Plan would clear up confusion, calm tempers over Jacksonville libraries

[Patricia M. McBride]

No mention of whether the taxpayers will be expected to feed and cloth these 2 new members with tax payer dollars? I also disagree with the library not having to account for donations to the library. I think donations should come right off any funding by the city. They are not a separate entity but part of the City of Jacksonville and funded by the taxpayer.

Concerns centered on too much influence by City Council.

Posted: September 22, 2010 - 8:02pm

By Matt Dixon

A budget amendment that will come before the City Council next week should end confusion - and some contention - surrounding proposed changes to the century-old ordinance that governs the Jacksonville Public Library system.

In August, the council's Finance Committee tentatively approved changes that would give City Hall greater power over the library director and expressed concern that the library board could change its council-approved budget unilaterally, which was untrue.

The amendment, offered by Councilman Kevin Hyde, does not address the library director, so that means the position would remain unchanged and would continue to report directly to the library board. But the amendment does state that the library board must abide by the city budget each year and adds at least three members to the board so there is representation from all parts of the city.

There are now 11 library board members appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council. Under the amendment, there would be at least 14 members, 12 of whom would be appointed and have votes.

Under the change, two members will be appointed from each of the five City Council at-large groups, and two members would be appointed from any area of the city.

The City Council president and the superintendent of schools would be added as nonvoting members. There would also be an option for a third nonvoting member appointed by the City Council president from that body.

"We are going to get diverse representation of the community," Hyde said. "Given the size of their budget, that's important."

The amendment presents a way to alleviate tension between library board members and City Hall.

Bill Brinton, a lawyer who is volunteering with the library and helped craft the amendment, said it would not alter the status quo, ensuring contributions the library receives from outside sources will not be controlled by the council, which had been a issue for groups that work closely with the library system.

"I think our general concern is that City Council is just a whole political arena we would rather not be involved in," said Harry Reagan, president of Friends of Jacksonville Public Library.

After the Finance Committee's August decision, the library board had called a special meeting to express concern about some of the proposed changes. Board members and several former board leaders in attendance took issue with the changes, saying they would politicize the board.

At its Sept. 8 meeting, the library board voted unanimously to support language that is now in the Hyde amendment.

Library director Barbara Gubbin and board chairman Jim Seltzer are traveling this week and were unavailable for comment.

The amendment will be considered by the council Tuesday and, if approved, would replace the Finance Committee's provisions.

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link: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-09-22/story/plan-would-clea...