated to cost $190,000. Hubsher said if the library does not use the grant money, it will never receive another grant.

“You are jeopardizing the reputation of RCLS because we have to approve these grants,” he said. 

There are other issues at stake.

“But at this point this is becoming problematic for RCLS, for your library and for the State of New York in terms of construction grants,” said Hubsher. “The construction grants are a bonded program provided by the state of New York to help support public libraries in construction projects.”

Hubsher said when the agreement for the grant was signed, it was a guarantee by the board that it would go forward with the project and pay for it. He pointed out that the objective for upgrading the A/V area is to make it more efficient.  Although fewer people would be needed to staff it once the project was complete, the grant does not call for people to be laid off.  Instead, they could be transferred to other departments. 

Hubsher urged the board to take action and “move forward post haste.” 

Although Hubsher spoke about the urgent need for the board to act on the grant at the beginning of the meeting, board members announced later in the session that the architect who had been working on the project had withdrawn from it. Trustee Joseph Reiter said the architect declined the contract. Board President Tom Ninan said the contract given to the library board’s attorney was “wide open” and did not include specific costs but listed estimates.

Hubsher said the application submitted for the grant had to include quotes from contractors and although the board could apply for a one-year extension to use the grant, an explanation would be required. He said the board currently did not have a particularly good explanation. Ninan said he would contact Hubsher for a list of local architects for the A/V project.