[00:00:03]
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE
[B. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America]
DECEMBER 10TH, 2024 BOARD OF SUPERVISOR MEETING.UH, I'D LIKE TO START OUT THE MEETING WITH A PRAYER AND REVEREND DESANTIS, IF YOU WOULD GIVE US THE PLEASURE.
PLEASE, SIR, I WELCOME YOU HERE TONIGHT.
FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY OF LIFE THAT YOU'VE GIVEN TO EACH AND EVERY ONE WHO'S HERE THIS EVENING.
FATHER, MAY WE REALIZE THAT EVERY BREATH WE TAKE COMES FROM YOU AND THAT WE ARE TO SEEK TO LIVE OUR LIVES IN SUCH A WAY THAT GLORIFIES YOU AND PLEASES YOU AND ACKNOWLEDGES YOU.
FATHER, I PRAISE AND THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT LAND IN WHICH WE LIVE, WHERE SUCH A MEETING AS THIS CAN TAKE PLACE AND INDIVIDUALS CAN SPEAK THEIR MIND, AND FATHER, IN YOUR WORD, YOU TELL US THAT WE NEED TO SPEAK IN SUCH A WAY THAT RESPECTS OTHERS.
WE ARE TO SPEAK TRUTH AND WE ARE TO DO THAT AND SPEAK THAT WHICH WILL BUILD UP RATHER THAN TEAR DOWN.
I DO PRAY FOR THOSE WHO REPRESENT US, THAT THEY WILL SEEK TO DO THAT WHICH IS RIGHT IN YOUR EYES AND THAT EACH AND EVERYONE WHO SPEAKS TONIGHT OR MAY THEY DO THAT AND SPEAK THAT AND BE DECENT.
AND IN ORDER FOR WE MAY BE CALLED INTO ACCOUNT FOR OUR BEHAVIOR THIS NIGHT.
AT THIS TIME, I CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AND IF EVERYONE WOULD STAND, REMOVE YOUR HATS FOR THE PLEDGE OF REASONS, PLEASE, TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH THE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
UH, I I WAS GONNA SAY, MY APOLOGIES.
UM, I'VE BEEN RECENTLY, UM, SICK AND THIS IS THE BEST.
MY VOICE CAN GET MUCH BETTER THAN YESTERDAY, SO, UM, PLEASE HAVE PATIENCE WITH ME.
I WILL SPEAK UP AS LOUD AS I CAN.
AND, UM, ANOTHER REASON FOR EVERYONE TO, UM, LISTEN MORE INTENTLY, UM, AND SPEAK A LITTLE LESS AMONGST YOURSELF WHILE THE PROCEEDINGS ARE GOING ON, UH, AT THIS TIME, UH,
[C. Adoption of Agenda – Additions or Deletions]
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA.ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA? MADAM CHAIR? YES, SIR.
UM, MADAM CHAIR, THE, UH, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS OF, UM, AS PUBLISHED WITH THE DELETIONS OF I ITEMS K SIX, EIGHT, AND NINE AND 13.
THERE IS NO 13 AND 13, 13 IS FINE ON MY AGENDA.
YEAH, I DIDN'T SEE A 13 HONOR CASE.
SOME, SOME AGENDAS HAVE A 13, MA'AM.
ALRIGHT, THAT WOULD BE THE MOTION, INCLUDING 13 TO AVOID ANY CONFUSION.
ALRIGHT, SO, UM, MR. BUTCHER, COULD, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT AGAIN? K SIX.
IT'S, IT'S, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA WITH THE DELETIONS OF I, UH, OF ITEMS K 6, 8, 9, AND 13.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND
OH, JOHN DID, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T HEAR MR. UH, HENDERSON.
[D. Public Comment Period (60 Minute Time Limit)]
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.AND BEFORE WE START THAT, UM, JUST WANNA GO OVER SOME THINGS SINCE THIS IS A LARGE CROWD THIS EVENING.
UM, I WANNA THANK EVERYONE AGAIN FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
TONIGHT'S THE LAST BOARD MEETING OF THE 2024 YEAR AND THIS, THERE'S CERTAINLY GOING BACK QUICKLY, I WANNA THANK MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE CHAIRMAN THIS YEAR.
IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE AND HONOR TO DO SO.
I UNDERSTAND EMOTIONS ARE GONNA BE RUNNING EYE TONIGHT DUE TO THE PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT THE LIBRARY, AND I WANNA TAKE THIS TIME BEFORE WE GET INTO ALL OF THIS, TO WISH EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS, BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO THE COMING 2025 YEAR.
UM, I WANT EVERYONE TO REMEMBER THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR MEETING TONIGHT.
[00:05:01]
EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE HEARD, AND MY EXPECTATIONS IS THAT EVERYONE WILL REMAIN COURTEOUS, RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER.DURING THE, UM, BOARD SUPERVISORS MEETING, I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE MR. HENDERSON, MS. MEADOWS, SHERIFF KLEIN, MAJOR WINTER CAPTAIN MOO, AND THE DEDICATED DEPUTIES THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT AND THE WORK THEY'VE DONE TO ACCOMMODATE THIS LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE AND PROVIDE SECURITY.
UM, JUST A HOUSEKEEPING ISSUE.
THERE'S NO FOOD OR DRINK ALLOWED IN HERE BECAUSE OF THE CROWDING, UM, RULES.
PUBLIC COMMENT IS OUR FIRST, UM, ON THE AGENDA THAT IS A THREE MINUTE TIME FOR EACH SPEAKER.
UM, WE ALLOT AN HOUR THAT TIME IS DEDICATED TO ITEMS THAT ARE NOT A PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT, SO I DON'T WANT ANY CONFUSION THAT THE PUBLIC COMMENT TIME IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE LIBRARY.
YOU CAN SPEAK ON THINGS OTHER THAN, UM, THE PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS AT THAT TIME AND DUE TO THE SIZE OF ATTENDANCE THIS EVENING, SEATING ROOM ONLY, WHICH I THINK, UM, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE VERY WELL, THAT WILL HELP WITH, UH, PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO HEAR, SEE AND SECURITY.
IF YOU LEAVE THE BUILDING, DEPENDING ON CAPACITY, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE BACK IN.
I DON'T THINK THE HALL IS PACKED, SO THAT SHOULDN'T BE ANY REASON THIS EVENING.
IF YOU LEAVE YOUR SEAT IN THE BOARDROOM, UM, TO GET UP AND SPEAK, YOU SHOULD HAVE THE, UM, THOUGHT THAT YOU'RE GONNA GET BACK TO YOUR SEAT.
IF YOU LEAVE THE ROOM, YOU KNOW HOW THAT GOES.
YOU LOSE YOUR SEAT SOMETIMES DOING THAT.
DUE TO THE LARGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WISHING TO SPEAK, EVERYONE WILL BE KEPT TO A STRICT THREE MINUTE SPEAKING TIME.
I DON'T LIKE TO DISRESPECT PEOPLE AND BROUGHT CUT IN, BUT WHEN THE TIMER GOES OFF, I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD STOP AND, UH, LEAVE THE PODIUM SO THE NEXT PERSON CAN COME UP.
THERE WILL BE NO BOOING, CLAPPING, OR INTERRUPTING OF THE SPEAKERS, AND THIS WILL BE YOUR FIRST WARNING ON THAT.
IF ANYONE INTERRUPTS THE SPEAKER, I WILL GIVE YOU A SECOND WARNING.
AFTER THAT, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE BY A DEPUTY AND WON'T BE ALLOWED BACK INTO THE MEETING ROOM.
MR. HENDERSON WILL CALL THOSE PERSONS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN GROUPS OF THREE FIRST SPEAKER AND THEN THERE'LL BE TWO ON DECK.
SO WHEN THE FIRST SPEAKER LEAVES, ANOTHER SPEAKER WILL BE CALLED UP, UH, SO THAT WE KEEP THE FLOW GOING AS BEST WE CAN.
UH, I THINK EVERYONE IS GIVEN OUT THEIR HANDOUTS.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVEN'T, THERE'S A TABLE YOU CAN PLACE THEM ON THERE.
WHEN YOU COME UP TO THE PODIUM, IF YOU WILL STATE YOUR NAME AND THE DISTRICT YOU LIVE IN AND YOU CAN ADJUST THE MIC SO WE CAN HEAR YOU SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THE MIC AND TOWARDS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
AND ONCE YOU'RE FINISHED, UM, YOU CAN EITHER RETURN TO YOUR SEAT AND WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING OR LEAVE.
UM, IF YOU FEEL YOUR NAME WAS, UM, YOU MISSED A HEARING, YOUR NAME CALLED OUT, JUST ASK ONE OF THE DEPUTIES.
THEY HAVE A SIGNUP SHEET AND THEY CAN HELP WORK THAT OUT FOR YOU.
WE DO WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS HEARD TONIGHT, SO WE ARE AT THE REGULAR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD TIME.
MR. HENDERSON, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THAT? UH, YES MA'AM.
MY NAME IS JOHN JENKINS, I'M A SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT RESIDENT AND I'M JOHN JENKINS, WHO WAS MENTIONED A FEW MEETINGS BACK OF ACCUSING MS COLORS OF COLLUDING WITH SHERIFF KLEIN REGARDING THE SHOOTING RANGE IN BENTONVILLE AND NOT SUPPORTING THE CITIZENS OF SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UH, I WILL NOT CHANGE MY OPINION ON THAT.
THAT'S A FACT REGARDING SHERIFF KLEIN.
UH, I THINK SHE'S DOING A GOOD JOB, UH, AND I'M SURE THAT SHE WILL CONTINUE.
MY ISSUE HERE TONIGHT IS THAT THE WARREN COUNTY CODE ADDRESSES CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND ETHICS OF ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS SERVING THE PEOPLE OF WARREN COUNTY OR, UH, CHAPTER 5 6 2 OF THE WARREN COUNTY CODE IS ADDRESSES THAT THE EMPLOYEE CONDUCT CODE 3.0, CHAPTER 38, ARTICLE 15, CONFLICT OF INTEREST AT ETHICS AND PUBLIC CONTRACTING AND THE VIRGINIA CODE TWO DASH TWO DASH 3,100, THEY ALL ADDRESS THAT.
SO MEASURE SURE NOT BY ISSUE HERE TONIGHT IS HOW CAN THE BOARD APPROVE A CONTRACT FOR TIME AND MATERIAL WORK TO A PERSON THAT IS SERVING ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION? IN MY MIND, THAT PO AT THAT CREATES A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
UH, I DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN DO THAT.
MY OTHER ISSUE IS WHEN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF TOPSOIL ARE PLACED ON A PROPERTY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONTRACTOR THAT WAS SELECTED BY WARREN COUNTY, IN MY OPINION, THAT'S ALSO A VIOLATION OF THE
[00:10:01]
CODE WHEN YOU APPOINT FAMILY MEMBERS AND CLOSE FRIENDS TO SERVE ON COMMITTEES FOR WARREN COUNTY TO HELP SUPPORT YOUR OPINION.UH, THAT'S QUESTIONABLE TO ME.
THE COUNTY BOARD PURCHASING PROPERTY FROM INDIVIDUALS WORKING WITHIN THIS BUILDING WITHOUT NOTIFICATION TO THE PUBLIC.
I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S A QUESTIONABLE NOT FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES AND NO OVERSIGHT BY COUNTY OFFICIALS IS THAT IS WHAT LED TO THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEING STOLEN FROM THE EDA, WHO THE TAXPAYERS ARE ALL PAYING FOR YOU.
WERE ELECTED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE AND NOT TO SERVE YOURSELF.
YOU CAN PRESENT YOUR NARRATIVE ANY WAY YOU WANT, BUT THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS.
WHEN CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND ETHICS OCCUR BY ONE INDIVIDUAL AND IS NOT ADDRESSED BY THEIR PEERS, IT PLACES A MORAL CHARACTER OF ALL INVOLVED IN QUESTION.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. HENDERSON? NO MA'AM.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON AND ITEM THAT IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT AT THIS TIME? SECOND CALL.
ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK THIRD AND FINAL? OKAY.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO BOARD REPORTS.
[E. Reports – Board Members, County Administrator, County Attorney]
MR. STAN MEYER.NO REPORT TONIGHT, MR. BUTLER.
JUST SAY THAT, UH, I ATTENDED THE, UH, THE, THE, UH, UH, BUILDING, UH, UM, ASSOCIATION, THE BUILDING ASSOCIATION, UH, CHRISTMAS, UH, DINNER.
AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT IT WAS.
AND IT WAS ALSO A, UM, UH, KIND OF LIKE A PRECURSOR.
MY DAUGHTER'S GETTING MARRIED IN JUNE.
AND I, I'LL TELL YOU, THE BUILDING ASSOCIATION HAS GOOD TASTE IN WHERE THEY, WHERE THEY DECIDE TO HAVE THEIR, UH, UH, THEIR PARTIES.
JAMESON, UH, YES, I'VE, I'VE, UH, MET WITH SEVERAL CONSTITUENTS THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, SOME TO DISCUSS, UH, FACE-TO-FACE, THE LIBRARY SITUATION, UH, THEIR OPPOSITION TO IT.
UM, I MET WITH SOME TWO CONSTITUENTS REGARDING OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
SOME OF THE CONCERNS THEY HAVE MET WITH A CONSTITUENT IN MY DISTRICT WHO'S CONCERNED ABOUT THE, THE SMALL BUSINESS ATMOSPHERE IN THE COUNTY.
UM, AND ALSO ABOUT SOME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IDEAS SURROUNDING THE SPORTS TOURISM THING.
WELL, I WANNA BEGIN WITH THAT.
MY, UH, MY REPORT FOR THIS, UM, MEETING IS TO ADDRESS THE FORT DISTRICT RESIDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY.
I JUST HAVE BEEN MADE A DIFFICULT DECISION NOT TO SEEK FOR THE REELECTION AS THE MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF NEXT YEAR.
THIS CHOICE IS DRIVEN BY MY DESIRE TO SPEND MORE QUALITY TIME WITH MY FAMILY AND BE MORE INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY TERM.
HOWEVER, AFTER MY TERM ENDS, I WILL REMAIN ENGAGED AS A CITIZEN ADVOCATE WHENEVER NECESSARY.
I SINCERELY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND CONFIDENCE THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME OVER THE YEARS IN SERVING AS THE FORT DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE EXPERIENCE.
AND, UM, GOING TO, UM, THE ONLY THING I'M GONNA SAY IS I ATTENDED THE, UM, CHRISTMAS PARADE AND ONCE AGAIN, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BLEW IT OUTTA THE WATER.
UH, NEXT IS APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS.
[F. Approval of Accounts]
ARE THERE ANY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ON THOSE? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED.[G. Approval of Minutes - November 19th 2024]
NOVEMBER 19TH, 2024.ANY ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, CORRECTIONS? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED.
[K. Consent Agenda]
UM, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED WITH THE FORMALLY REMOVED ITEMS? MOTION TO APPROVE.[00:15:01]
MOVED.WE ARE A LITTLE AHEAD OF THE GAME.
SO MR. HAM, WE TYPICALLY DON'T START PUBLIC HEARINGS UNTIL SEVEN 30.
THEY'RE ADVERTISED FOR SEVEN 30, SO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SEVEN 30.
OKAY, SO WE HAVE 15, WELL, NOT QUITE 15 MINUTES, SO, UM, WE WILL RECESS AND COME BACK AT SEVEN 30.
IF EVERYONE WILL TAKE YOUR SEATS.
IF EVERYONE WILL TAKE YOUR SEATS.
I'VE GOT 7 29 AND THAT WAY WE CAN, UM, HOPEFULLY GET STARTED PROMPTLY AT SEVEN 30.
AGAIN, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE, UM, UM, AND THE COURTESY YOU'RE GIVING ME WITH MY, UM, DIFFICULTY, UM, EX EXPANDING MY VOICE HERE, UM, BY KEEPING THE ROOM QUIET, I DO APPRECIATE THAT.
AND NOT QUITE SEVEN 30, SO, ALL RIGHT.
RESOLUTION, UH, RESPECTFULLY DIRECTING THE COUNTY TREASURER TO INVEST FUNDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH GUIDELINES, ISSUES BY THE STATE TREASURER AND REQUESTING REPORTS REGARDING FUNDS, COUNTY FUNDS.
UM, MADAM CHAIR? NO, THAT'S, WHAT IS THAT? UH, THAT'S ABOLISHED.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE DOING PUBLIC
[H. Public Hearing - Ordinance Abolishing the County Finance Board]
HEARING ORDINANCE ABOLISHING THE COUNTY FINANCE BOARD, RIGHT? I SEE IT NOW.MINE THAT IS DISTRACTING AS HECK.
ORDINANCES ABOLISHING THE COUNTY FINANCE BOARD.
I READ THE SECOND PART OFF FIRST.
DALEY, ARE YOU TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS OR MR. HAM YET? YOU TRIED TO TURN THIS TV OFF AND IT DIDN'T WORK.
PUT THE CURSOR ON THE, THERE YOU GO.
DALEY, ARE YOU TAKING LEAD ON THIS OR? YES, MA'AM.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO ALLOW THE DISSOLUTION OF THE COUNTY FINANCE BOARD, IN WHICH CASE THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BECOMES THE COUNTY FINANCE BOARD.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM BEFORE I OPEN IT UP TO, UM, SPEAKERS? IF NOT, MR. HENDERSON, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? UH, YES MA'AM.
JOHN JENKINS, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UH, I'D LIKE TO STATE THAT I AM, UH, OPPOSED TO ABOLISHING THE, UH, COUNTY FINANCE BOARD, UH, THE, UH, STATE OF VIRGINIA WHEN, WHEN THEIR CODE WOULD TALK ABOUT THIS BOARD, THEY RECOMMEND THAT AT LEAST ONE CITIZEN OF THE COUNTY PROVEN INTEGRITY AND BUSINESS ABILITY BE A, A PART OF THAT BOARD TO HELP MANAGE THE MONEY.
UH, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
[00:20:01]
THINK YOU NEED MORE THAN ONE PERSON.THE BUDGET FOR WARREN COUNTY IS $91 MILLION.
IT COST ME $6,500 A YEAR TO LIVE IN WARREN COUNTY.
AND JOE BIDEN DIDN'T GIMME NO BIG RAISE LAST YEAR, AND I'M TIRED OF MY TAX DOLLARS BEING THROWN AT THE WINDOW.
SO, UH, THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW IS IN DEBT FOR $110 MILLION AND IT TAKES ABOUT $12 MILLION A YEAR TO PAY DOWN THAT DEBT.
THAT'S TAXPAYER DOLLARS OUTTA THAT 91 MILLION, 12 MILLION IS GOING TO PAY DOWN THE DEBT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DEBT IS FOR AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO SEND IN TO GET ALL THE PAPERWORK TO GET THAT.
UH, WARREN COUNTY RECENTLY STOPPED MAKING PAYMENTS ON TWO BANK LOANS, UH, LOCAL BANK LOANS.
AND IT WAS HEARD THAT THE COUNTY HAS ALSO BEEN MAKING PAYMENTS TO THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS.
SO HOW ARE YOU USING COUNTY TAX DOLLARS TO PAY FOR PAYMENTS TO THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL? YOU DIDN'T MAKE ANY PAYMENTS FOR ME.
YOU JUST KEEP SENDING ME TAX BILLS.
LOOK, WHEN YOU GET FEDERAL GRANTS, STATE AND FEDERAL, YOU MIGHT GET A MILLION DOLLAR GRANT AND THEN YOU HAVE TO MATCH THAT ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS.
SO WHEN YOU GET THOSE KIND OF GRANTS, WHERE DOES THAT MONEY COME FROM TO DO THE WORK THAT YOU WANT TO DO? THAT WHEN THAT GRANT IS PROVIDED, UH, YOU'RE MOVING MONEY AROUND.
WHERE'S IT COMING FROM? WHERE'S IT GOING? WHO YOU WHO, WHO'S NOT GETTING THEIR FAIR SHARE? THE AUDIT FOR LAST YEAR? IT'S STILL NOT COMPLETE.
AND ACCORDING TO THE BOARD OUT THERE, IT'S GONNA BE COMPLETE SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY OF NEXT YEAR.
THAT'S AN ESTIMATE, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THE ELECTRONIC ACCOUNTING PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND WITH THE METHOD THAT YOU DO ACCOUNTING, HOW CAN YOU NOT BE ABLE TO RECONCILE THE BOOKS WITHIN SIX MONTHS? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT ALL THE EXPENDERS EXPENDITURES FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO APPROVE OR, UH, BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU SPENT LAST YEAR.
WE, THE CITIZENS WOULD LIKE AN ANSWER.
VERY SIMPLE ANSWER, WHAT'S GOING ON, WHO'S IN CHARGE? SOMEONE NEEDS TO MANAGE THE MONEY, BUT NOT APPOINTING AN INDEPENDENT BOARD TO MONITOR THEIR COUNTY SPENDING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES ONLY PROVES THAT THE BOARD FEELS THEY EITHER CANNOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND ARE ABOVE THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT ARE ESTABLISHED FOR ALL STATE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
IF YOU HAVEN'T PAID YOUR TAXES BY DECEMBER THE FIFTH, YOU SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO VOTE ON ANYTHING HERE TONIGHT.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. HENDERSON? NO MA'AM.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SECOND CALL.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK? A THIRD AND FINAL PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? YEAH, I'D LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING TO THAT.
UM, WE DO HAVE A FINANCE AUDIT COMMITTEE, UH, THAT MEETS ONCE A MONTH.
I THINK IT'S ON THE SECOND OR THIRD WEEK OF THE MONTH IF I'M NOT SECOND WEEK IS IT? THANK YOU.
AND WE HAVE THREE APPOINTED CITIZENS, BOARD OF SUPERVISOR, PORT OF CITIZENS WHO ARE ON THIS BOARD.
AND WHAT THAT, THE MISSION OF THAT, UH, PARTICULAR BOARD IS TO REVIEW ALL OF THE WARREN COUNTY'S, UM, INTERNAL FISCAL CONTROLS.
WE IDENTIFY GAPS OF WHAT, UH, IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FINANCES AND THE, UH, BUDGETS REPORTS ARE BEING PRESENTED.
STAN, UH, STA IN A STANDARDIZED WAY, TRANSPARENT.
UM, AND, AND ACTUALLY WHENEVER WE SEE A HICCUP, IF YOU WILL, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, IN ANY TYPE OF FINANCIAL REPORTING THAT RELATES TO A DEPARTMENT LIKE THE SCHOOL BOARD, WE BROUGHT THEM IN THE TREASURER.
WE HAVE BROUGHT THE TREASURER AND WE DO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.
UM, THIS TREASURY BOARD, AND PLEASE, DR.
DALEY, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M GOING IN THE, IN A, IF I'M DEFINING THIS INCORRECTLY, BUT THIS FINANCE BOARD, UH, THIS, THIS BOARD IS TAKING IT A STEP LEVEL HIGHER, WHICH IS GOING TO BE, UH, A BOARD THAT WILL BE WORKING WITH THE TREASURER WHO HA BECAUSE THERE'S A SEPARATION OF POWERS BETWEEN THE WARREN COUNTY AND THE TREASURERS AND WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY TO WORK ON SOME IMPROVING OF INVESTMENTS AND TRYING TO LOOK AT, UH, BETTER WAYS OF, OF, UM, ACCOUNTING AND, UM, INVESTING IN OUR, OUR FINANCES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT, IF THAT'S, THAT'S GOOD.
SO I WOULD PLEASE CORRECT ME IF YOU KNOW, SO, BUT ANYWAY, SO I JUST WANNA PUT THAT POINT OUT THAT NUMBER ONE, THAT WE DO HAVE A, A COMMITTEE THAT WE DO LOOK AT THINGS AND THE NUMBER TWO, THE TREASURER BOARD IS, UH, IS FOR, UH, UH, COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE TREASURER AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
SO ANYWAY, SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
[00:25:01]
AND ONE MORE THING, IF I MIGHT ADD, THE THREE PEOPLE THAT ARE APPOINTED ON THE FINANCIAL BOARD DO HAVE TURN LIMITS.SO I THINK THEY'RE UP NEXT YEAR, YOU KNOW, SO, YOU KNOW, UH, ANYBODY CAN, YOU KNOW, PUT IN FOR A SEAT, YOU KNOW, AND BE PART OF THAT BOARD BOARD, BUT IT'S, IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN MY POINT OF VIEW.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ADOPT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE ABOLISHING THE COUNTY FINANCE BOARD.
NEXT PUBLIC HEARING IS A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH WARREN COUNTY SUNFISH.
SIR, THERE'S A RESOLUTION IN THERE, MA'AM.
OH, MY COMPUTER IS ITEM H ONE RESOLUTION RESPECTFULLY DIRECTING THE COUNTY TREASURER TO INVEST FUNDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH GUIDELINES ISSUED BY THE STATE TREASURER IN REQUESTING REPORTS REGARDING COUNTY FUNDS.
MY UM, COMPUTER DIED ON ME RIGHT AS THE MEETING STARTED, SO I DON'T HAVE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS I USUALLY DO.
WORKING OFF THIS, UM, IS THERE A MOTION ON THE RESOLUTION? MAY I JUST READ THE RESOLUTION? CAN I READ THE RESOLUTION? I DON'T HAVE IT, BUT IF YOU HAVE IT YOU CAN.
I'D LIKE TO READ THE RESOLUTION, EXPLANATION AND SUMMARY.
THIS IS A RESOLUTION ENTITLED RESOLUTION RESPECTFULLY DIRECTING THE COUNTY TREASURER TO INVEST IN FUNDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH GUIDELINES ISSUED BY THE STATE TREASURER AND REQUESTING REPORTS REGARDING COUNTY FUNDS.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF WARREN COUNTY RECOGNIZES ITS DUTY TO RESPONSIBLY MANAGE AND INVEST COUNTY FUNDS.
AND THE CODE OF VIRGINIA 58.1 DASH 31 51 ALLOWS THE COUNTY TO CREATE A COUNTY FINANCE BOARD AND BY CODE OF VIRGINIA 58 1 DASH 31 51 FURTHER PROVIDES THAT THE BOARD AFTER ESTABLISHING A COUNTY FINANCE BOARD, MAY BY ORDINANCE ABOLISH THE COUNTY FINANCE BOARD WHERE UPON ALL AUTHORITY, POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COUNTY FINANCE BOARD SHALL VEST IN THE BOARD.
AND GIVEN EACH SUPERVISOR'S DUTY TO RESPONSIBLY MANAGE COUNTY FUNDS, THE BOARD HAS ESTABLISHED THE COUNTY FINANCE BOARD AND IS SUBSEQUENTLY ABOLISHED IT BY ORDINANCE.
THE BOARD IS CONCERNED THAT COUNTY FUNDS ARE NOT BEING INVESTED TO MAXIMIZE THEIR INVESTMENT RETURNS AND THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT THE COUNTY FUNDS ARE DRAWING A LESSER RATE OF INTEREST THAN THEY OTHERWISE MAY BE EARNING.
THE BOARD IS ENTITLED PURSUANT TO CODE OF VIRGINIA 58.1 DASH 31 60 TO RECEIVE A MONTHLY REPORT FROM THE COUNTY TREASURER ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY OF COUNTY MONEY ON DEPOSIT WITH EACH DEPOSIT.
THE BOARD RESPECTFULLY, RESPECTFULLY, DIRECTS THE COUNTY TREASURER TO INVEST FUNDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH GUIDELINES ISSUED BY THE STATE TREASURER PURSUANT TO CODE OF VIRGINIA 58.1 DASH 31 56 AND REQUEST THAT ALL AVAILABLE FUNDS BE INVESTED WITH THE VIRGINIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOL AND OR THE VML SLASH VACO FINANCE VIRGINIA INVESTMENT POOL AND THE BOARD REQUESTS THAT THE COUNTY TREASURER PROVIDE MONTHLY REPORTS TO THE BOARD ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY ACCOUNT OF COUNTY MONEY ON DEPOSIT WITH EACH DEPOSITORY ACCOUNT PURSUANT TO CODE OF VIRGINIA 58 DASH ONE DASH 31 60 AND REQUEST THAT THE AMOUNT OF INTEREST BE EARNED, EXCUSE ME, THE AMOUNT OF INTEREST EARNED ON EACH DEPOSITORY ACCOUNT ALSO BE PROVIDED.
ANY COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION? MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ADOPT THE RESOLUTION RESPECTFULLY DIRECTING THE COUNTY TREASURER TO INVEST IN FUNDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH GUIDELINES ISSUED BY THE STATE TREASURER AND REQUESTING REPORTS REGARDING COUNTY FUNDS.
SECOND, SECOND ROLL CALL MR. HENDERSON.
[I. Public Hearing - Lease Agreement with Warren County Sunfish - Dana Winner, Office Manager, Tiffany Walker, Director]
HEARING LEASE AGREEMENT WITH WARREN COUNTY SUNFISH.UM, MS. WALKER, YOU'RE TAKING THAT ONE? YES MA'AM.
UM, SO I AM JUST HERE TODAY SEEKING APPROVAL FROM THE BOARD, UM, TO APPROVE THE LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE WARREN COUNTY SUNFISH, UM, FOR THE USE OF USING THE CLAUDIA STOKES JUNIOR COMMUNITY SWIMMING POOL AND THE AMOUNT OF $613, UM, FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, WE HAD AN AGREEMENT IN MOU AND THEN IT WAS THE UNDERSTANDING WHEN WE MET WITH THE SUNFISH ON THE FOURTH YEAR TO START A LEASE.
'CAUSE THEY'D HAVE AMPLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO FUNDRAISE TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THE LEASE AGREEMENT.
[00:30:02]
OKAY.ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, FROM MS. WALKER? FROM THE BOARD? OKAY, MR. ANDERSON, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO MA'AM.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME? SECOND CALL.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK? THIRD AND FINAL PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION AT THIS POINT? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION? MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE THE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE WARREN COUNTY SUNFISH FOR LEASE OF CLAUDE A STOKES JUNIOR COMMUNITY SWIMMING POOL.
[J. Public Hearing - Ordinance Adding Chapter 7 for the formation of a Warren County Library Board]
FINAL PUBLIC HEARING, UH, ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTER SEVEN FOR THE FORMATION OF WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD AND I'M NOT SURE IF ANYONE WANTS TO MAKE AN OPENING STATEMENT ON THIS ITEM OR IF WE JUST WANNA GET STARTED.SO I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ARE THERE ANY DISCUSSION BEFORE OPENING THIS UP TO THE CHAIRMAN CALLERS? WE WERE, WE HAD FOR THE, BECAUSE OF THE MINOR CHANGES, WE'RE GONNA PUT THOSE ON THE SCREEN, SO I'M GONNA GO SO WE MAY ECHO AGAIN.
I AM GONNA TALK BEFORE I GET DOUBLED.
UM, THERE WERE SOME VARIOUS COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC AND SOME MINOR CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE LIBRARY BOARD ORDINANCE FIRST IN SECTION SEVEN DASH ONE B TO MAKE, GET CLEAR THAT THERE'S FIVE MEMBERS ON THE BOARD AND THAT, UM, WHEN A VACANCY OCCURS, IF A SUPERVISOR'S TERM EXPIRES, FOR EXAMPLE, THEN THE BOARD CAN ADD A NEW MEMBER.
THE CODE OF VIRGINIA PROVIDES THAT MEMBERS OF THE LIBRARY BOARD HAVE TO BE RESIDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY THAT WAS NOT EXPLICITLY ALSO PUT IN THE ORDINANCE AND THAT IS NOW IN THE ORDINANCE.
UH, WE CHANGED THE DATE FOR THE LIBRARY BOARD TO PROVIDE ITS RECOMMENDATION FOR BUDGETS TO DECEMBER OF EACH YEAR TO COINCIDE WITH WHAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS DO.
UM, THERE WERE COMMENTS ABOUT THE LIBRARY BOARD BEING A CALENDAR YEAR.
IT WAS ALWAYS MEANT TO BE A PHYSICAL YEAR.
SO THAT'S RECTIFIED IN SEVEN DASH FOR A AND THERE IS A NEW PROVISION THAT THE LIBRARY BOARD WILL PROVIDE FINANCIAL REPORTS AS REQUESTED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
SO THAT IS THE CHANGES FROM WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED.
ANY OPENING COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS? NOPE.
MR. HENDERSON, UM, JUST TO REMIND PEOPLE, MR. HENDERSON WILL CALL THREE UP AT A TIME AND YOU CAN LINE UP OVER HERE.
UM, AGAIN, NAME AND DISTRICT, WHEN YOU COME UP TO THE PODIUM, FEEL FREE TO ADJUST THE MIC AND TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE, UM, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CHAIRMAN COLORS.
BEFORE WE DO THAT, SOMEONE HAS SUBMITTED QUESTIONS THAT I BELIEVE YOU HAVE.
DO YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER THOSE NOW OR AT THE END? I, I BELIEVE WE DO THAT AFTER THE PRESENTATION OF THE APPLICANT, WHICH I THINK IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE IS THE COUNTY.
SO YOU WANT ME TO DO THEM NOW? I THOUGHT IT WAS AT THE END OF THE, THE APPLICANT HAS COMPLETED THE FINAL PRESENTATION.
I THINK I'M HAPPY TO THE, TO EITHER WAY.
YEAH, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND DO THAT NOW.
UM, I WAS GIVEN A LIST OF QUESTIONS AND I'LL READ EACH ONE AND GIVE YOU, UM, THE BEST ANSWER THAT I HAVE AT THIS TIME.
FIRST IS, WHAT IS THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN FOR A PUBLIC LIBRARY? IF THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD IS APPROVED, IS THERE ANY FINANCIAL PLAN AVAILABLE? UM, THE ANSWER IS THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD HAS NOT BEEN AUTHORIZED OR APPOINTED, SO A FINANCIAL PLAN HAS NOT BEEN CREATED.
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QUESTION, HOW WOULD THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD AND THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FIND THE PHONES TO PURCHASE ALL THE FURNITURE AND RESOURCES ESSENTIAL TO THE LIBRARY OPERATIONS? THIS ISSUE WILL BE ADDRESSED IF AND WHEN A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD IS APPOINTED.WHAT QUOTE? AND I, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT AGREE WITH WHAT I'M TELLING YOU, BUT TELLING PLEASE LISTEN INTENTLY AND I I APPRECIATE HOW QUIET YOU'RE BEING SO FAR AND RESPECTFUL AND LETS SEE IF WE CAN'T MAKE THIS A RECORD NIGHT OF THIS IN ROOM UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.
UM, WHAT QUOTE, UM, DID THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RECEIVE TO HIRE A LIBRARY MANAGEMENT FIRM TO RUN THE POTENTIAL COUNTY LIBRARY? WARREN COUNTY HAS NOT ADVERTISED FOR A LIBRARY MANAGEMENT FIRM AND DOES NOT HAVE A PROPOSAL FROM ONE.
HOW MUCH HAS THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SPENT OF TAXPAYER FUNDS IN TOTAL FOR HIRING LEGAL COUNSEL? FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVIEWING AND OR DISCUSSING SAMUEL'S LIBRARY? IN THE TWO PAST TWO FISCAL YEARS, WARREN COUNTY HAS SPENT APPROXIMATELY $16,000 FOR LEGAL FEES RELATED TO THE SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THE PAST TWO YEARS.
AND THOSE ARE ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE AT THIS TIME.
SO MR. HENDERSON, DO YOU WANNA CALL UP THE FIRST THREE SPEAKERS PLEASE? UH, YES.
THE FIRST THREE ARE PAM SCHWARTZ, JOHN LUNDBERG AND JOANNA ARTONE.
AND MA'AM, YOU CAN, YOU'RE FIRST SPEAKER.
SO WE START THE TIME WHEN YOU START, UH, YOU'RE SPEAKING.
I'M A 23 YEAR, THREE YEAR RESIDENT OF FRONT ROYAL FORK DISTRICT.
JOHN'S PARISHIONER AND A MEMBER OF FRIENDS OF SAMUEL'S.
WHEN OUR SONS WERE YOUNG, I WOULD WALK WITH THEM TO VILLA AVE AND A DOUBLE STROLLER FROM OUR HOUSE ON OAK STREET.
AS THEY GREW OLDER, WE CONTINUE TO VISIT THE LIBRARY OFTEN.
I REQUEST THAT YOU AS MEMBERS OF THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RECONSIDER YOUR PLAN TO INSTALL A NEW LIBRARY BOARD, WHICH WOULD CONTROL LIBRARY FUNDS.
SOME OF YOU WORKED LAST YEAR TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH SAMUELS AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THIS.
IN THE ABSTRACT, I'M AGNOSTIC ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT A DIRECTLY GOVERNMENT RUN PUBLIC LIBRARY IS BETTER THAN ONE LIKE OURS, WHICH IS RUN BY A NONPROFIT.
BUT IN THE CONCRETE REALITY OF FRONT, ROYAL AND SAMUELS LIBRARY BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD DO FAR MORE HARM THAN GOOD FOR A PROPOSED NEW LIBRARY BOARD TO TAKE CONTROL OF IT.
SAMUELS HAS A LONG HISTORY IN FRONT ROYAL ITS BOARD MEMBERS, AS I LISTEN TO THEM AT SAMUEL'S PUBLIC FORUM, IMPRESS ME, NONE OF THEM ARE PAID.
ALL OF THEM EXPRESSED AN ADMIRABLE WILLINGNESS TO SERVE GRATIS.
SAMUELS ALSO HAS A ROBUST SET OF VOLUNTEERS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE SERVED FOR YEARS.
THE FRIENDS OF SAMUEL'S IS ANOTHER SOLID BASE OF LIBRARY SUPPORT ALONG WITH THE MANY INDIVIDUAL DONORS TO SAMUEL'S.
MY CASE IS A CONSERVATIVE ONE.
IF A SEPARATE LIBRARY BOARD IS INSTALLED, THE POTENTIAL FOR OUR LIBRARY TO LOSE THE TRUST AND SUPPORT OF ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ALONG WITH MANY TOWNSPEOPLE IS GREAT.
INSTITUTIONS LIKE SAMUEL'S DO NOT SPRING UP OVERNIGHT.
THEY REQUIRE HARD WORK KNOWLEDGE AND DEDICATION OVER MANY YEARS.
YET THESE SAME INSTITUTIONS ARE EASILY DESTROYED.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE SAMUELS NONPROFIT ALSO OWNS THE CONTENTS OF THE BUILDING ON KREER.
IF THE SAMUELS NONPROFIT PULLS OUTERS OUSTED, THE ENTIRE LIBRARY MIGHT HAVE TO BE REBUILT FROM ITS STOCK OF BOOKS TO ITS VOLUNTEER BASE, TO ITS PROGRAMMING.
EVEN UNDER LESS DIRE SCENARIOS, THE LIBRARY WILL HAVE IRREVOCABLY CHANGED ITS CHARACTER, AND MUCH ILL WILL, WILL HAVE BEEN GENERATED AMONGST THE VERY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SERVED SAMUEL'S THE LONGEST AND WITH THE MOST DEDICATION.
FINALLY, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW AN UNELECTED LIBRARY BOARD APPOINTED BY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS ANY MORE DEMOCRATIC OR REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL OF THE TAXPAYERS OF FRONT ROYAL AND IS THE CURRENT PARTNERSHIP.
IT IS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SEE HOW THE CURRENT SAMUEL'S BOARD COULD BE MUCH IMPROVED NO MATTER WHO RUNS THE LIBRARY.
IT MUST ACCOMMODATE ALL OF FRONT ROYAL'S, VARIOUS CONT CONSTITUENCIES.
JOHN'S OR ONLY ONE OF THESE ST JOHN'S CANNOT EVEN BE CONSIDERED AS ONE UNIFIED CONSTITUENCY.
AS NOT ALL PARISHIONERS AGREE ON LIBRARY RELATED QUESTIONS.
LAST YEAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE LIBRARY AND ITS EMPLOYEES.
THE PROPOSED CREATION OF AN ENTIRELY NEW STRUCTURE FOR THE LIBRARY IS LIKELY TO CAUSE ADDITIONAL UNCERTAINTY AND CHAOS.
THIS CANNOT BE GOOD FOR THE LIBRARY OR FOR OUR TOWN.
IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEET WITH THANK YOU MA'AM, THE CURRENT BOARD OF SAMUELS LIBRARY AND COME TO AN AGREEMENT.
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NEXT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.I LIVE IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT OF FRONT ROYAL.
I RECOMMEND IN THE STRONGEST TERMS POSSIBLE THAT A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD BE CREATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE GOVERNANCE OF THE SAMUELS LIBRARY.
FOLLOWING IS WHY I MAKE THIS EXCEEDINGLY STRONG RECOMMENDATION QUOTE.
THERE IS CONSIDERABLE EVIDENCE THAT THE BUDGET AT SAMUELS IS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER PER CAPITA THAN THE BEST PERFORMING LIBRARIES IN THE REGION, THE ONES IN CULPEPPER COUNTY AND THE HANLEY REGIONAL LIBRARY IN WINCHESTER, WHICH POINTS TO CONSIDERABLE POTENTIAL SAVINGS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AT SAMUEL'S.
LET ME SAY THAT A SECOND TIME FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LIBRARY BEHIND ME AND ALSO MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA ASSUME LIBRARY REMARKS ARE NOT MISCONSTRUED.
QUOTE, THERE'S CONSIDERABLE EVIDENCE THAT THE BUDGET OF AT SAMUELS IS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER PER CAPITA THAN THE BEST PERFORMING LIBRARIES IN THE REGION, THE ONES IN CULPEPER COUNTY AND THE HANLEY REGIONAL LIBRARY IN WINCHESTER, WHICH POINTS TO POTENTIAL SAVINGS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AT SAMUELS.
THE REASON THAT THE LIBRARIES IN, IN CULPEPER AND HANLEY ARE BETTER MANAGED IS THAT THEIR GOVERNING BOARDS ARE APPOINTED BY ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE TO TAXPAYERS NOT LIKE THE, THE SAMUELS LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPOINTED BY PRIVATE 5 0 1 C3 ORGANIZATION ACCOUNTABLE ONLY TO ITSELF.
THE CURRENT GOVERNANCE OF THE SAMUELS LIBRARY IS A CLASSIC CASE OF TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION FOR WHICH AMERICA FOUGHT ITS WAR OF INDEPENDENCE MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.
I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR THE FIRST REPORT FROM THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD ON HOW TAXPAYERS IN WARREN COUNTY CAN SAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THROUGH BETTER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WITHOUT DEGRADING AT ALL, IN MY ESTIMATION THE QUALITY IT CURRENTLY PROVIDES.
NEXT THE, AND UM, THE NEXT TWO, OR THE NEXT THREE I SHOULD SAY ARE JEAN ARTONE, BILL GRU AND MATT MARRAZZO.
MY NAME IS JOANNA ARTONE AND I LIVE IN CHANTILLY, VIRGINIA.
I SPOKE HERE LAST YEAR BECAUSE THIS IS MY HOMETOWN AND WHERE MANY OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS STILL LIVE.
I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT LIBRARY SERVICES AND I WAS CONCERNED FOR THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY.
HERE I'M BACK AGAIN THIS TIME TO URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THE CREATION OF A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD.
YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL AWARD-WINNING LIBRARY IN THIS COUNTY.
ONE THAT IS EXPANDING ITS SERVICES AND RESOURCES, HAS DE DEDICATED STAFF, TRUSTEES AND VOLUNTEERS.
IF THERE IS ONE THING THAT IS RUN EFFICIENTLY IN WARREN COUNTY, IT IS SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP THAT SAMUEL'S LIBRARY INCORPORATED HAS WITH THE WARREN COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
THIS BOARD ALREADY HAS REPRESENTATION ON THE CURRENT LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
THE TRUSTEES THEMSELVES ARE TAX PAYING CITIZENS OF WARREN COUNTY AND SAMUEL'S ALREADY HAS TO GET ITS BUDGET APPROVED BY THIS BOARD EVERY YEAR.
THE MAJORITY OF THIS BOARD BELIEVES SAMUEL'S NEEDS MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY AND THAT MORE GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE CITIZENS OF WARREN COUNTY.
WHICH IS IRONIC BECAUSE MOST OF YOU ON THIS BOARD BELIEVE IN SMALL GOVERNMENT AND LESS GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT AND IN PERSONAL FREEDOM, SUCH AS THE FREEDOM TO READ.
WE KNOW FROM THE PAST THAT THIS BOARD DOES NOT WANT THE FUNDS ALLOCATED TO SAMUELS TO BE USED TO PURCHASE MATERIALS THAT SOME MAY NOT AGREE WITH.
EXAMPLE, ANY BOOKS WITH A GAY CHARACTER, EVEN TWO MALE PENGUINS HOLDING HANDS OR FLIPPERS.
WHEN I WALK INTO MY LIBRARY, WHICH IS QUITE OFTEN I SEE BOOKS THAT I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT WERE PURCHASED USING MY TAX DOLLARS, I LEAVE THEM ON THE SHELF, I WALK PAST THEM AND I FIND THE BOOKS THAT I WANT TO READ BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN THOUGH I DON'T LIKE OR AGREE WITH THEM, OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT, AND THEY HAVE JUST AS MUCH OF A RIGHT TO THEIR BOOKS AS I HAVE A RIGHT TO MINE.
SO WHICH CITIZENS WOULD THIS BOARD BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF? NOT THE NEW PARENT TAKING THEIR CHILD TO STORY TIME TO INSTILL GREAT EARLY LITERACY LITERACY SKILLS.
NOT THE PERSON USING THE LIBRARY INTERNET TO APPLY FOR JOBS, NOT THE PERSON USING THE LIBRARY AS A PLACE TO GET OUTTA THE ELEMENTS.
AND CERTAINLY NOT THE QUEER KID WHO IS BULLIED IN THE HALLS OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THE LIBRARY IS THE ONE PLACE IN THIS COUNTY THEY CAN SEE THEMSELVES REPRESENTED WHERE THEY CAN SEE THAT THIS WORLD CAN BE BETTER.
LEAVE THE LIBRARY AS IT IS, TAKE THIS ENERGY AND FOCUS IT INTO THE VARIOUS ISSUES THAT THIS COUNTY IS FACING.
HOMELESSNESS, ADDICTION, JOBS DEVELOPMENT, WATER SOURCING.
SHOW UP FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, EVERYONE IN YOUR COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF TRYING TO LEGISLATE AND BULLY YOUR WAY INTO CONTROLLING A LIBRARY THAT WON THREE AWARDS FROM THE VIRGINIA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION THIS YEAR.
SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY IS NOT BROKEN.
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NEED YOU TO FIX IT.HI, I AM JEAN ARTONE AND I LIVE IN THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING ERIN KENNEDY.
UH, SHE IS TONITE, SO SHE HAD SOMETHING TO SAY.
SHE'S IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ADDRESS THE PROPOSED CREATION OF A NEW LIBRARY BOARD.
AND I BELIEVE THE ARGUMENT FOR ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT IS UNNECESSARY.
THE CURRENT LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES ALREADY INCLUDES A REPRESENTATIVE FROM BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS WELL AS FROM THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.
ADDITIONALLY, THE BOARD IS MADE UP OF MEMBERS FROM EACH OF THE COUNTY'S MAGISTERIAL DISTRICTS WITH A BROAD RANGE OF BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERTISE.
THIS DIVERSE AND REPRESENTATIVE GROUP ALREADY ENSURES EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT.
FURTHERMORE, THE LIBRARY'S FINANCES ARE REGULARLY SCRUTINIZED.
THE SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY BUDGET IS AUDITED EVERY YEAR AND BIMONTHLY EXPENDITURE REPORTS ARE PROVIDED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THROUGH THE SITTING SUPERVISOR ON THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
THIS TO ME IS THE DEFINITION OF OVERSIGHT.
IN FACT, JUST OVER A YEAR AGO IN OCTOBER OF 2023, SUPERVISOR COOK PRAISED THE LIBRARY BOARD FOR ITS WORK STATING THAT THEY HAD DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND THAT SHE RESPECTED THE LEGACY OF THE LIBRARY AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY.
SHE ALSO EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT THE EXISTING MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT ADDRESSED THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS EXPECTATIONS AND INSURED ACCOUNTABILITY FOR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
SO I ASK WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN? WHAT HAS THE LIBRARY DONE OR FAILED TO DO TO LOSE THE TRUST OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS? IF THE GOAL OF THIS PROPOSED NEW LIBRARY BOARD IS TO ENSURE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, I URGE YOU TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF FRAUD OR WASTE IN LIBRARY AUDITS.
AS OF NOW, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY SUCH EVIDENCE.
WHAT IS MORE CONCERNING IS THAT THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT THIS NEW BOARD WILL IMPROVE UPON THE EXISTING FINANCIAL STRUCTURES.
IN FACT, THE PROPOSED CHANGES MAY LEAD TO CUTS IN STAFF AND SERVICES AND COULD DRIVE AWAY VOLUNTEERS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS WHO HAVE BEEN SO ESSENTIAL TO THE LIBRARY'S SUCCESS.
DURING A RECENT WORK SESSION, SUPERVISOR COOK REM REMARKED THAT THE NEW LIBRARY BOARD WOULD SET QUOTE, SET POLICIES, QUOTE, WITH THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE TAXPAYERS AND PROVIDES OVERSIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY WE ARE APPROPRIATING IS GOING TO THE RIGHT.
IT IS HERE THAT YOU SEEM TO CORRECT A SLIP UP IN YOUR STATEMENT GOING ON TO SAY THAT IT'S ABOUT KNOWING WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING.
HOWEVER, I QUESTIONED EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN BY THE RIGHT.
DID YOU REALLY MEAN THAT THE NEW BOARD WOULD ENSURE MONEY IS DIRECTED TO THE RIGHT PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND BOOKS, ESSENTIALLY THOSE THAT ALIGN WITH YOUR VIEWS AND PRIORITIES.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONTINUE TO STATE THAT THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE BOOKS AND I AGREE THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE.
OUR LIBRARY IS A VITAL COMMUNITY RESOURCE AND WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW POLITICAL OR IDEOLOGICAL LEANINGS TO INFLUENCE WHAT SERVICES AND MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
THE CURRENT LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS ALREADY FULFILLING ITS ROLE EFFECTIVELY WITH TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
MY NAME IS BILL GRU AND I LIVE IN THE FORK DISTRICT.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
SAMUEL'S LIBRARY IS A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, WHICH HAS BEEN A MODEL OF EXCELLENCE SINCE 1978.
THE PUBLIC PARTNER IS YOU, THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
THE PRIVATE PARTNER IS THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MADE UP OF 15 HIGHLY QUALIFIED TAX PAYING CITIZENS.
REPRESENTING EACH OF THE FIVE DISTRICTS IN WARREN COUNTY.
ONE MEMBER FROM YOUR WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPRESENTING THE COUNTY'S INTEREST AS A VOTING MEMBER.
THIS PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL WHEN BOTH PARTNERS ARE COMMUNICATING, COORDINATING, AND COOPERATING IN GOOD FAITH.
RECENTLY, THIS HAS NOT BEEN HAPPENING.
A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE LIBRARY PUT IN A BUILDING MAINTENANCE REQUEST TO REPLACE SOME BURNED OUT LIGHT BULBS IN THE PARKING LOT.
AND THEY WERE TOLD THAT AFTER 10 YEARS OF THE COUNTY DOING THE MAINTENANCE, WARREN COUNTY WAS NO LONGER GONNA DO MAINTENANCE ON THE BUILDING THEY OWNED.
NO NOTICE WAS GIVEN TO THE LIBRARY ON THIS CHANGE CAUSING THEM TO SCRAMBLE TO GET THE BULBS REPLACED FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR PATRONS AND EMPLOYEES.
ON 19 NOVEMBER, YOU HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON YOUR LIBRARY RESEARCH REPORT WITHOUT COORDINATING WITH YOUR LIBRARY PARTNER.
THEN WHEN 20 SPEAKERS TOLD YOU THE REPORT WAS NO GOOD, YOU CHASTISED THEM FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO DO A BE BETTER ANALYSIS IN THREE MINUTES.
IF YOU WERE ACTUALLY INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT ALL THE MISTAKES IN YOUR REPORT, YOU WOULD'VE COORDINATED WITH YOUR LIBRARY PARTNER BEFORE GOING PUBLIC.
NOW WE ARE HERE TODAY AND YOU ARE STILL AVOIDING A DIRECT DIALOGUE WITH YOUR LIBRARY PARTNER.
THAT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE PARTNERSHIP, THAT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE OVERSIGHT.
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YOU CERTAINLY HAVE THE POWER TO CONTINUE TO MAKE LIFE DIFFICULT FOR YOUR LIBRARY PARTNER.YOU CAN FORCE THE LIBRARY TO SPEND MORE TIME AND MORE MONEY DEFENDING THEIR ROLE IN THE PARTNERSHIP.
YOU CAN REFUSE TO PAY FOR MAINTENANCE ON A BUILDING YOU OWN.
YOU CAN ARBITRARILY CUT THE LIBRARY BUDGET AND FORCE THE LIBRARY TO REDUCE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
YOU CAN TAKE THE FINEST THING THAT WE HAVE IN WARREN COUNTY AND YOU CAN BREAK IT.
INSTEAD, I ASK YOU TO RETURN TO BEING A TRUSTED AND RESPONSIBLE PARTNER IN A PARTNERSHIP THAT HAS SERVED WARREN COUNTY EXTREMELY WELL FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS.
I ASK YOU TO RETURN TO COMMUNICATING, COORDINATING, AND COOPERATING IN GOOD FAITH WITH YOUR LIBRARY PARTNER.
MR. HENDERSON, DO YOU NEED TO CALL? UM, NE NEXT UP IS TONY CARTER, JACKIE MARCELLA, AND CATHERINE COMPTON NEXT UP ON DECK.
UH, I'M MATT RAZZO FROM THE NORTH FOURTH DISTRICT.
UM, NOT A NUMBERS GUY, SO I CAN'T ADDRESS THE SAVINGS OR COSTS THAT THAT ARE GONNA BE INVOLVED.
BUT, UH, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS WITH THE BOARD, THE PREVIOUS BOARD, UH, IN RESPECT TO THE CULTURAL ISSUES THAT, UH, HAVE, UH, UH, MANIFESTED AT AT AT THE LIBRARY.
AND I GUESS FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, IT MAKES MORE SENSE.
IT IS A PUBLIC LIBRARY, HUGE AMOUNTS OF TAXPAYER FUNDS GO TO FUND IT.
IT MAKES SENSE THAT THE LIBRARY IS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE WHO WERE REPRESENTED THAT THAT, THAT WE'VE VOTED FOR TO, TO, TO REPRESENT US.
SO, UM, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THIS, THIS, THIS PROPOSAL HAS COME FORWARD AND I HOPE YOU ALL WILL SUPPORT IT BECAUSE IT JUST MAKES COMMON SENSE THAT A PUBLIC LIBRARY IS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES.
MY NAME IS TONY CARTER AND I'M FROM THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.
I COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU TABLE TONIGHT'S ORDINANCE ON APPOINTING LIBRARY BOARD.
MY REASONS FOR THIS REQUEST ARE AS FOLLOWS, THE LEASE BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND SAMUELS RUNS TO 2038.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS AS LONG AS SAMUELS COMPLIES WITH THE LEASE, THEY CAN OCCUPY THAT BUILDING UNTIL 2038.
AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOU ALL HAVE LOOKED AT THAT.
I'M SURE YOU HAVE MR. HAM AND, AND THOSE THINGS.
UM, UH, THE SECOND REASON IS EVERYTHING IS NOT ATTACHED.
AND THIS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT BEFORE, THAT IT'S NOT ATTACHED TO THE BUILDING IS OWNED BY SAMUELS BOOKS, DESKS, CHAIRS, COMPUTERS, ET CETERA, WITH A VALUE OF AT LEAST OVER $2 MILLION.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT? ALSO, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY HAVE RECEIVED A GRANT OF $500,000 OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT? WE DID HAVE TO BE TURNED BACK OVER AND WOULD WE LOSE THAT FUNDING? THE FOURTH THING IS, WOULD THE APPOINTED BOARD AFFECT SAMUEL'S CURRENT 5 0 1 C3 STATUS AND WHAT IMPACT WOULD THAT HAVE? I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHER QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY VETTED BEFORE MOVING FORWARD.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME MISINFORMATION AND LACK OF COMMUNICATION IN THIS PROCESS.
MY SUGGESTION FOR MOVING FORWARD WOULD BE TO FORM A MEDIATION PROCESS.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CHOOSE ONE REPRESENTATIVE.
THE LIBRARY CHOOSES ONE AND THOSE TWO CHOOSE THE THIRD MEMBER.
THEY COULD INVITE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SAMUELS AND ANYONE ELSE THAT COULD ANSWER QUESTIONS REGARDING THE BENEFITS AND CONCERNS OF MOVING FORWARD.
THEY WOULD GIVE THEIR WRITTEN REPORT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND SAMUELS AND GIVE A PUBLIC PRESENTATION AT ONE OF YOUR MEETINGS.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE DEADLINE BE ON MARCH 17TH OR SO, OR A DATE OF YOUR CHOOSING.
THIS WOULD STILL GIVE AMPLE TIME TO INSTITUTE ANY CHANGES PRIOR TO THE 25, 20 25, 26 FISCAL YEAR.
THE REPORT MAY SUGGEST THAT AN OVERSIGHT BOARD MAY BE THE BEST AND APPROPRIATE PATH FORWARD, OR IT MAY COME BACK WITH KEEPING THE STATUS QUO OR IT MAY COME BACK WITH ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION THAT HAS NOT BEEN CONSIDERED THAT WOULD SATISFY BOTH SIDES AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY.
ONCE THE REPORT COMES BACK, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STILL HAS THE FINAL SAY ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO RUSH THIS.
IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT DECISION AND COULD HAVE LONG-TERM IMPACTS ON OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY.
YOU SHOULD AND IT IS EXPECTED.
HOWEVER, THERE SHOULD BE A WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WITHOUT THE ACRIMONY AND
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DIVISIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER MY SUGGESTION.
IF YOU'RE NEXT, YOU CAN COME ON UP.
UM, SO THE THING ABOUT ICEBERGS IS THAT MOST OF WHAT MATTERS LIES BENEATH THE SURFACE.
I GAVE A SHEET OUT, I THINK I GAVE IT TO ZACH AT THE BEGINNING SO YOU DON'T HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.
HOWEVER, THERE'S A PHOTO OF AN ICEBERG.
SO LET'S PRETEND THE ICEBERG IS SAMUEL'S.
UM, THE TOP 10% THAT EVERYBODY SEES IS THE BOOKS, BUT IT'S THE STUFF UNDERNEATH THAT MATTERS THE MOST.
THE STUFF THAT LIES BENEATH THE SURFACE.
THAT IS EVERYTHING THAT MAKES SAMUEL'S MAGICAL AND GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO LET'S COUNT SOME OF THE WAYS.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MOMMY AND ME CLASSES COST AT THE LITTLE GYM? $99 A MONTH.
AND THAT'S JUST A SMALL PLAN, NOT TO MENTION YOU HAVE TO DRIVE TO WINCHESTER OR HOW ABOUT LAPTOP RENTALS? GUESS HOW MUCH THAT CAN COST AT PLACES LIKE ERRANDS, RENT CENTER.
ANYWHERE FROM 60 TO 200 A MONTH.
HOW ABOUT FREE MEETING SPACES? I MEAN, OUR OWN COMMUNITY CENTER DOES RENT ROOMS AND THEY CERTAINLY AREN'T FREE THOUGH.
GOTTA PLAN FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT FOR SCHOOL OR WORK BUT CAN'T AFFORD IT.
OR ARE YOU PLANNING TO ROB THEM OF THAT TOO? MAYBE THAT'S YOUR GOAL, TO KEEP PEOPLE POOR AND UNEDUCATED.
SO TELL ME, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO CONTINUE THESE SERVICES FREE OF COST? IS THERE A PLAN OR DO YOU NOT CARE IF THERE EVEN IS A LIBRARY? I'M JUST GONNA LIST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AT ST.
COMFY SEATING FREE WIFI, NOTARIES, FAMILY EVENTS, GED CLASSES, GENEALOGY CLUB, HOMESCHOOL HUB, COMMUNITY EVENTS, COMPUTER ACCESS MEETING ROOMS, KIDS GARDEN TEST PROCTORING, MOMMY AND ME CLASSES, BOOK CLUBS, AC AND HEAT, TODDLER, THEIR STORY TIME AND LAPTOP RENTALS, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
THIS BOARD'S ASTOUNDING UNDERSTANDING OF LIBRARY SERVICES OR SHOULD I SAY LACK OF UNDERSTANDING IS PATHETIC.
LIBRARIES AREN'T JUST DUSTY BOOK WAREHOUSES, THEY'RE COMMUNITY LIFELINES.
BUT APPARENTLY THAT MEMO GOT LOST IN TRANSLATION.
IGNORING WHAT LIBRARIES DO, LIKE I PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, SHOWS AN IMPRESSIVE LEVEL OF IGNORANCE.
IT'S AS IF YOU THINK THE INTERNET MAGICALLY SOLVES EVERYTHING WHILE ALSO FORGETTING THAT NOT EVERYONE HAS IT AT HOME.
MAYBE YOU'D KNOW THIS IF YOU ACTUALLY VISITED THE LIBRARY INSTEAD OF RUBBER STAMPING YOUR WAY THROUGH DECISIONS.
STOP PRETENDING TO KNOW BETTER START LISTENING TO WHAT THE, THE PEOPLE THAT DO, THE LIBRARIANS AND THE PEOPLE THAT SERVE BECAUSE YOUR BLIND SPOT IS HURTING EVERYBODY.
AND THE NEXT THREE AFTER THAT ARE GONNA BE JOAN RICHARDSON, CHERYL MARCELA, AND JIM BUNS.
I I'M CURRENTLY, UH, FREDERICK COUNTY.
I WAS BORN IN WARREN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN FRONT ROYAL IN 1947, AND I WAS RAISED IN WARREN COUNTY.
I FIRST STARTED USING THE SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THE SUMMER OF 1955 WHEN IT WAS LOCATED IN THE IVY BUILDING ON CHESTER STREET.
I FOUND A WARM WELCOME THERE FROM THE LIBRARIAN, MS. ELEANOR NORTON.
THE FRONT ROYAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LIBRARIAN HAD LIMITED ME TO ONLY READING THE BOOKS THAT SHE APPROVED FOR ME.
MS. NORTON LET ME READ ANYTHING I DESIRED.
AS A CONSEQUENCE OF MS. NORTON'S POLICY, I WAS JUMPED OVER TWO READING GROUPS INTO THE HIGHEST READING GROUP BEGINNING IN THE FOURTH GRADE.
THIS IS TESTIMONY TO THE DESIRABILITY OF LETTING CHILDREN CHOOSE WHAT THEY WANT TO READ IF THE GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS.
OVER MANY DECADES AS AN ADULT, IN CONVERSATIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS FROM WINCHESTER TO WOODSTOCK, I HAVE LEARNED THAT PEOPLE IN WARREN COUNTY ARE NOT ONLY LOOKED DOWN UPON AS BACKWARD AND IGNORANT, BUT THEY ARE ALSO SUSPECTED OF BEING LIARS, CHEATS, AND THIEVES.
MORE RECENTLY, THAT VERY BAD REPUTATION WAS ENHANCED WHEN JENNIFER MCDONALD EMBEZZLED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTAL AUTHORITY OF FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY BETWEEN 2014 AND 2018.
WHILE MCDONALD APPARENTLY EVENTUALLY CONFESSED TO STEALING AROUND 9 MILLION.
THE TOTAL LOSS IS MORE LIKE 30 MILLION IF THAT IS WITH WHAT HER CONFEDERATES GOT AND THE COST TO CLEAN UP THE MESS ARE ADDED IN.
AT ONE POINT IN THE FALLOUT FROM THIS SCANDAL, THERE WERE 14 PEOPLE INDICTED FOR MISDEMEANOR VERSIONS OF MALFEASANCE WHO HAD RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OVERSIGHT OF THE EDA WHEN THE STUPEFY THEFT CAME TO LIGHT.
THESE PEOPLE WERE NOT ONLY FRONT ROYAL AND EDA OFFICIALS, BUT WARREN COUNTY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS INCLUDING THE MEMBERS OF THE THEN WARREN COUNTY BOARD SUPERVISORS.
THEIR LACK OF OVERSIGHT WAS STUNNING AND THE RESULT WAS A
[01:00:01]
BIG TAX INCREASE FOR THE PEOPLE OF WARREN COUNTY.NOW THE MAJORITY OF WARREN COUNTY'S CURRENT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS FURTHERING WARREN COUNTY'S REPUTATION FOR BACKWARDNESS AND IGNORANCE BY PROPOSING A HOSTILE TAKEOVER OF THE LIBRARY BECAUSE THE MAJORITY DOES NOT APPROVE THE LIBRARY'S POLICY OF LETTING CHILDREN CHOOSE WHAT THEY READ.
PARTICULARLY IF THOSE CHOICES INCLUDE BOOKS THAT EXPLORE SEXUALITY INCLUDING SAME SEX, SEXUALITY, AND TRANSSEXUALITY.
THEY ARE CLOAKING THEIR PROPOSED ACTION BY CASTING SUSPICION ON THE PHYSICAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LIBRARY'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY REFUSING TO CONSIDER OR ACCEPT THE NUMEROUS EXPLANATIONS THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN GIVEN OR OFFERED THAT REFUTE THEIR ASSERTIONS, THIS PROPOSED LIBRARY TAKEOVER IS LIKELY ILLEGAL.
I ALSO HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING ON SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
I'M GOING TO PRESENT INFORMATION TAKEN FROM A RECENT SURVEY SENT TO 60 LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS.
VOLUNTEERS HAVE VOLUNTEERED FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS.
LONGEVITY FOR THE REST RANGES FROM NINE YEARS TO A MATTER OF MONTHS.
THE RANGE OF HOURS GIVEN EACH WEEK IS FROM 15 TO THREE.
VOLUNTEERS ARE INVALUABLE FOR KEEPING THE LIBRARY MATERIALS ORGANIZED AND AVAILABLE TO PATRONS, VOLUNTEERS, SHELF BOOKS, PULL HOLDS, COVER BOOKS, REPAIR BOOKS, DO INVENTORY OF ALL COLLECTIONS FOR ACCURACY, VOLUNTEERS, DUST SHELVES AND CLEAN UP AFTER LIBRARY PROGRAMS, THUS MAINTAINING A COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR PATRONS.
AT LEAST 10 VOLUNTEERS WORK IN EPILOGUE BOOKSTORE AND THEREFORE ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF LIBRARY FUNDRAISING.
VOLUNTEERS LIKE THEIR WORK AT SAM SAMUELS STATING, I AM GRAD GRATIFIED BY THE NUMBER OF TIMES I HAVE HEARD PATRONS SAY THAT SAMUEL'S LIBRARY IS FRONT ROYAL'S BEST FEATURE.
I LOVE THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND THE OVERALL CARING ENVIRONMENT.
AND FINALLY, I LOVE THE SENSE OF PRIDE I FEEL WHEN SUPPORTING SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.
A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE VOLUNTEERS STATED THEY FELT APPRECIATED.
TO QUOTE A VOLUNTEER GRATITUDE IS IN THE AIR YOU BREATHE AT SAMUEL'S.
87% OF VOLUNTEERS REPORTED THEY MADE CASH DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY.
IN A FOLLOW UP QUESTION, 78% OF THE VOLUNTEERS REPORTED THEY WOULD NOT CONTRIBUTE TO LIBRARY OPERATIONS.
IF THE COUNTY TOOK OVER MANAGEMENT.
ONE PERSON STATED HE WOULD, 19% WERE UNDECIDED.
87% OF VOLUNTEERS INDICATED THEY WOULD NOT VOLUNTEER IN THE LIBRARY.
IF WARREN COUNTY TOOK OVER OPERATIONS, THE REST OF THE VOLUNTEERS WERE UNDECIDED.
THE TASKS MANAGED BY VOLUNTEERS WOULD STILL NEED TO BE DONE.
MEANING HI, YOU'D HAVE TO HIRE STA MORE STAFF.
LAST FISCAL YEAR VOLUNTEERS DONATED 8,860 HOURS OF THEIR TIME TO THE LIBRARY, THE EQUIVALENT OF 4.25 ETFS, FTES, SAVING THE LIBRARY, $295,746 IN EMPLOYEE COSTS.
VOLUNTEERS ADDED THE LI THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS, THE LIBRARY IS CURRENTLY THE MOST VIBRANT AND ACTIVE COMMUNITY HUB ONLY BECAUSE OF ITS INCLUSIVITY TOWARDS ALL MEMBERS.
JUST RAISE YOUR HAND AND SHAKE IT AT ME.
UM, MY NAME IS CHERYL ELA, CPA.
UM, I WISH I COULD STAND HERE AND COMMEND YOU FOR THE STELLAR UNDERSTANDING OF LIBRARY SERVICES, BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
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AREN'T JUST ABOUT BOOKS.UH, THEY'RE ABOUT EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND PROVIDING SAFE, INCLUSIVE SPACES FOR EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UNLIKE THE GENTLEMAN THAT SPOKE EARLIER, THE DOLLAR INVESTMENT, UH, IS ACTUALLY LOWER.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PER CAPITA, UM, NUMBERS, HANLEY IS REGIONAL LIBRARY.
SO IT SERVES A MUCH LARGER CONSTITUENCY.
YOU'RE NOT COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES.
YOU NEED TO LOOK AT SMALLER LIBRARIES OF THE SAME SIZE, UM, AND SAME CONSTITUENCY TO MAKE THAT KIND OF COMPARISON, I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE ALL OF THIS IS DONE VERY HASTILY WITH NO REAL PLAN.
I, I SAW WHERE SOMEBODY ASKED EARLIER, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO HAVE SOMEONE RUN THE LIBRARY? WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS TO BUY ALL THE SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR THE LIBRARY? AND THERE'S NO ANSWERS BECAUSE THERE HASN'T BEEN A VOTE.
BUT HOW CAN YOU VOTE UNTIL YOU KNOW THAT INFORMATION? SO THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT THE OTHER GENTLEMAN WAS TALKING ABOUT ARE GONNA TURN INTO MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
UM, THEN THE WHOLE THING ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, UM, IT'S AN INSULT.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, 5 0 1 C3 ORGANIZATIONS TO CLEAR THE RECORD, SIR, ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.
THEY'RE REQUIRED TO FILE AN ANNUAL RETURN CALLED FORM NINE 90, IN ADDITION TO HAVING THEIR ANNUAL AUDIT.
SO THEY ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO SOMEONE.
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY JUST DO WHATEVER THEY WANT.
SO LET'S TALK, YOU KNOW, THE TRUTH, IF WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT HOW THINGS WORK, UM, THE BIG, THE BIGGEST THING THAT I WANNA POINT OUT IS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT SAMUEL'S, LACK OF TRANSPARENCY.
THEY HAVE A PLATINUM SCORE ON GUIDESTAR'S RATING.
GUIDESTAR IS AN INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION THAT RATES ALL NONPROFITS ABOUT THEIR TRANSPARENCY AND THEIR FINANCES.
PLATINUM IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL YOU CAN GET.
UM, I HAVE A SUBSCRIPTION TO GUIDESTAR 'CAUSE MY WORK ALSO IS A NONPROFIT AND I KNOW NONPROFIT ACCOUNTING HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
UM, AS FAR AS THE SALARIES GO, THE AVERAGE LIBRARY DIRECTOR MIXED BETWEEN 70,000 AND 116,000.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEW DIRECTOR IS.
THE ONE THAT WAS THERE IS WELL WITHIN THAT RANGE.
SO THERE'S NO FISCAL I RESPONSIBILITY ANYWHERE.
AND ON DECK WILL BE MARK NELSON, BOB HILL, AND SHELBY WETZEL, IF I'M SAYING THAT RIGHT, I'M SORRY.
I'M JIM BUNS, UH, SHENANDOAH DISTRICT.
LIKE EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, I AM A PERSON WITH DEEP CONVICTIONS.
I WOULD NEVER ASK ANYONE TO COMPROMISE THEIR PERSONAL CONVICTIONS.
IN MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE AND IN MY VOLUNTEER LIFE, I'VE LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPECTING OTHER PEOPLE'S CONVICTIONS WHEN THEY ARE AT ODDS WITH MY OWN.
THAT PRINCIPLE HAS NEVER CAUSED ME TO COMPROMISE MY DEEPLY HELD BELIEFS OR RUN ROUGHSHOD OVER SOMEONE ELSE'S BELIEFS.
RATHER THAN USING FACTS AND FIGURES OR EMOTIONAL APPEALS, WHICH YOU WILL PROBABLY HEAR PLENTY OF INTO THE WE HOURS OF THE MORNING, I AM GOING TO OFFER AN IDEA FOR REACHING A CONSENSUS IN THIS DEBACLE.
I RECOMMEND AN INFORMAL COMMUNITY REFERENDUM THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE AT FIVE WELL-ADVERTISED TIME SLOTS, IDEALLY AT THE LIBRARY.
THE FIVE TIMES SLOTS ARE SO THAT EACH SUPERVISOR CAN BE PRESENT FOR AT LEAST ONE, TWO TO FOUR HOUR PERIOD ALONGSIDE A LIBRARY STAFF MEMBER AND OR VOLUNTEER AND OR LIBRARY BOARD MEMBER WARREN COUNTY RESIDENTS CAN COME IN AND AFTER SHOWING A CURRENT WARREN COUNTY VOTER REGISTRATION CARD AND A CURRENT SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY CARD CAN WRITE DOWN THEIR NAME AND CHECK A BOX INDICATING WHETHER THEY ARE FOR OR AGAINST THE PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD.
THE PURPOSE OF SHOWING VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS AND LIBRARY CARDS IS TO ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE ARE RESIDENTS WHO ACTUALLY USE THE LIBRARY, THOSE WHO HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME.
AND IT ALSO IS TO ELIMINATE ANY ACCUSATIONS THAT ONE GROUP OR ANOTHER ENLISTED PEOPLE TO COME IN AND VOTE A CERTAIN WAY.
THAT RATIONALE ALSO HOLDS TRUE FOR HAVING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND FROM THE LIBRARY PRESENT TOGETHER FIVE DIFFERENT TIME SLOTS, ENSURES THAT ALL WHO WANT TO VOTE CAN FIND A TIME TO COME.
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OF YOU SUPERVISORS A CHANCE TO TALK WITH CONSTITUENTS YOU MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE GET TO MEET NAMES CAN BE CHECKED TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE NOT DOUBLE DIPPING BY VOTING MORE THAN ONCE.THIS APPROACH ALLOWS COMMUNITY INPUT, A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE LIBRARY AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND AN HONEST, FACTUAL, TRANSPARENT ASSESSMENT ABOUT WHERE THE CITIZENS OF WARREN COUNTY STAND ON THIS ISSUE.
THEN AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION THAT IS NOT MADE HASTILY.
I WOULDN'T WANT YOUR JOB, BUT APPARENTLY YOU DO.
AND AS A RESULT OF YOUR POSITION, ONE OF YOUR CONVICTIONS IS OR AT LEAST OUGHT TO BE REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
I TRULY HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE THIS PROPOSAL INTO CONSIDERATION.
UH, I'LL GO AHEAD AND SAY IT AGAIN.
UH, WAS MS. WETZEL OR MR. HILL NEXT? THEY'RE BOTH ON DA.
MARK NELSON, BLUE MOUNTAIN ROAD, SHENANDOAH DISTRICT, IF YOU WOULD SAY IT IN THERE, THEY MARK NELSON, BLUE MOUNTAIN ROAD, SHENANDOAH DISTRICT.
IT'S A VIRGINIA LIBRARY OF THE YEAR.
YOU GUYS ARE, SOME OF YOU DECIDED TO TRY TO BAN SOME GAY BOOKS.
NOW THIS EVERYBODY KNOWS THE TRUTH.
LET IT BE GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT'S NOT GONNA MAKE IT BETTER AND IT'S FINANCIALLY FINE.
SO MY 40 BUCKS OF THE 3000 THAT I PAY A YEAR, YOU CAN HAVE MY ONE AND A HALF PERCENT, NO PROBLEM.
I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE BEHIND ME TO FEEL THE SAME WAY.
I AM A CURRENT SOUTH DISTRICT RESIDENT AS OF NINE YEARS AND I HAVE LIVED IN FRONT ROYAL FOR 32 YEARS.
I'M A PRESCHOOL TEACHER WHO STRIVES TO FOSTER A LOVE OF READING IN ALL OF THE STUDENTS THAT I TEACH.
AN AVID READER MYSELF AND A FORMER SAMUELS TEEN VOLUNTEER.
I WON'T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME STATING, UH, WHAT AN AMAZING RESOURCE OUR LIBRARY IS.
I BELIEVE ANYONE WHO HAS STEPPED FOOT INTO OUR LIBRARY OR SPOKEN TO ANY OF THE WONDERFUL STAFF, UM, WHO WORK THERE SHOULD ALREADY KNOW THIS.
AND I FEEL THAT THE VIRGINIA LIBRARY OF THEIR YEAR AWARD, ALONG WITH NUMEROUS OTHER ATIONS, SHOULD SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
WHAT I WILL FOCUS ON IS THAT I AND MANY OTHERS HERE BELIEVE CREATING A LIBRARY BOARD IS NOT THE RIGHT CHOICE.
AND I IMPLORE YOU THE BOARD TO RETHINK YOUR CHOICES ON THIS.
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT TRYING TO FIX SOMETHING THAT IS NOT BROKEN IS, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, APPALLING.
THE EARLIER QQ AND A GIVEN BEFORE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WAS OPEN SHOWS THAT THERE IS NO REAL SOLID PLAN IN PLACE FOR THIS NEW BOARD.
THERE IS NO ANSWERS ON COSTS NOR FUTURE RESOURCES FOR THE LIBRARY.
THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED SHOULD HAVE BEEN EASILY ANSWERED IF THERE WAS A TRUE THOUGHT OUT PLAN IN PLACE.
IF THIS WAS ONLY ABOUT THE MONEY, A SOLID PLAN WOULD BE IN PLACE.
THE RUSH FOR THIS VOTE, DESPITE THE LACK OF SOLID PLAN AND PROOF OF OUR LIBRARY'S SUCCESS THROUGH THE SUPPORT FROM NUMEROUS CITIZENS OF FRONT ROYAL AND THE MANY AWARDS NOT, AND RECOGNITIONS GIVEN TO OUR LIBRARY, SHOWS THAT SOME MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SEEM TO HAVE A MUCH MORE PERSONAL MOTIVE FOR THE PUSH FOR THIS NEW BOARD.
THIS RUSH FOR A LIBRARY BOARD FEELS, IN MY OPINION, LIKE A TANTRUM I WOULD SEE FROM ONE OF MY FOUR YEAR OLDS.
I SEE PEOPLE USING EMOTION RATHER THAN LOGIC WHEN MAKING DECISIONS, AND THAT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED YOU TO YOUR POSITIONS.
THEREFORE, I REQUEST THAT YOU RECONSIDER AND POSTPONE THIS NEW LIBRARY BOARD VOTE UNTIL A BETTER PLAN CAN EITHER BE PUT INTO AND PRESENTED TO THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, OR AGAIN, THAT WE SIMPLY LEAVE WHAT IS NOT BROKEN TO ALONE.
ON DECK IS CHRISTINA CHAPMAN, KATE GERMAN, AND JOE CLEANSER.
AM I'M SAYING THAT RIGHT? I RIGHT.
YEAH, YOU'RE YOU'RE UP FOR SPEAKING MR. HILL.
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DISTRICT THOUGH I THINK I PUT DOWN OTTERBURNE 'CAUSE I WAS ELECTION BOARD.YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS I'VE UH, BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND SOME SPECIAL MEETINGS AND HAD COMMENTS TO SOME OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO RELATE SOMETHING THAT CAME UP MANY YEARS AGO.
I BOUGHT A HOUSE HERE TO DISCOVER THAT, UH, IT WAS LISTED INCORRECTLY BECAUSE NO ONE HAD RECENTLY ASSESSED IT OR EVEN PULLED PERMITS.
AND I MENTIONED AT A MEETING THAT THAT WAS MONEY LOST.
YOUR GUYS ARE ELECTED OFFICERS.
YOU'RE TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY IF YOU DON'T COLLECT THE MONEY THAT'S AVAILABLE TO YOU FROM US, THE TAXPAYERS.
UM, SHAME ON YOU, BUT DOING THIS WELL, YOU'VE SHOWN THAT YOU REALLY AREN'T INTERESTED.
I MEAN, AFTER ALL, CORRECTIONS WERE MADE ON THE STATUS OF WHO'S GOING TO BE ON THE BOARD FOR WHAT PERIOD.
UH, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT SOME DUE DILIGENCE.
I SUGGEST THAT YOU TAKE THE TIME, STUDY THE ISSUES, AND MAKE A DECISION AND LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY.
MY NAME IS CHRISTINA CHAPMAN AND I RESIDE IN THE FORK DISTRICT.
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR DETAILED, INFORMATIVE REPORT EXPLAINING THE HISTORY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SAMUEL'S LIBRARY AND THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
SEEMS THAT THAT RELATIONSHIP IS IRRETRIEVABLY, BROKEN AND UNWORKABLE.
I ASK YOU TO PLEASE FOLLOW VIRGINIA STATUTE 41.2 AND THE STANDARD PRACTICES FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THE STATE AND VOTE TO ESTABLISH A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD THIS EVENING.
MY NAME IS KATE GERMANO AND I LIVE IN THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
I'M A 20 YEAR MARINE CORPS VETERAN AND A PROUD NEW RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY.
BECAUSE OF OUR MILITARY CAREERS, MY HUSBAND AND I NEVER HAD THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE WHERE WE WOULD LIVE UNTIL RECENTLY, THE NEEDS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE DICTATED THAT.
BUT AFTER WE RETIRED, WE HIKED OVER 750 MILES OF THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL AND EVERY TIME WE GOT TO THE OVERLOOKS IN THIS AREA, WE WOULD PAUSE GAZE DOWN TO THE FARMS AND HOMES IN THE GREEN VALLEY AND WONDER HOW DID THESE PEOPLE GET SO LUCKY? WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED ITSELF, WE BOUGHT A HOME IN WARREN COUNTY AND WE CHOSE THIS TO BE OUR FOREVER PLACE.
THE FIRST THING WE DID WITH PRIDE WHEN WE MOVED HERE IN JUNE OF 2023 WAS GET OUR NEW DRIVER'S LICENSES.
THE SECOND THING WE DID WAS JOIN SAMUEL'S LIBRARY, AND THE THIRD THING WE DID WAS TAKE THE OATH TO SUPPORT FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS HERE AS POLL WORKERS, I VIEW ALL THREE OF THESE TASKS AS THE MORAL OBLIGATIONS OF GOOD CITIZENS AND NO MATTER WHO WINS AN ELECTION, REGARDLESS OF THEIR POLITICAL AFFILIATION OR PERSONAL BELIEFS, THE MORAL OBLIGATION OF OUR POLITICIANS IS TO BE FAIR, TRANSPARENT, AND ENACT ONLY THOSE POLICIES THAT IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE CITIZENS THEY GOVERN.
IN FACT, YOU TAKE AN OATH OF OFFICE THAT STATES I WILL WELL AND IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE ALL OF THE DUTIES INCUMBENT UPON ME.
AND YOU TAKE THAT SAME OATH WHETHER YOU RUN UNCONTESTED FOR A BOARD OF SUPERVISOR SEAT THE WAY DR.
JAMESON, THE CO-AUTHOR OF THE LIBERTY LIBRARY DEBRIEF AND RESEARCH REPORT DID OR NOT AS OXFORD'S DICTIONARY DEFINES IT.
THE WORD IMPARTIAL MEANS TO TREAT ALL RIVALS OR DISPUTES EQUALLY.
THE ACTIONS OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RELATED TO SAMUEL LIBRARY DO NOT REFLECT THE EQUAL AND THEREFORE IMPARTIAL TREATMENT OF THE AGENCIES IN RECEIPT OF COUNTY FUNDING THE LIBRARY STAFF OR THE CITIZENS AND TAXPAYERS OF WARREN COUNTY.
IN FACT, THE MOVEMENT AGAINST THE LIBRARY IS PARTICULARLY TROUBLING IN THAT AUDITS CONSISTENTLY SHOW IT'S A GOOD STEWARD OF THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS IT RECEIVES AND REQUIRES JUST 1% OF THE COUNTY'S TOTAL BUDGET TO SERVE OUR CITIZENS.
SO WHY ISN'T THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ADDRESSING THE REAL ISSUES AFFECTING THE DAY-TO-DAY LIFE OF CITIZENS IN THE COUNTY? OUR POVERTY RATE IS 20% HIGHER THAN THE STATE AVERAGE.
WHAT DOES THE CREATION OF A LIBRARY BOARD DO
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TO PUT FOOD IN THE MOUTHS OF PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT? NOTHING.WHAT DOES IT DO TO IMPROVE THE 59% READING PROFICIENCY RATE FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE COUNTY'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS? NOTHING.
WHAT DOES THE CREATION OF A LIBRARY BOARD DO TO REDUCE THE COUNTY'S DRUG OVERDOSE OVERDOSE MORTALITY RATE, WHICH IN RECENT YEARS WAS EXPONENTIALLY HIGHER THAN THE STATEWIDE RATE OF VIRGINIA? NOTHING.
SO IT'S TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
AND ON DECK ARE GONNA BE COLLEEN SNYDER, LUKE MARRAZZO, AND STEVEN VO.
I'M A CITIZEN OF WARREN COUNTY, A 20 YEAR MARINE CORPS, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS COMBAT VETERAN AND A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
I WAS BROUGHT UP IN A ROMAN CATHOLIC HOUSEHOLD, TALKED TO VALUE INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM, RULE OF LAW, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND LIMITED GOVERNMENT.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS OVER THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PROPOSAL TO TAKE OVER SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE VENTURES LIKE THE ONE THAT WARREN COUNTY CURRENTLY HAS WITH THE LIBRARY.
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS DELIVER TAXPAYERS HIGHER QUALITY SERVICES AT LOWER COST.
THE GOVERNMENT RUN ENTITIES IF BUSINESS, WE MEASURE CHANGE PROPOSALS BY WHETHER THE CHANGE WILL MAKE OUR CUSTOMER'S LIVES BETTER, FASTER OR CHEAPER BECAUSE WE KNOW WHEN GOVERNMENTS TRY TO DEAL WHAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND NONPROFITS ARE BEST AT.
THE RESULT IS WORSE, SLOWER, AND MORE EXPENSIVE.
WHILE THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS RIGHT TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT OF HOW TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE USED.
THE PROPOSAL BE FOR US HERE TONIGHT WILL NOT RESULT IN BETTER OUTCOMES FOR WARREN COUNTY CITIZENS.
WHILE THE LAST ELECTION SIGNALED AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT LESS GOVERNMENT, THE SUPERVISORS SEEM TO BE MOVING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
SIMPLY PUT, THIS PROPOSAL REPRESENTS CREEPING GOVERNMENT OVERREACH.
IT'S A POWER GRAB THAT GROWS A COUNTY GOVERNMENT THAT CREATES ADDITIONAL LAYERS OF UNNECESSARY BUREAUCRACY AND COST TO THE TAXPAYER.
AT WORST IS, IS ASSAULT ON OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
AS JOHN
SAMUELS ACHIEVES CLEAN AUDITS EVERY YEAR, REPORTS TO THE COUNTY BOARD TWICE MONTHLY, AND THE COUNTY RETAINS A SEAT AND THE POWER OF THE PURSE OVER THE LIBRARY.
THE SAMUEL PUBLIC LIBRARY IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF WHAT AMERICAN LIBRARIES OUGHT TO BE.
PLACES WHERE EVERY CITIZEN, REGARDLESS OF MEANS, CAN ACCESS THE COLLECTIVE WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE AGES AND BETTER THEIR MINDS.
AND THIS MEANS THE POSSIBILITY OF ENCOUNTERING AND BEING CHALLENGED BY IDEAS DIFFERENT THAN ONE'S OWN.
I DIDN'T SERVE OUR GREAT NATION FOR 20 YEARS, PARTICIPATED IN TWO WARS SUPPORTING TO DEFENDING OUR CONSTITUTION, OUR FREEDOMS IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ONLY TO RETURN HOME TO BE TOLD BY GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRATS AND COUNTY APPOINTEES.
WHAT I CAN AND CANNOT READ IN THE LIBRARY I HELP PAY FOR WITH MY TAXES.
SUCH CITIZENSHIP, SUCH SUCH SHIP RUNS AGAINST WHAT THE COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON.
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY AND PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE CITIZENS OF WARREN COUNTY WILL BE BEST SERVED BY THE CURRENT PUBLIC PRIVATE VENTURESHIP THAT HAS SERVED THE PEOPLE OF THEIR COMMUNITY WELL FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS OR 225 YEARS.
AGAIN, I URGE THE COMMISSIONERS TO TABLE THIS PROPOSAL TO CONTINUE TO ADEQUATELY FUND THE LIBRARY AND CONTINUE TO ALLOW THE EXPERTS WHO CURRENTLY RUN THE LIBRARY TO DO WHAT THEY DO BEST WITHOUT ANOTHER LAYER OF BURDENSOME GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION AND THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PRESS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT AND COVERING THIS IMPORTANT STORY.
MY NAME IS COLLEEN SNYDER AND I LIVE IN THE SHENANDOAH DISTRICT.
I AM TRULY APPALLED THAT THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS CONSIDERING THROWING AWAY MORE THAN 70 YEARS OF HISTORY THAT AFFIRMED THE DECISION BACK IN 1953 TO FORM A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SAMUEL'S LIBRARY AND WARREN COUNTY.
THE PARTNERSHIP HAS WITHSTOOD THE TEST OF TIME EVEN WHEN THERE WERE DIFFICULT NEGOTIATIONS FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER.
IT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF WARREN COUNTY AND ITS CITIZENS TO WORK THINGS OUT.
THIS DISMISSIVE ATTITUDE TAKEN IN THE 2023 LIBRARY DEBRIEF AND ADDENDUM THAT THE CREATION OF A WARREN COUNT COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD DOES NOTHING MORE THAN REALIGNED THIS GOVERNANCE TO THE PUBLIC TAXPAYER REPRESENTED AUTHORITY IS A GLIB DISMISSAL OF THE LIBRARY AND A FALSE NARRATIVE.
THE CREATION OF THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD UPENDS THE CURRENT STRUCTURE OF THE SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THIS IS NOTHING, THERE'S NOTHING SIMPLE ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL.
IT SHOWS NO RESPECT FOR THE DECISIONS MADE BY WARREN COUNTY CITIZENS IN THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS OVER THE MANY YEARS TO MAINTAIN A PARTNERSHIP THAT HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL.
WHILE THE DEBRIEF TAKES GREAT PAINS TO PRAISE THE LIBRARIANS AND STAFF OF SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY, IT MAKES NO MENTION OF THE ATTACK ON THE LIBRARY WHEN THE REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION FORMS WERE WEAPONIZED AGAINST THE LIBRARY AND THE LIBRARIANS WERE ACCUSED OF BEING PEDOPHILES AND MUCH
[01:25:01]
WORSE.THE DEBRIEF CONFI CONVENIENTLY SKIPS OVER THIS PART OF THE NARRATIVE OF WHAT HAPPENED AT THE LIBRARY LAST YEAR AND PUTS THE BLAME ON THE LIBRARY FOR DEFENDING ITSELF.
THIS ALONE PROVES YOU CAN WRITE A 50 PAGE REPORT AND STILL BE BIASED AND INACCURATE IN THE DEBRIEF.
MUCH IS MADE OF THE FACT THAT THIS LIBRARY IS NOT NORMAL IN ITS GOVERNANCE WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER LIBRARIES IN VIRGINIA.
IT IS NOT NORMAL, IT'S EXCEPTIONAL, IT'S SUPERB AND IT'S WONDERFULLY DIFFERENT.
WARREN COUNTY SHOULD BE PROUD OF HOW DIFFERENT IT IS.
FEW LIBRARIES CAN MAKE A CLAIM TO HAVE STARTED MORE THAN 200 YEARS AGO.
THE DIFFERENCE IN ITS STRUCTURE FROM OTHER MUCH YOUNGER LIBRARIES IS OUR LIBRARY STRENGTH BUILT OVER THOSE MANY YEARS.
YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE LIBRARY AND D DEFEND IT JUST AS IT IS.
WHY ARE YOU RAMMING THIS ORDINANCE THROUGH? WHY DID YOU DROP THIS BOMBSHELL RIGHT AT THE HOLIDAYS? WHY IS IT SO RUSHED? WHY IS THIS THE FIRST BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IN MORE THAN 70 YEARS, UNABLE TO WORK WITH THE LIBRARY ON ISSUES AT MINIMUM? SEEK MEDIATION TABLE THIS PROPOSAL UNTIL AN UNBIASED OUTSIDE EVALUATION COULD BE DONE AS IT WAS IN 2017.
STOP THIS ATTACK ON THE LIBRARY NOW AND TAKE THE TIME TO HONOR THIS HISTORIC AND BELOVED INSTITUTION RATHER THAN RELY ON A LENGTHY YET BIASED AND SLIP SHOT ANALYSIS CREATED WITHOUT REGARD TO THE LIBRARY'S HISTORY.
UM, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO BOARD MEMBERS.
SO I COME TO YOU, UH, AS A REALLY EVERYONE WHO'S ON THE SIDE OF OVERSIGHT HERE, WHICH IS A MASSIVE SUPPORTER OF THE LIBRARY, A MASSIVE SUPPORTER OF THE PRO PROGRAMS THAT HOSTS WHICH BENEFIT THIS COMMUNITY SO MUCH.
YOU KNOW, IT IS HONESTLY OBVIOUS, I THINK TO ANYONE BEING HONEST THAT LOOKING FOR OVERSIGHT, LOOKING FOR SOME REPRESENTATION THAT IS ACTUALLY THE PRO LIBRARY POSITION HERE.
NOW LOOK, AS I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL AWARE, THIS COUNTY VOTED 68% FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.
THAT IS A SUFFOCATING SUPER MAJORITY.
AND ONE OF THE VERY FIRST ACTS OF THE PRESIDENT ELECT WAS THE CREATION OF DOGE.
YOU KNOW, THE, UH, DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY.
IT'S OBJECTIVE FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, EFFICIENCY, OVERSIGHT, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND FUNDAMENTALLY SOVEREIGNTY, FINANCIAL SOVEREIGNTY FOR THE PEOPLE.
THESE ARE THE IDEAS THAT DEFINE THIS NEW ERA IN AMERICA THAT WAS JUST ELECTED AN ERROR, PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY THE PEOPLE OF APPALACHIA LOCALLY.
VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS ACCOUNTABILITY AND REPRESENTATION FOR THE VOTERS HERE IS NOT SIMPLY AND JUSTLY, UH, GIVING A VOICE TO PEOPLE WHO FUND THE LIBRARY WITH THEIR TAXES IS ALSO PARTICIPATING IN A SWEEPING NATIONWIDE MOVEMENT.
LINK ARMS AND LOCK SHIELDS WITH THE MANDATE HANDED TO YOU IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS. RETURN THE POWER AND THE VOICE TO THE PEOPLE.
BRING ACCOUNTABILITY AND SOVEREIGNTY BACK TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS SOIL.
NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
OKAY, ON DECK ARE SALLY KILPATRICK, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FOSL BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND DIANE DENMAN.
MY NAME IS STEVEN OZ VICKS AND I'M A SOUTH RIVER RESIDENT.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT AND FOR YOUR ONGOING DEDICATION TO SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY.
I KNOW THE CHALLENGES OF GOVERNANCE ARE OFTEN COMPLEX AND YOUR EFFORTS TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND GOOD STEWARDSHIP ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
I'M HERE TONIGHT AS BOTH A SUPPORTER OF OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM AND AS A CONCERNED TAXPAYER LIBRARIES ARE VITAL TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE MUST ENSURE THAT THEIR GOVERNANCE ALIGNS WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY.
RECENT EVENTS HAVE UNDERSCORED THE NEED FOR STRUCTURAL CHANGES TO ENSURE PUBLIC FUNDING IS MET WITH APPROPRIATE OVERSIGHT AND REPRESENTATION.
IT IS WITH THIS IN MIND THAT I WANT TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN REGARDING SOME ACTIONS THAT DO NOT ALIGN WITH THE VALUES OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SPECIFICALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING ATTENTION TO A FACEBOOK POST BY MELODY HOEK, WHERE SHE SHARED A POST TITLED LETTER FROM CANADA THAT ATTACKED AMERICAN TRUMP VOTERS.
REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL AFFILIATION, THIS KIND OF DIVISIVE RHETORIC UNDERMINES THE ABILITY TO REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY WITH FAIRNESS AND RESPECT.
WARREN COUNTY DESERVES LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES WHO CAN RISE ABOVE PARTISANSHIP AND FOCUS ON SERVING ALL CONSTITUENTS EFFECTIVELY.
ADDITIONALLY, I URGE THIS BOARD NOT TO DELAY THE VOTE ON THESE GOVERNANCE ISSUES.
[01:30:01]
THIS MATTER HAS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH AND OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES RESOLUTION.THE AGE OF DRAMA AND UNNECESSARY CONTENTION HAS PASSED.
IT IS TIME FOR AN ERA OF EFFICIENCY AND GOVERNMENT.
YOUR DECISIVE LEADERSHIP WILL HELP ENSURE THAT PUBLIC TRUST IS MAINTAINED AND THAT OUR RESOURCES ARE MANAGED RESPONSIBLY.
FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, HEAD ON AND PURSUE REFORMS LIKE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD SHOWS YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF FAIRNESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TO WARREN COUNTY.
I TRUST YOU WILL CONTINUE TO ACT DECISIVELY IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M FROM THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.
I'M NOT GONNA START OUT WITH A BUNCH OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION 'CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY PROPERLY UH, ADDRESSED THAT.
WHAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IS CENSORSHIP IN AMERICA IN 2024.
THIS, UH, PROPOSAL ALL SEEMS LIKE, UH, CONTROL AND MANIPULATION BY A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE OF NARROW-MINDED, UM, THINKING, UH, THAT SEEMS SUPPORTED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, UH, PEOPLE WHO EXPECT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO READ LIKE THEM, TO LIVE AND THINK LIKE THEM.
BUT THE WORLD IS NOT ALL LIKE THEM.
AND FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY ARE INCLUDED.
SAMUEL'S LIBRARY JUST ONE BEST LIBRARY IN VIRGINIA.
IT IS EXPECTED TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND REPRESENT THAT COMMUNITY, NOT THE INTEREST OF SOME SMALL PRIVATE GROUP.
IF THEY CAN'T TRUST THEIR CHILDREN TO AVOID CERTAIN BOOKS, THEN THEY SHOULD TAKE THEIR CHILDREN TO THE LIBRARY AND HELP THEM.
BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONTROL A COMMUNITY'S LIBRARY JUST BECAUSE OF ITS LEAD READERSHIP THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM THEM.
WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT IN SOME WAY, YET ALL ARE CREATED BY AND LOVED BY GOD.
AND IF YOU SUCCEED IN THIS, THEN WHAT'S THE NEXT EX EXCLUSION? ARE THEY GOING TO THEN WANT TO STOP HAVING BOOKS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, BOOKS OF A CERTAIN RELIGION? THEY DON'T HAVE, THEY DON'T GET TO CHOOSE WHO LO I MEAN WHO LIVES HERE.
THEY DON'T HAVE, UH, THE RIGHT TO, UH, SQUELCH THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
UH, THEY DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO DECIDE WHO READS WHAT A PUBLIC LIBRARY IS EXPECTED IN A COMMUNITY TO, UM, ADDRESS THAT COMMUNITY AND THEIR NEEDS.
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO INTO A LIBRARY AND READ BOOKS THAT ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS AND THEIR CONCERNS AND THEIR, UH, TASTE IN READING.
SO AS FAR AS THE UH, FINANCIAL INFORMATION, UM, I JUST READ SOME STATISTICS THAT SHOWED THAT, UM, UP UNTIL 2022 THERE WAS NO DEBT HERE, BUT THE, UM, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SEEMS TO HAVE HAD A DEBT ALL OF A SUDDEN, UM, IN 20 22, 20 23 OF $131 MILLION.
UM, I, THE PERSON THAT SHOWED ME THE INFORMATION, THAT DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE ANY EXPLANATION OF WHERE THAT CAME FROM.
SO IF THAT'S THE TYPE OF WORK THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DOES, THEN HOW ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT HAVING A BOARD THAT DIRECTS THE LIBRARY AND PUNISH, FURNISH THE BOOKS FOR A LIBRARY IF THEY DO AWAY WITH THE LIBRARY THAT WE ALREADY HAVE NOW? AND THE LIBRARY ONLY RECEIVES 47.6% OF TAXPAYER FUNDS.
THEY RECEIVE GRANTS AND DONATIONS TO FUND THE REST OF IT.
SO I I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS THANK YOU MA'AM.
MY NAME IS DIANE DOMAN, NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
I'VE LIVED HERE FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.
I LIVED IN 14 STATES, INCLUDING, UM, INCLUDING ON THE NORTH SLOPE IN THE ELLUCIAN ISLANDS OF ALASKA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
I WISH I'D SAVED ALL THOSE LIBRARY CARDS WHEN I MOVED TO A NEW PLACE.
FIRST THING I DO IS VISIT THE LIBRARY.
IN THE EARLY NINETIES I MOVED TO WHAT ON ALASKA? ALASKA, WHICH MOST OF YOU KNOW, AS DUTCH HARBOR WHERE I WAS THE, HAD BEEN HIRED TO BE THE, UM, EDITOR OF THE DUTCH HARBOR FISHERMEN.
[01:35:02]
UM, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE INTERNET.IT'S, IT'S NOT A BIG COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S ISOLATED.
AND, UM, THE ONLY WAY WE COULD USE THE LIBRARY WAS AT THE KK THROUGH 12, UM, SCHOOL WHERE WE ADULTS COULD GO IN THERE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND CHECK OUT BOOKS.
SO A FEW OF US DECIDED WE WERE GOING TO BECOME A LIBRARY BOARD.
EVERYBODY VOLUNTEERED IN THAT COMMUNITY 'CAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND, UM, WE CREATED A, A LIBRARY BOARD AND WE RENTED A LITTLE CHAPEL THAT WASN'T BEING USED AND WE HIRED A LIBRARIAN AND, UM, WE FILLED IT WITH BOOKS AND I TOLD THEM, I SAID, YOU KNOW, THE REASON THAT I WANNA BE ON THIS LIBRARY BOARD IS BECAUSE WHEN YOU BUILD THE BIG NEW LIBRARY, ALL THE BUILDINGS IN ON ALASKA HAD A PLAQUE ON, ON THE BUILDING.
AND I SAID, AND I WANT MY NAME UP ON THAT PLAQUE
UM, AND, UH, LET'S SEE, WHERE WAS I GOING FROM THERE? UM, ANOTHER PART OF MY STORY IS THAT, UM, FOR MANY YEARS MY, UH, FIRSTBORN SON ANDY WAS HOMELESS.
SO NO MATTER WHERE I ROAMED, UM, WE WERE ALWAYS IN TOUCH BECAUSE HE SPENT HIS DAYS AT THE CORVALLIS, OREGON LIBRARY AND, UM, SO WE WERE ALWAYS ABLE TO CONNECT BY THE INTERNET AND HE KNEW WHERE I WAS.
UM, SAMMY'S LIBRARY IS A JEWEL AND WE SHOULD BE SO PROUD AS A COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE THIS KIND OF RESOURCE FOR OUR CITIZENS AND, UM, WE DON'T NEED TO BE ARGUING ABOUT WHETHER WE'RE GONNA FIX THE, THE LEAKING ROOF AND PUT LIGHTS INTO THE PARKING LOT FOR THE EMPLOYEES AND THE PATRONS SO THEY CAN SEE THEIR WAYS TO THE CAR.
UM, WE JUST DON'T NEED TO BE ARGUING ABOUT THIS STUFF.
THERE ARE SO MANY MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO.
AT, AT THIS TIME, UM, THIS GROUP HAS ASKED FOR A 10 MINUTE SPOT, UM, INSTEAD OF ALL THE GROUPS SPEAKING INDIVIDUALLY, SO THEY WILL BE SPEAKING FOR 10 MINUTES AS FOR A GROUP.
GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR THIS CHANCE TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS CHRIS ESTES AND I'M THE THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS OF SAMUEL'S LIBRARY.
I'M A RESIDENT IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT OF WARREN COUNTY.
FOSSIL IS AN INDEPENDENT 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT CORPORATION.
OUR BOARD HAS MEMBERS FROM EVERY DISTRICT IN WARREN COUNTY, AND TONIGHT WE'RE HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD.
WE SUPPORT THE MISSION OF SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY, BOTH FINANCIALLY AND BY VOLUNTEERING.
OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE THAT MONEY AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR THOSE NEEDS THAT ARE NOT MET BY THE COUNTY OR STATE.
AS YOU WILL HEAR, OUR MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS HELP MAKE SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY THE GREAT INSTITUTION THAT IT IS, WE CAN DO SO BECAUSE SAMUELS IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT LIBRARY, ONE OF 21 IN VIRGINIA.
AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, THE LIBRARY HAS ALWAYS DEPENDED UPON VOLUNTEERS AND DONATIONS.
WITHOUT THESE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, IT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN ITS EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE OPERATIONS.
WE WORK HARD TO BENEFIT OUR LIBRARY.
OUR EFFORTS ARE IN FOSSIL, THE 2024 FRIENDS OF THE YEAR AWARD FROM THE VIRGINIA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, BUT TONIGHT WE WANT TO HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW FOSSIL BENEFITS THE RESIDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CHANTAL GAMBLE.
I AM THE FOSSIL SECRETARY AND A NORTH RIVER DISTRICT RESIDENT.
FRIENDS OF SAMUEL'S LIBRARY HAS A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND WE WOULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT THEM.
WE HELP COUNTERBALANCE EXPENSES THAT ARE NOT BROUGHT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS USING MEMBERSHIP FEES, BOOKSTORE SALES AND DONATIONS TO ASSIST FUNDING WITH PROGRAMMING.
DURING THE PAST YEAR, FOSSIL HAS SUPPORTED THE LIBRARY STAFF AND TRUSTEES BY SUPPORTING THE SUMMER AND WINTER READING PROGRAMS. THE 2024 WINTER READING PROGRAM HAD 198 ADULT REGISTERED PATRONS AND FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS HAD 698 REGISTERED PATRONS.
THIS YEAR WE ALSO SPONSOR POPULAR EVENTS SUCH AS SEMICON, THE HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE, AND A TASTE FOR BOOKS.
WE FUND STAFF DEVELOPMENT EVENTS AND RECOGNITION SUCH AS THE 2023 STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY WITH $5,000.
WE ALSO FUNDED THE TRIP TO THE VIRGINIA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
[01:40:01]
SO WE COULD ACCEPT THE 2024 LIBRARY OF THE YEAR AWARD.OUR FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY AWARD AND MELODY HOEK RECEIVED THE BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEMBER FOR THE FOR THIS YEAR FOR 2024.
FAS ALSO DONATED $10,000 FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE SELF-CHECKOUT SYSTEM USED FOR PATRONS.
THE LIBRARY STAFF AND TRUSTEES HAVE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB SEEKING COMMUNITY INPUT AND TAKING ACTIONS WHERE NEEDED.
TOGETHER THE STAFF AND TRUSTEES CONTINUE TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WHILE AT THE SAME TIME BEING OPEN, TRANSPARENT, AND ACCOUNTABLE.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY AND THE USE OF LIBRARY SERVICES HAVE INCREASED DURING THE PAST YEAR.
UNDER THE TRUSTEES' GUIDANCE, THE LIBRARY'S THRIVED.
WHY WOULD THE COUNTY WANT TO THREATEN THE SUCCESS? THEREFORE, THE FOSSIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS SUPPORTS MAINTAINING THE CURRENT TRUSTEE STRUCTURE AND NONPROFIT STATUS.
THE BOARD MEMBERS BELIEVE THAT THIS PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IS KEY TO BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, CONTINUING PROVIDING EXCELLENT SERVICES THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS GROWN TO DEPEND ON, AND ALLOWING FOSSIL TO CONTINUE TO DONATE FUNDS AND PROVIDE VOLUNTEER HOURS TO THE LIBRARY AS A VOICE REPRESENTING PATRONS OF THE LIBRARY.
FOSSIL'S REQUESTING THAT THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TRUST OUR LIBRARY STAFF AND TRUSTEES TO SERVE AND ENLIGHTENMENT ALL, ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ALSO ADDRESS THAT PUBLIC OPINION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SEEM TO BE CRITICAL FACTORS IN ENCOURAGING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO COLLABORATE WITH THE LIBRARY.
SHOULD THE LIBRARY BE COMPELLED TO UTILIZE THE ENDOWMENT FUND, SAMUELS ONLY HAS ONE YEAR'S WORTH OF RESOURCES TO SUSTAIN ITS NORMAL OPERATIONS.
WHAT COULD HAVE MOTIVATED THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PROACTIVELY WITH SAMUELS TO REACH A COMPROMISE ON SIGNING AN MOA WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF PUBLIC PRESSURE PRIOR TO THE LIBRARY DEPLETING ITS OPERATING FUNDS AND FEELING COMPELLED TO SIGN AN MOA THAT COULD HAVE NE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED THE LIBRARY, THE COMMUNITY, AND THE FUTURE LEGACY OF SAMUELS.
THE COMMUNICATION DISTRIBUTED BY THE FRIENDS OF LIBRARIES FOSSIL BOARD WAS NOT INTENDED TO INSTILL FEAR IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS VOTED TO WITHHOLD FUTURE FUNDING FOR LIBRARY OPERATIONS.
IT IS NOT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE ASSURANCES REGARDING FUTURE FUND HIGH ALLOCATIONS.
HOWEVER, WE DID INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THE FACTS AS WE UNDERSTOOD THEM AT THE TIME.
WE FACED THE REALITY THAT FUTURE FUNDING WOULD NOT BECOME, WOULD NOT BE FORTHCOMING DUE TO PROTRACTED NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN SAMUELS AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REGARDING THE MOA AS WELL AS THE BOARD'S DECISION REGARDING WHAT THEY WOULD DEEM AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION FOR THE BOOK RECALL.
I AM THE FOSSIL VICE PRESIDENT AND THE EPILOGUE CHAIRPERSON.
I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN SHANAN DOIC DISTRICT AND I HAVE BEEN A TAX PAYING CITIZEN IN WARREN COUNTY FOR 18 YEARS.
THE LIBRARY HAS ALREADY DONE A FANTASTIC JOB OF EXPLAINING HOW CHANGES TO THE STRUCTURE WILL AFFECT GRANTS DONATION AND VOLUNTEER HOURS.
THIS WILL INEVITABLY AFFECT FOSSIL AS WELL.
WHILE OUR NUMBERS MAY SEEM SMALL IN COMPARISON TO THE LIBRARY OR THE COUNTY'S BUDGET, THEY ARE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THAT THE COUNTY RESIDENTS GIVE FREELY.
THESE DONATIONS AND VOLUNTEER HOURS ARE THE COUNTY'S RESIDENTS VOTES THAT THE LIBRARY IS WORTH MORE THAN JUST THE BASE TAX SUPPORT IT IS CURRENTLY RECEIVING.
FOSSIL IS ALSO GROWING OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS.
IN FISCAL YEAR 2023, WE HOVERED AROUND 150 PAID MEMBERS.
AND THIS YEAR OUR GOAL IS TO HIT 250.
THE EPILOGUE BOOKSTORE BROUGHT IN $14,232 FOR THE YEAR 2022, $16,137 IN YEAR 2023.
OUR ANNUAL BOOK SALE HAS GROWN EVERY YEAR FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
LAST YEAR, WELL LAST OCTOBER HITTING A RECORD BREAKING $8,000.
ALL OF THIS PRESENTATION IS A LONG WAY OF SAYING THAT FOSSIL EXISTS BECAUSE RESIDENTS WANT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE LIBRARY.
THEY ARE WILLING TO PUT THEIR TIME, TALENTS, AND MONEY INTO SAMUEL'S.
TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY, IF SAMUEL'S IS THE ICE CREAM SUNDAE, FOSSIL IS THE EXTRA TOPPINGS.
IF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CHOOSE TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL BOARD, PEOPLE WILL NO LONGER WANT TO DONATE OR VOLUNTEER FOR A COUNTY RUN INSTITUTION AND THUS FOSSIL WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
THE $20,000 PLUS HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS WILL HAVE TO BE MADE UP BY
[01:45:01]
TAXPAYERS OR BE REFLECTED IN A REDUCTION OF SERVICES.IT IS NOT IN ANYONE'S BEST JUDICIARY INTEREST FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
THUS, IF YOU PROCEED WITH THIS APPROACH, FOSSIL MAY HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO LIQUIDATE ALL ASSETS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ORGANIZATION BECAUSE LET'S BE HONEST, EVERY SINGLE FOSSIL MEMBER, BE IT VOLUNTEER DIRECTOR OR FINANCIAL SUPPORTER, DOES THIS BECAUSE THEY LOVED THE LIBRARY.
THEY SEE THAT THIS RESOURCE IS WORTH THE INVESTMENT.
IT BELONGS TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS COUNTY AND IS OUR HIDDEN GEM.
IT IS OUR COMMUNITY CENTER AND FOR SOME IT IS A SECOND HOME, A SAFE SPACE HURTING IT IN ANY WAY HURTS YOUR VOTING CONSTITUENTS.
WHAT WE ARE ASKING IS THAT YOU CONSIDER THE VOICES THE VOLUNTEER HOURS AND THE DOLLARS DONATED AS LOVE LETTERS TO THE LIBRARY BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT FOSSIL IS.
WE MIGHT HAVE FRIENDS IN THE TITLE, BUT WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF LOVE, LOVE OF SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THE NEXT THREE THAT ARE UP, LET ME SCROLL UP.
HERE ARE MICHELLE FRANON, KEVIN ELLIS AND CHERYL LONGIS.
MY NAME IS MICHELLE FRANON, NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
I STAND HERE TONIGHT ALONGSIDE MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY TO URGE THIS BOARD TO HALT THE CREATION OF AN EXTERNAL LIBRARY BOARD.
BUT AS I SPEAK, I MUST ASK, ARE YOU TRULY LISTENING TO US? BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SEEM YOU ARE LISTENING THE WAY THIS BOARD IS PUSHING THIS AGENDA THROUGH SENDING A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT OUR CONCERNS DON'T MATTER.
IS THIS BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY DECIDED TO PUSH THIS PROPOSAL THROUGH REGARDLESS OF THE PUBLIC INPUT.
IF YOU, IF SO, YOU ARE FAILING IN YOUR DUTY AS OUR REPRESENTATIVES, MR. JAMESON'S REPORT ON THIS MATTER RAISES MORE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
IS IT INTENTIONALLY VAGUE? HOPING THE PUBLIC WILL SIMPLY NOD ALONG.
YOU ARE STEWARDS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS AND WE DESERVE TRANSPARENCY.
CLEAR SPECIFIC DETAILS ABOUT HOW THIS DECISION WILL IMPACT OUR LIBRARY AND OUR COMMUNITY.
WHAT'S THE RUSH? WHY THE URGENCY TO MOVE THIS FORWARD WITHOUT THOROUGH ANALYSIS OR MEANINGFUL PUBLIC DIALOGUE? IF THERE ARE GENUINE CONCERNS TO ADDRESS, SLOW DOWN.
TONIGHT WE ARE ASKING THAT THE BOARD TABLE TO VOTE ON THE ISSUE.
STOP THIS UNNECESSARY RUSH TO PUSH THROUGH A PLAN THAT IS NOT FULLY THOUGHT OUT AND IS CLEARLY NOT WANTED BY THE MAJORITY OF THIS COMMUNITY YOU REPRESENT.
THIS BOARD HAS ALREADY WASTED TAXPAYER MONEY TARGETING THE SAMUELS LIBRARY.
LAST YEAR'S INVESTIGATIONS IN THE LIBRARY ENDED WITH MS. COOK PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT EVERYTHING WAS IN ORDER.
YET HERE WE ARE AGAIN WITH PUBLIC FUNDS BEING FUNNELED INTO ANOTHER BASELESS ATTACK.
HOW MANY MORE TIMES WILL THE BOARD NEEDS TO USE OUR MONEY TO UNDERMINE AN AWARD-WINNING INSTITUTION THAT IS ALREADY SERVING OUR COMMUNITY SO WELL? AND SAMUELS IS AN AWARD-WINNING INSTITUTION WITH A BOARD FILLED WITH WARREN COUNTY RESIDENTS WITH PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE.
THE PUSH TO REPLACE IT WITH A SUPERVISOR APPOINTED BOARD IS NOT ONLY UNNECESSARY BUT HARMFUL.
THE CURRENT GOVERNANCE MODEL FOSTERS A THRIVING, INCLUSIVE, AND POLITICALLY NEUTRAL SPACE.
EXACTLY WHAT A LIBRARY SHOULD BE.
IT'S INFURIATING TO SEE PUBLIC FUNDS WASTED ON THIS RELENTLESS TARGETING OF AN INSTITUTION THAT MEETS OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS.
THESE RESOURCES SHOULD BE BETTER SPENT ADDRESSING REAL CONCERNS IN WARREN COUNTY.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY SUPERVISORS ALREADY CONTROL THE MAJORITY OF THE LIBRARY'S FUNDING, CREATING A NEW BOARD WHEN ONLY AT UNNECESSARY COST.
REDUCE COMMUNITY FREEDOMS AND RISK POLITICIZING A CHERISHED PUBLIC RESOURCE.
I URGE YOU, LISTEN TO THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE YOU WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT.
TABLE THE VOTE TONIGHT AND TAKE TIME.
WORK WITH THE LIBRARY NOT AGAINST IT.
FOCUS ON THE ISSUES THAT TRULY MATTER TO WARREN COUNTY.
THIS EFFORT TO UNDERMINE THIS INSTITUTION THAT SERVES US ALL IS UNACCEPTABLE.
UH, KEVIN ELLIS HAD A GO AROUND AND WORK HOME AND ASKED ME TO REPRESENT HIM TODAY.
[01:50:01]
UH, MY NAME IS, UH, BEN RANI AND I ACTUALLY LIVE HERE IN THE FORK DISTRICT.MY FAMILY USES THE LIBRARY WEEKLY FOR MANY HOURS.
I'VE HEARD MANY PEOPLE TONIGHT AGAINST, UM, THIS COMMON SENSE MOTION THAT, UH, THAT THEY DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND OR HAVE READ.
THE BRIEF THAT WAS PROVIDED AND GREATER IN COMMUNITY BASED OVERSIGHT WOULD NOT END THE LIBRARY.
IT WOULD NOT TAKE OVER OPERATIONS OR END ANY OF THE AMAZING EVENTS AND ASPECTS OF THE LIBRARY.
IT'S OBVIOUS TO ANYONE THAT HAS ACTUALLY READ THE MOTION, THE MONEY THAT THE LIBRARY SPENDS IS OUR TAX MONEY AND THEY HAVE NO OVERSIGHT FROM THE TAXPAYER AND ARE NOT ANSWERABLE TO ANYONE.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT BELIEFS EXCLUSION OR INCLUSION ABOUT BOOKS.
IT'S A REASONABLE PRACTICAL STEP FOR A LIBRARY THAT RECEIVES 83% OR MORE OF THEIR FUNDING FROM US.
IF WE WANT LESS GOVERNMENT IN THE LIBRARY, THEN THE LIBRARY SHOULD RECEIVE.
UH, THEN THE LIBRARY SHOULDN'T RECEIVE OUR FUNDS.
I'M ALL FOR LIMITED GOVERNMENT, BUT THAT NEEDS TO BE FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE NOT LIVING OFF THE GOVERNMENT.
YEAH, I WAS QUIET FOR QUITE A WHILE.
GOD BLESS YOU AND HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM, UM, INTERRUPTING THE PROCEDURES AND ON DECK WE HAVE A SLOAN CASEY, MARY KAY ANDERSON AND DAVID HARRISON.
HI CHERYL LANG, UH, HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.
CHERYL, THANK YOU FOR BEING THE ONE PERSON THAT TOOK A STANCE AGAINST WHAT THESE PEOPLE ARE DOING.
UM, I HAVE A BAD TEMPER AND A FOUL MOUTH.
I THINK THAT MAKES ME A LOCAL
IN REFERENCE TO THE TRUMP HATS AND THE TRUMP BEING PRESIDENT, IT SHOWS A LACK OF A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION.
WHEN 65% OF A CONVICTED, UH, CON, 65% OF PEOPLE IN OUR DISTRICT VOTE FOR A CONVICTED CRIMINAL MAY BE HIGHLIGHTING THE EXTREME NEED FOR THE LIBRARY.
AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND ONE'S HORIZONS IS MORE THAN NECESSARY.
I'M NOT SEEING ANYTHING TEAR OUR COMMUNITY APART LIKE THIS FRIGGING CATHOLIC CHURCH IN OUR AREA.
MR. JAMESON, I DO NOT LIKE YOU.
I JUST FLAT OUT DON'T LIKE YOU.
I DON'T LIKE WHO'S BACKING YOU.
AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU TO YOUR FACE.
I DO NOT LIKE WHO YOU REPRESENT BECAUSE YOU DO NOT CHOOSE TO REPRESENT THE FULL CONSTITUENCY THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE REPRESENTING.
IF YOU DID, YOU WOULD HAVE COME TO SOME OF THESE MEETINGS.
THAT'S JUST ALL THERE IS TO IT.
AND I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE LEAVING.
GIVE SOMEONE ELSE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
UM, EVERY TIME I'M SO EMBARRASSED, EVERY TIME I'M HEREM SO EMBARRASSED AND A QUESTION WHY COLLECTIVELY YOU ARE NOT ALSO EMBARRASSED AND, AND SHAMED.
WHERE ARE YOU TWO GUYS? WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL THIS TIME? WHY AREN'T YOU PARTICIPATING IN SOME OF THESE THINGS? CHERYL'S THE ONLY ONE WHO SHOWED UP AND THEN SHE DIDN'T SHOW UP ONE, ONE MEETING 'CAUSE SHE HAD COVID.
WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE? WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING? I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU PEOPLE.
I I DON'T, IT P****S ME OFF TO NO END.
UM, YOUR EGO JAMISON IS BEING DRIVEN BY A CATHOLIC COMMUNITY THAT YOU THINK IS THE, THE BASIS OF FRONT ROYAL.
I HATE TO TELL YOU THIS, BUT IT ISN'T.
THERE'S A BIGGER POPULATION HERE THAN THIS CATHOLIC COMMUNITY THAT CALLS THEMSELVES ST.
JOHN'S AND IN GOD WE TRUST B******T.
AND, UM, UH, YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS TO COME TO THE LIBRARY AND GET FULL KNOWLEDGE OF WHERE ALL THIS MONEY WAS SPENT.
NEITHER ONE OF YOU OR YOU GUYS, YOU WEREN'T THERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, UH, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? I'VE HAD IT.
CHERYL, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.
I'VE KNOWN YOU WHEN YOU WERE A NURSE AND YOU WERE, HELP ME DELIVER MY BABIES.
THE REST OF YOU ALL, I'LL BE SO GLAD THAT YOU'RE GONE.
I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO BE GONE.
[01:55:03]
GOOD EVENING.I AM FROM THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
IF YOU COULD SPEAK UP JUST A LITTLE BIT.
UM, I SPOKE LAST YEAR AND I'M BACK HERE TO SPEAK AGAIN.
AT ANY GIVEN TIME, I HAVE TWO TO THREE BOOKS CHECKED OUT AND FREQUENT THE LIBRARY AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK.
THE STAFF ARE ALWAYS FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL.
THIS IS NOT AN ATTACK AGAINST THEM.
I THINK THE LAST YEAR HAS SHOWN THAT THE CURRENT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND LIBRARY PARTNER DOES NOT HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
I DO NOT WANT THE LIBRARY CLOSED OR RUINED.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO VOTE TONIGHT IN FAVOR OF CREATING A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD IN ORDER TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE TAXPAYERS WHO FUND THE LIBRARY.
DID YOU WANNA BRING UP THREE MORE? I KNOW, I I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO BRING UP MORE ON DECK.
HI, MY NAME IS MARY KAY ANDERSON AND I VOLUNTEERED TO READ A STATEMENT FROM A CITIZEN WHO IS NOT HERE.
MY HUSBAND AND I RESIDE AT 62 SOUTH MARSHALL STREET HERE IN FRONT ROYAL.
I DID NOT VOTE FOR HIM, BUT MR. BUTLER IS SERVING AS THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT WHERE I LIVE.
PUBLIC OVERSIGHT OF BOTH TAXPAYER AND DONATED FUNDS AT SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY IS OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT.
ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES ARE WARREN COUNTY TAXPAYERS AND PROVIDE FISCAL AS WELL AS OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT.
THE WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE, DIVERSE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND EXPERTISE REPRESENTED BY THE BOARD IS REASSURING THAT SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY IS IN GOOD HANDS WITH THE CURRENT STRUCTURE.
LEADERSHIP INVOLVES MAKING DECISIONS THAT ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE GREATER GOOD IN A COMMUNITY, NOT BASED ON INDIVIDUAL IDEOLOGIES OR OPINIONS.
PROPOSING THIS UNWARRANTED, UNNECESSARY, AND ULTIMATELY EXPENSIVE LAYER OF GOVERNMENT IS CREATING CHAOS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I BEG YOU OUT OF RESPECT FOR OUR WONDERFUL COMMUNITY WHERE I HAVE LIVED FOR NEARLY 70 YEARS TO VOTE AGAINST THE ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTER SEVEN LIBRARY BOARD TO THE WARREN COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES.
IN NO WAY IS THAT ADDITION IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF ITS CITIZENS AS THE PREFERENCE TO THE ORDINANCE PURPORTS.
IF YOU CAN'T BRING YOURSELF TO VOTE NAY, AT LEAST TABLE THE MOTION PENDING FURTHER REVIEW.
I FEAR MOST OF YOU HAVE ALREADY MADE UP YOUR MIND.
AND ON DECK WE HAVE, UH, MR. HARRISON ON DECK WE HAVE CATHERINE ETT, CHARLES STEWART, AND I APOLOGIZE IF I GET THIS WRONG.
UIN WELT DID I SAID THAT RIGHT.
MR. JAMISON, SINCE YOU WANTED REBUTTALS TO YOUR WRITINGS, HERE'S ONE.
WHERE IS THIS FICTIONAL TOWN OF CULPEPPER? SPELLED CAPITAL C-E-P-P-E-R.
IT IS REPEATEDLY MISSPELLED IN YOUR PUBLIC REBUTTAL TO DR. FRANCIS.
I HAVE LOOKED FOR THIS SPELLING ON VIRGINIA MAPS AND NO SUCH TOWN EXISTS.
THE CORRECT SPELLING IS C-U-L-P-E-P-E-R.
IN YOUR REBUTTAL TO DR. FRANCIS, YOU MADE THE POINT THAT HAVING A P DOES NOT MAKE YOU SMART.
OBVIOUSLY A PHD DOES NOT TEACH PROPER SPELLING.
HAVING A PHD DOES NOT MAKE YOU SMART AND YOUR UNQUESTIONABLY SUPERIOR INTELLECT IN THE REPORT YOU DID ABOUT DR. FRANCIS CALL PEPPER AS YOU SPELLED IT DOES NOT EXIST.
SO HOW MANY MORE INCORRECT FACTS ARE IN YOUR DATA AND REPORTS? AND WHAT ABOUT THE CHAPTER SEVEN FIRST PARAGRAPH? WHEREAS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF WARREN COUNTY, VIRGINIA, THE BOARD HAS DECIDED THAT IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF ITS CITIZENS TO ESTABLISH A LIBRARY BOARD.
AND WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE.
YOU DON'T GET TO DECIDE WHAT'S IN OUR BEST INTEREST.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
YOU ARE NOT REPRESENTING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
YOUR FRIENDS END QUOTE ARE NOT THE MAJORITY IN THIS COUNTY.
[02:00:01]
APPEAR TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF VIRGINIA ARTICLE ONE, BILL OF RIGHTS, SECTION TWO PEOPLE, THE SOURCE OF POWER THAT ALL POWER IS VESTED IN AND CONSEQUENTLY DERIVED FROM THE PEOPLE THAT MAGISTRATES ARE THEIR TRUSTEES AND SERVANTS AND AT ALL TIMES AMENABLE TO THEM.AND JAY BUTLER, ARE YOU IN THE THIRD GRADE? YOUR STATEMENT FOR THE LIBRARY TO GO SEEK FUNDING ELSEWHERE WAS VERY IMMATURE.
OBVIOUSLY, SOME OF YOU BELIEVE YOURSELF TO BE GODS UPON YOUR LITTLE WOODEN MOUNT OLYMPUS.
SO I SAY TO YOU ALL, GOOD DAY, THANK YOU.
I'M FROM SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
I'M A FREQUENT VISITOR TO THE LIBRARY.
IN FACT, MY RECENT CHECKOUT RECEIPT SHOWED THAT I'VE SAVED OVER $4,000 USING MY LIBRARY CARD, CHECKING OUT RESOURCES FOR MY FAMILY AND ME.
THAT'S NOT EVEN INCLUDING THE PROGRAMMING THAT I'VE ATTEND, LIKE STORY TIME WITH MY 3-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
BUT WHAT IS A VALUE? IS IT JUST THE NUMBERS? I BELIEVE THERE IS INHERENT VALUE IN THE ROOTS THAT THE NONPROFIT SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY HAVE BUILT A COLLECTION AND PROGRAMMING TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEY HAVE BUILT A SPACE THAT WELCOMES ALL, ALL PEOPLE.
I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE TAXPAYERS TO CREATE A NEW LIBRARY BOARD.
I DID READ THE SUBCOMMITTEE'S REPORT.
I STILL DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS THE BEST PATH FORWARD.
DID IT ADDRESS HOW MUCH THE NEW STRUCTURE WOULD COST TAXPAYERS? DID IT ADDRESS HOW THE THE LIBRARY BOARD MEMBERS WOULD BE SELECTED AND WHAT QUALIFICATIONS THEY WOULD HAVE? THE SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF AND TRUSTEES HAVE BEEN VERY OPEN ABOUT WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEIR MOTIVATIONS ARE.
THEY'RE COMMITTED TO THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
THEY'RE ALSO COMMITTED TO THE LIBRARY MISSION TO BRING PEOPLE INFORMATION AND IDEAS TOGETHER TO ENRICH LIVES AND BUILD COMMUNITY.
THEY HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO CARE FOR THE LIBRARY'S FUNDS AND THAT INCLUDES THE FUNDS THAT COME FROM THE COUNTY, FROM US, THE TAXPAYERS.
THEY USE THOSE FUNDS TO SERVE THAT MISSION, TO SERVE US THE COMMUNITY.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THEY ARE DOING A GOOD JOB.
PLEASE DO NOT ENACT CHAPTER SEVEN.
THERE'S NO NEED TO CREATE A LIBRARY BOARD.
I THINK YOU CAN SEE FROM TONIGHT THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF TAXPAYERS WHO FEEL THE SAME WAY.
I'M FROM THE, UH, SHENANDOAH DISTRICT AND I HOPE THIS IS WRONG, BUT THE PUBLIC SENTIMENT HERE IS THAT YOU ALL ARE GOING TO DO WHAT YOU WANNA DO AND NOT LISTEN TO THE OVERWHELMING MANDATE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
UM, IF THAT HAPPENS, THEN I JUST WANT TO, TO ADDRESS THE STANDARDS OF REVIEW THAT THIS WILL GO THROUGH WHEN IT GOES TO LITIGATION AND IT WILL.
UH, THE PRIMARY IMPORTANCE IN THE, IN THE STATUTORY ANALYSIS IS THE TEST OF PURPOSE AND MEANS THE, UH, WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S ACTUAL OBJECTIVE IN PASSING THIS LAW, UH, EITHER AS WRITTEN IN CHAPTER SEVEN OR AS IMPLIED BY THE HISTORY AND PRIOR CONDUCT HERE, UH, THE HIGHEST TEST IS STRICT SCRUTINY, AND IT'S PROBABLY NOT GONNA APPLY HERE THAT IT HAS TO BE NARROWLY TAILORED TO A COMPELLING GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST.
UH, WHAT MAY COME INTO PLAY IS INTERMEDIATE SCRUTINY, SCRUTINY.
UH, IT INVOLVES EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE FIFTH AND AND 14TH AMENDMENTS AS DETERMINED BY THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON RIGHTS OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL GROUPS OR WHETHER IT INFRINGES ON OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS LIKE REG REGULATING MEDIA AND INVOLVING OUR RIGHT TO READ, UH, THE, THE LOWEST LEVEL AND WE'LL WE'LL JUST KIND OF GO WITH THAT, UM, IS RATIONAL BASIS.
AND THAT TESTS WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT'S ACTIONS ARE RATIONALLY RELATED TO LEGITIMATE
[02:05:01]
GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST.UM, THE LAW WILL BE DEEMED UNCONSTITUTIONAL IF IT SERVES NO LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST OR IS NOT RATIONALLY RELATED TO ACHIEVING, UH, SUCH A GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST.
THE SEMINAL CASE HERE IS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE VERSUS MARINO, IN THAT THE FOOD STAMP ACT OF 1964 WAS INITIALLY ESTABLISHED TO ALLEVIATE HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION.
UH, IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE BASED ON A HOUSEHOLD, RATHER INDIVIDUAL BASIS AS DEFINED AS A GROUP OF RELATED OR NON-RELATED INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE AN ECONOMIC UNIT CARE, UH, SHARING COMMON FACILITIES.
IN 1971, CONGRESS REDEFINED THE TERM HOUSEHOLD TO INCLUDE ONLY RELATED INDIVIDUALS.
THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, PROM PROMULGATED REGULATIONS, RENDERING HOUSEHOLDS WHO WERE NOT RELATED AS INELIGIBLE.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CLAIMED THIS WAS TO PREVENT FOOD STAMP FRAUD.
UM, THE COURT HELD THAT IT VIOLATED THE DUE PROCESS COURSE, UH, CLAUSE OF THE FIFTH AMENDMENT, UH, BECAUSE THE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY SUGGESTED THAT IT REALLY WAS INTENDED TO PREVENT HIPPIES AND HIPPIE COMMUNES FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM.
AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ANALOGS HERE.
UM, THE COURT FOUND THAT THE 1964 ACT ITSELF CONTAINED PROVISION SPECIFICALLY AIMED AT FRAUD.
AND THIS ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION WAS NOT NECESSARY.
UH, UH, AND I THINK THAT WE'LL FIND THE SAME THING HERE.
UH, THE CURRENT SETUP PROVIDES FOR FISCAL OVERSIGHT, UH, AS IT IS WITHOUT ADDING ANOTHER LAYER OF, OF, UH, UH, GOVERNMENT HERE.
UH, TABLE THIS CHAPTER AND DON'T INVITE LITIGATION.
AND ON DECK WE HAVE LYNN BENNETT, AMY HAYES, AND DALE CARPENTER.
UH, I'M YAN WELCH AND I'M FROM THE SHENANDOAH DISTRICT AND I AM, UM, HERE TO, I'M ALSO AN OPPOSITION OF THE CREATION OF THIS, UM, BOARD AS I BELIEVE IT IS INHERENTLY INTERFERING WITH THE LIBRARY'S ABILITY TO OPERATE IN ITS BEST INTEREST.
LIBRARIES ARE THE FOUNDATIONAL BEDROCK OF DEMOCRACIES.
AND WITHOUT ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACCESSIBLY TO EVERYONE EQUALLY, THEN DEMOCRACY IS DIRECTLY AT STAKE.
PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE RESOURCES, ACCESS TO UNBIASED INFORMATION, AND EVEN BIASED INFORMATION FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES.
LIKE EVERY PIECE OF TEXT HAS ITS OWN BIASES, BUT THE WHOLE POINT OF THE LIBRARY IS IT IS A GIANT BUILDING FULL OF BOOKS AND BOOKS FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES.
AND IT'S THIS TROVE OF KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION AND I THINK IT'S AN INHERENTLY JUST HORRENDOUS TO INTERFERE WITH THAT.
LIKE IT IS SUCH A USEFUL TOOL FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND IT BRINGS SO MANY PEOPLE TOGETHER AND GIVES SO MANY RESOURCES THAT TO TEAR THAT DOWN IS JUST DISGRACEFUL.
AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
I KNOW I'M NOT UP HERE FOR VERY LONG, BUT I FELT LIKE I MADE MY POINT.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE TIME TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT WE BELIEVE.
I AM LYNN BEME AND HAVE LIVED IN THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT OF WARREN COUNTY FOR 23 YEARS.
I AM A WARREN COUNTY TAXPAYER.
I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE NOTE MOTION FOR A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD BE TABLED PENDING FURTHER REVIEW IN THAT REGARD.
I AGREE WITH WHAT FORMER SUPERVISOR TONY CARTER REPORTED TO YOU EARLIER.
FIRST IS RECENTLY REPORTED IN THE ROYAL EXAMINER, THE DECEMBER 10TH BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.
PACKET LINK WAS CIRCULATED TO 41 ONLINE RECIPIENTS, BUT NOT TO SAMUEL'S LIBRARY.
MR. JAMESON COMPLAINS THAT SAMUELS, WHO HAS NOT ASKED FOR MEETINGS WITH THE BOARD YET SOMEHOW THE LIBRARY HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN A PROCESS THAT WILL HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON SAMUEL'S STATUTE STATUS IN WARREN COUNTY.
SOME OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE REPORT YOU HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE SUBCOMMITTEE IS INACCURATE AND MISLEADING.
IT FALSELY IMPLIES THAT SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS BEEN OPERATING WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY OR OVERSIGHT.
YOU AS SUPERVISORS NEED ACCESS TO UNBIASED INFORMATION, NOT ONLY THE OPINIONS OF THEIR REPORTS AUTHORS.
FURTHERMORE, MANY OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH LIBRARY BOARD HAVE NOT BEEN CONSIDERED.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF THIS BOARD IS PUT IN PLACE FOR MORE GOVERNANCE OF
[02:10:01]
SAMUELS THAN SAMUELS, IT BECOMES MERELY A PASS THROUGH FOR BUDGET REQUESTS AND FUNDING.AS A 5 0 1 C3 ORGANIZATION, SAMUELS CANNOT TAKE DIRECTION FROM A GOVERNMENT ENTITY.
THE 5 0 1 C3 STATUS ALLOWS SAMUELS TO RECEIVE GRANTS AND ACCEPT TAX FREE DONATIONS.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE RECENTLY RECEIVED $500,000 GRANT MADE TO SAMUELS BY THE MELLON FOUNDATION IF THEY LOSE THEIR 5 0 1 C3 DESIGNATION.
AND WILL PEOPLE BE WILLING TO DONATE TO WARREN COUNTY FOR THE LIBRARY IF THEY CANNOT BE SURE THAT THEIR MONEY GOES TO THE LIBRARY? NOT TO THE GENERAL FUND.
THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE HAS BEEN RUSHED THROUGH.
IT DOESN'T ANSWER MANY QUESTIONS SUCH AS RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR ITS BOARD MEMBERS.
FOR THESE AND MANY OTHER REASONS, I ASK YOU TO DELAY THE VOTE ON THE PREPOS LIBRARY BOARD ORDINANCE TONIGHT UNTIL ALL THE INFORMATION HAS BEEN REVIEWED AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH A BOARD ARE ADDRESSED.
I'M A PROUD EMPLOYEE OF SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THIS IS MY STORY.
I GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITY IN DECEMBER, 2019 JUST AS COVID WAS ON THE HORIZON.
I STAYED AT MY CAFE JOB AS I STRUGGLED TO FIND A CAREER DURING THE HARDSHIPS OF THE PANDEMIC.
I MOVED TO WARREN COUNTY IN 2021 AND CONTINUED TO STRUGGLE TO FIND A JOB THAT FUELED MY PASSION OF HELPING PEOPLE AND MAKING A TRUE DIFFERENCE.
IN AUGUST, 2022, I APPLIED FOR A YOUTH SERVICES ASSISTANT POSITION AT SAMUEL'S LIBRARY.
LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT THAT DECISION WOULD CHANGE MY LIFE FOR THE BETTER.
IN MARCH, I MADE THE LEAP TO APPLY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR POSITION THAT OPENED UP AT THE LIBRARY.
THIS MOVE HAS ALLOWED ME TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON MY COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT THE MISSION OF SAMUEL'S LIBRARY IN MANY MORE WAYS.
THIS CHANGE HAS LED ME TO DISCOVER MY TRUE PASSION AND ALLOWS ME TO MAKE MY MARK BY UPLIFTING A NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES AN ABUNDANCE OF EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCES AND SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.
I'M SO THANKFUL THAT I CAN SAY THAT I LOVE MY JOB.
I LOVE MY COLLEAGUES, I LOVE MY SUPERVISORS, I LOVE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND I HAVE FOUND MY LIFELONG DREAM CAREER AT SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
I FEEL LIKE THAT'S ALL IN JEOPARDY.
THERE ARE A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS IN THE 50 SOME PAGE REPORT AUTHORED BY JAMESON AND COOK.
IF IT WASN'T FOR THESE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS, I MIGHT HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT MY FUTURE WITH SAMUEL'S LIBRARY WOULD LOOK LIKE.
I READ THE ENTIRE REPORT, I WOULD IDENTIFY WHERE IT LACKS, BUT THREE MINUTES IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO POINT OUT EACH INCONSISTENCY AND MISINFORMATION.
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN FOR THE LIVELIHOODS OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW OVER THE YEARS AND MYSELF.
I KNOW YOU MAY SAY YOU DON'T INTEND TO GET RID OF THE EMPLOYEES AT SAMUEL'S, BUT IF YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD AND HIRE A FOR-PROFIT COMPANY TO TAKE OVER A DAILY LIBRARY OPERATIONS, POTENTIALLY CREATING, CREATING A SITUATION IN WHICH SAMUEL'S LIBRARY COULD BE FORCED TO DISSOLVE.
WE COULD BE ALL LAID OFF FROM THE ORGANIZATION WE WERE HIRED BY.
WOULD WE HAVE TO REAPPLY AND BE INTERVIEWED BY NEW MANAGEMENT? HOW CERTAIN CAN YOU BE THAT WE WOULD NOT LOSE OUR JOBS THAT HELP US PAY OUR MORTGAGE OR RENT AND PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE? AT THAT POINT, I WOULD THEN HAVE TO ASK MYSELF, WOULD I WANT TO WORK FOR AN EMPLOYER? IF SUCH AN EMPLOYER ESSENTIALLY DISMANTLED MY CURRENT CAREER THAT I'VE WORKED SO HARD TO OBTAIN? NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT MY COLLEAGUES AND MYSELF HAVE GONE THROUGH SINCE EARLY 2023.
STAFF AT SAMUEL'S LIBRARY HAVE STAYED QUIET AND PROFESSIONAL, BUT I'M TIRED OF LIVING IN FEAR THAT MY DREAM JOB AT THE ORGANIZATION I WANT TO WORK FOR WILL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM ME BASED ON SUCH HASTY DECISIONS.
I HAVE A SLIVER OF HOPE LEFT THAT YOU ALL WILL SIMPLY ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE PUBLIC IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT.
FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOMEONE WILLING TO LISTEN AND REASON I DISMISS THE 2023 LIBRARY DEBRIEF AND RESEARCH REPORT IN ITS ENTIRETY DUE TO ITS LACK OF SUBSTANCE AND UNDERLYING CONFLICT OF INTEREST, AND I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT SUPPORT THE CREATION OF A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD.
ON DECK IS ANGELA FRITZ, MAGDALENA ADAMS, AND DANETTE FOREMAN.
I'M A RESIDENT OF FRONT ROYAL AND UH, I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU DO AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO PRESENT MY OBSERVATIONS.
THIS MEETING SHOULD BE ABOUT A DISCUSSION OF THE MERITS, OUR LACK OF MERIT OF THE FINDINGS PRESENTED BY MR. JAMESON WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC GOVERNANCE OF A PRIVATE PARTY CONTRACTED BY THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC SERVICE WASTING TIME VILIFYING INDIVIDUALS AND NOT DISCUSSING OR RESPONDING TO THE BASIC
[02:15:01]
ISSUE OF PUBLIC GOVERNANCE OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISES SERVING OUR COMMUNITY ONLY WASTES TIME AND GAINS NOTHING.CAN WE BE CONSISTENT? IS THERE ANYONE WHO FAVORS PRIVATE GOVERNANCE OF A PUBLIC SERVICE? I WOULD ASK WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE CURRENT LIBRARY BOARD WHERE COMPOSED OF 100% ULTRACONSERVATIVE INDIVIDUALS WHO GOVERNED TO THE EXCLUSION OF ANY OF THE SMALL BUT VOCAL MINORITY, WE SEE HERE TONIGHT, AND AT ALMOST EVERY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THIS SMALL GROUP WOULD BE ASKING, NO, THEY'D BE CLAMORING FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO TAKE OVER THE GOVERNANCE OF THE LIBRARY TO MAKE SURE THEIR VIEWS AND THEIR DESIRES WERE NOT IGNORED.
RECENT HISTORY HAS SHOWN THAT PRIVATELY MANAGED SAMUEL'S LIBRARY HAS FOLLOWED THE EXACT PATTERN, AND WHEN THEY WERE FIRST APPROACHED OVER A YEAR AGO ABOUT BOOKS THAT WERE INAPPROPRIATE FOR YOUNGER MEMBERS, INSTEAD OF CONSIDERING THE MERIT OF THE ISSUE, THEY IMMEDIATELY DUG IN THEIR HEELS AND ONLY BEGAN TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE'S CONCERN AFTER BEING CONFRONTED WITH THE FACT THAT THEIR NEXT QUARTERLY PAYMENT FROM THE COUNTY MIGHT BE INTERRUPTED UNTIL THEY PAID ATTENTION TO THOSE THAT FELT OUR COMMUNITY STANDARDS WERE BEING SERIOUSLY DEGRADED, AND THAT OUR KIDS WERE BEING SEXUALIZED AND EXPOSED TO MATERIALS THAT, IN THEIR OPINION AND IN MY OPINION, WERE TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE.
THOSE THAT STOOD BEHIND THE RECALCITRANT OF THE LIBRARY MANAGEMENT QUICKLY ORGANIZED THEIR SMALL GROUP OF PROTESTORS, AND WITH THE HELP OF THE LOCALS AND SURROUNDING MEDIA CRAFTED A NARRATIVE THAT THE BOARD WANTED TO SHUT DOWN THE LIBRARY, AND IT WAS TO BE AN US OR THEM BATTLE AS EVERYONE'S AWARE, BUT SOMETHING SO EASILY FORGOTTEN IS THAT THE LIBRARY HAD APPROXIMATELY $1 MILLION IN THE BANK, AND THEY FELT JUSTIFIED IN SPENDING OVER 50,000 TO ENGAGE A PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM TO HELP DEVELOP AND PROMOTE THAT RIDICULOUS NARRATIVE ABOUT SHUTTING DOWN THE LIBRARY BOOK, BANNING CENSORSHIP, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
WE ALL WANT A ROBUST, WELL-FUNDED, COMMUNITY RESPONSIVE PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND THAT SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE TO ANYONE.
I WOULD LIKE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO KNOW THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE INTIMIDATED, AND YOU DO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE VAST MAJORITY OF THIS, THIS COMMUNITY.
GOD BLESS YOU, AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES.
OKAY, WHERE ARE THEY? OKAY, PLEASE, FOR REFRAINING, FOR INTERRUPTING.
UM, I'M ANGELA FRITZ ON SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
YOU KNOW, AS I WROTE MY $1,500 CHECK FOR TAXES LAST WEEK, I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, WHAT DOES THE COUNTY DO FOR ME? I, I TAKE MY OWN TRASH.
I HAVE NO CHILDREN IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
UM, NEVER SEE A DEPUTY SHERIFF.
UM, I DUG MY OWN WELL FOR WATER AND SEPTIC FOR SEWAGE.
I LOVE ANIMALS, SO I VOLUNTEER AT THE HUMANE SOCIETY.
THAT'S FREE LABOR FOR THE DOGS AND CATS AND CRITTERS.
WILL THEY BE NEXT? WHAT DO I REALLY GET FOR ALL THIS MONEY BESIDES THE PLEASURE OF LIVING IN MORIN COUNTY? AND IT USED TO BE A PLEASURE.
THEN I THOUGHT THE LIBRARY, I LOVE MY LIBRARY AND ALL THE PEOPLE IN IT, BUT GEE, THAT'S ONLY 1% OF ALL THIS TAX MONEY BEING SENT INTO THE COUNTY LAST WEEK AND THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE EVERY YEAR.
AND WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT? THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS TRYING TO DO AWAY WITH IT.
THE MAJORITY OF YOU ARE NOT FROM HERE.
WE WERE HERE BEFORE YOU, AND WE WILL BE HERE AFTER YOU.
WE AREN'T GOING TO LET YOU TEAR OUR COUNTY AND OUR LIBRARY APART FOR RELIGIOUS OR POLITICAL GAIN OR ANY OTHER TRUMPED UP REASON YOU MIGHT HAVE.
SEE, IT'S NOT JUST PERSONAL FOR YOU, MR. JAMESON.
IT BELONGS TO ALL OF US REGARDLESS OF RACE, RELIGION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, OR CREED.
YOU HAVE SHOWN NO CREDIBLE REASONS FOR INCREASING OUR TAXES BY SETTING UP YOUR COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD.
IN FACT, THE LIBRARY HAS BENT TO YOURS AND MRS. COOK'S DEMANDS FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.
THEIR BOOKS ARE SPOTLESS, THEIR INTEGRITY IS UNTOUCHABLE, AND THEY ARE NOT TO QUOTE YOUR TEXT MESSAGES TO MRS. COOK DUMB AS ROCKS.
IN FACT, THEY'RE INCREDIBLY EDUCATED AND DEDICATED
[02:20:01]
TO THEIR PATRONS OF ALL AVENUES AND WALKS OF LIFE, MORE SO THAN THIS BOARD WHO WAS ELECTED TO SERVE EVERYONE'S INTEREST.THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES ACTUALLY DOES THEIR DUE DILIGENCE.
YOU ARE THE PARTY OF LESS GOVERNMENT.
YET HERE YOU ARE TELLING US WE NEED MORE GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE.
YOU ASK US TO SHOW YOU EVIDENCE AND NOT EMOTION.
ISN'T THIS EVIDENCE? ALL OF THESE PEOPLE HERE ARE ASKING FOR THIS NOT TO HAPPEN SHOULD BE ALL THE EVIDENCE YOU NEED.
WE HIRED YOU BY ELECTING YOU, AND WE'VE TOLD YOU THROUGH NUMEROUS SPEECHES, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR AND PETITIONS THAT WE WANT THIS TO STOP.
THIS IS AN AWARD-WINNING LIBRARY.
THANK, MY NAME IS DANETTE FOREMAN.
I'M A 20 YEAR RESIDENT OF FRONT ROYAL WITH ANCESTRY.
GOING BACK TO THE 18 HUNDREDS, THERE ARE NUMEROUS AREAS OF CONCERN WITH YOUR PROPOSAL, OF WHICH I WILL ONLY ADDRESS PRIMARILY
YOUR REPORT STATE THAT THE BOS WILL APPOINT A BOARD, AND THEN YOUR REPORT STATES THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO HAVE A SAY IN HOW THEIR MONEY IS SPENT.
WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR THE BOARD APPOINTMENT? IS THERE JOB DESCRIPTION AND LIST OF ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES? WHAT SKILLS ARE NEEDED? NOW, WE FIND OUT TODAY THAT YOU'VE MADE AN AMENDMENT TO YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THAT THEY HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT, WHICH WASN'T CLEAR BEFORE YOU STATE VARIOUS, UH, TERM LIMITS 1, 2, 3, AND FOUR.
AND WHAT IS THE PURPOSE BEHIND THIS? SO YOU GET TO DECIDE WHO WILL BE ON THE BOARD, AND THE PUBLIC HAS NO SAY.
YOU FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT THE PUBLIC MUST HAVE INFLUENCE ON HOW THE LIBRARY IS RAN.
SO IF THE PUBLIC HAS TO HAVE A SAY, WHY ARE THESE BOARD MEMBERS THEN NOT PUBLICLY, UM, ELECTED? YOUR EMPHASIS IS ALSO ON THE FACT THAT THE CURRENT BOARD DOES NOT HAVE TAXPAYER REPRESENTATION.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE BOS MEMBER, YOU DO NOT REALIZE THAT ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE TAXPAYERS.
THE COUNTY BOARD CONSISTS OF 15 MEMBERS.
AS YOU WELL KNOW, ALL LOCAL TAXPAYERS WHO POSSESS IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHO SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN MANY CAPACITIES, INCLUDING NONPROFITS, SUPPORT GROUPS, THEIR LAWYERS, ACCOUNTANTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS, IT SPECIALISTS, AND MOST LONG-TERM MOST ARE LONG-TERM RESIDENTS.
THE CURRENT LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES GOES THROUGH A RIGOROUS HIRING PROCESS AND ENSURES THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE A TRUE REPRESENTATION OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNTY WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WILL ADD VALUE.
HOW ARE YOU GONNA DO THIS? THE ENTIRE ISSUE IS A TOTAL FIASCO BECAUSE YOU'RE UPSET THAT YOU COULD NOT FORCE YOUR WILL UPON THE SPL AND REMOVE BOOKS YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS WANTED, BANNED THE LIBRARY, FOLLOWED THE ESTABLISHED GUIDELINES, SET FORTH FOR THE LIBRARIES, AND REVIEWED EACH BOOK AND TOOK ACTION TO SATISFY THOSE CONCERNS.
MS. COOK EVEN SAID THAT SHE WAS HAPPY WITH THE AGREEMENT, YET YOU STILL SEEM TO THINK THAT THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
YOU VAGUELY OUTLINED WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, BUT IT'S CLEAR YOU DO NOT HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UM, THAT INCLUDES THE ACTUAL COSTS.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GONNA COST.
YOU DON'T EVEN, YOU COULDN'T EVEN TELL THE LIBRARY HOW MUCH THEIR LI THEIR MAINTENANCE COSTS HAVE BEEN OVER THE LAST DECADE.
WHEN IS THIS GOING TO STOP? ARE YOU PLANNING TO HAVE ALL THE BOOKS THAT YOU AND YOUR INTEREST GROUPS DON'T LIKE BANNED AND REMOVED? THEN WHAT, WHAT'S NEXT? ARE YOU GONNA GO AFTER THE HUMANE SOCIETY AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN WARREN COUNTY? TO MY KNOWLEDGE AND HAS PROVEN BY THE DATA, THE LIBRARY HAS BEEN FUNCTIONING FINE FOR 226 YEARS AND REPRESENTS ONLY 1% OF THE WARREN COUNTY BUDGET.
TAKE OUT YOUR PERSONAL HURT FEELINGS AND LET OUR LIBRARY CONTINUE TO DO AN EXCELLENT JOB.
AND ON DECK, WE HAVE ALAN YATES, STEVIE HUBBARD, JOANNE WATERS.
MY NAME IS MAGDALENA ADAMS. I LIVE IN THE SHENANDOAH DISTRICT.
I WAS BAPTIZED AND RAISED IN ST.
HOWEVER, I'M NOT HERE IN SUPPORT OF THEM.
I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF MYSELF AND THOSE WHO FEEL THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A VOICE.
I WAS HOMESCHOOLED UNTIL SEVENTH GRADE, AND SAMUEL'S LIBRARY WAS A PLACE I COULD ESCAPE AND LEARN FROM THE CRAZINESS OF MY HOME.
EVEN AFTER JOINING PUBLIC SCHOOL, THE LIBRARY WAS STILL THERE AS A NON-JUDGMENTAL ENVIRONMENT, UNLIKE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WHERE I GOT TOLD FROM OTHER KIDS I WOULD END UP IN JAIL, PREGNANT ON DRUGS OR DEAD AND IN HELL BECAUSE ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL
[02:25:01]
KIDS GO TO HELL.NOT TO TOOT MY OWN HORN, BUT I'M NOT ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
I'M ACTUALLY VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH A BACHELOR'S IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE TO PROTECT OTHERS FROM PEOPLE LIKE YOU EXCEPT YOU, MADAM CHAIR, INSTEAD OF SHUTTING DOWN OUR LIBRARY, LET YOUR KIDS EXPLORE AND LEARN OUTSIDE THE CHURCH.
ALLOW THEM TO CREATE THEIR OWN THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS.
THE WORLD IS MUCH BIGGER THAN ANY RELIGION.
THE SO-CALLED PORNOGRAPHY CHILDREN BOOKS AT OUR LIBRARY TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT THE WORLD IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
TRUST ME, IT HAS NOT BENEFICIAL TO SHELTER CHILDREN.
IT STOPS FROM EVOLVING AND ESTABLISHING SOCIAL SKILLS.
IF YOU'RE TRULY THINKING ABOUT THE CHILDREN, THEN THINK ABOUT THE REPERCUSSIONS OF CONTROLLING OR CLOSING DOWN OUR LIBRARY.
PLEASE KEEP THE RELIGION AT CHURCH, NOT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ELAINE YATES FOR DISTRICT, NOT ALLEN.
I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO VOTE NO TO THE CREATION OF A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD.
AT THE NOVEMBER 19TH MEETING, THE CITIZENS SPOKE ABOUT THEIR CONCERN ON THIS, BUT NEITHER COOK BUTLER OR STAN MEYER ADDRESSED THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, WHICH I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED ABOUT.
UH, SUPERVISOR JAMESON RESPONDED TO THE CITIZENS BY SCOLDING THEM FOR NOT ADDRESSING SPECIFIC CONTENT IN THE REPORT.
BUT THAT REPORT WAS JUST RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC A WEEK PRIOR TO THAT MEETING, AND HE HAD BEEN WORKING ON IT SINCE JANUARY.
HE SAID THAT THE DATA IN THE REWARD IS EITHER ACCURATE OR IS NOT.
WELL, THANKS TO THE LIBRARY FORUMS, WE THE PUBLIC NO LONGER NEED TO SPECULATE.
IT'S NOT THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS IS INCORRECT, THE GOVERNMENT COMPARISONS ARE FLAWED.
THIS IS FURTHER PROOF THAT WHAT'S MISSING HERE IS CONTINUED DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE LIBRARY AND THE SUPERVISORS.
A DECADES LONG PARTNERSHIP THAT HAS SERVED THIS COMMUNITY WELL.
THE PROBLEM IS THE COURTESY OF PARTNERING, PARTNERING NEGOTIATIONS IS NO LONGER BEING EXTENDED TO THE LIBRARY BY THE BOARD.
WHY IS THAT? WHY IS THIS ORDINANCE BEING FAST TRACKED WITH LIGHTNING SPEED? AND WHY IS THE LIBRARY BEING SHUT OUT? THIS IS WHAT SABOTAGE LOOKS LIKE.
YOU CANNOT IN GOOD FAITH APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE WITH SO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE NONPROFIT STATUS? WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE SERVICES THE LIBRARY OFFERS? WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO STATE FUNDING OF THE MILLING GRANT? YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW DONATIONS OR VOLUNTEERISM WILL BE AFFECTED AND WHAT IS THE COST? THE TRUTH IS YOU DON'T KNOW.
DUE DILIGENCE WOULD DICTATE ALL OF THOSE AREAS NEED FURTHER RESEARCH.
MORE OF THE EVIDENCE OF THAT WAS SEEN TONIGHT ON THE LAST MINUTE CHANGES TO THE ORDINANCE.
SO DESPITE STATE AUDITS, BOARD OF SUPERVISOR AUDITS A SUPERVISOR SEAT ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THERE IS ZERO EVIDENCE OF WASTE OR FRAUD AT SAMUEL'S.
ACCORDING TO JAMESON, ONLY HIS DATA SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
AND ARE YOU GOING TO REST THE FATE OF THAT, OF THE LIBRARY ON THAT ANALYSIS ALONE? THIS PROPOSAL IS RECKLESS, AND IF YOU VOTE TO APPROVE IT, THAT DECISION WILL BE, IN MY OPINION, AS BIG AS THE EDA SCANDAL.
IN TERMS OF BETRAYING THE PUBLIC, IT WILL BE YOUR LEGACY.
AND IN TERMS OF LEGALITY, YOU HAVE NO IDEA AT THIS POINT WHAT THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS WILL BE.
I WILL END THIS WITH A VOTE FROM VICKI COOK, WHICH HAS BEEN REFERENCED MANY TIMES TONIGHT.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB, AND I DO RESPECT THE LEGACY OF THE LIBRARY AND HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I ALSO AGREE THAT THE AGREEMENT HAS ADDRESSED ALL OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS EXPECTATIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF OUR TAX DOLLARS.
SO WHAT HAS CHANGED? THANK YOU.
UM, SO I HOPE THAT EVERYONE, UM, PICKED UP WHAT RICH JAMESON WAS THROWING DOWN AT THE BEGINNING BECAUSE TWO WEEKS, UH, OR THE LAST MEETING, I POINTED OUT THAT THEY WERE FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND THAT OUR MONEY WASN'T EARNING ANY INTEREST IN THE MIDDLEBURG ACCOUNT.
AND WELL, I, I WANT HIM TO SEE ME, BUT, UM, ANYWAY, THAT IT WASN'T EARNING ANY MONEY IN THE MIDDLEBURG ACCOUNT AND THAT IT SHOULD BE IN THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TAXATIONS ACCOUNT, AND HE MADE A RESOLUTION TO CORRECT THAT.
RIGHT? NOW, THAT'S A YEAR LATER, THAT'S COST US $1.5 MILLION OR CLOSE TO THAT.
AND THEY WANT YOU TO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE FISCAL OVERSIGHT.
WHEN THAT MONEY IS GONE, THAT MONEY WOULD'VE FUNDED OUR LIBRARY FOR TWO YEARS.
OKAY? SO HOW ARE THEY GOING TO BE THE ONES TO MAKE A GOOD JUDGMENT WHEN THEY LET THAT MONEY SLIP THROUGH OUR FINGERS? ASK YOURSELVES THAT
[02:30:01]
ALL OF THESE PEOPLE, EXCEPT FOR COLORS, HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.THEY ALL SIGNED TO THOSE BOOK SLIPS.
THEY ALL CAME AFTER A COMMUNITY IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR NEIGHBORS, THEY CAME AFTER THEM AND THEY'RE STILL DOING IT.
AND WHAT I WANT YOU ALL TO DO, SINCE YOU LIKE FACTS AND STATISTICS, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT YOU LIKE, RICH, AIN'T IT? YEAH.
SO, SO WHAT I WANT Y'ALL TO DO IS LOOK UP THE CURIOUS CASE OF DR. WILLIAM LUCKY.
OKAY? GOOGLE THAT, AND THEN ASK YOURSELVES, WHO'S KEEPING OUR CHILDREN SAFE AND WHO'S BRINGING PREDATORS TO OUR TOWN? ASK YOURSELVES THAT.
UM, ON DECK WE HAVE MALLORY DEHART, STEVEN SPAWNS, AND MISSY NEIL.
I'M IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.
IF PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE THE JOANNE, I STARTED MY RELATIONSHIP WITH SAMUEL'S LIBRARY IN 1976 AS A NEW TEACHER AT E WILSON MARSON AND ONE OF THE FIRST KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS IN WARREN COUNTY.
MY STUDENTS AND I WOULD WALK ACROSS THE STREET TO THE LIBRARY, WHICH WAS ON CHESTER STREET AT THE TIME, AND GO DOWN TO THE BASEMENT FOR A SPECIAL STORY TIME, UH, AND LEARN ABOUT THE LIBRARY.
AS A TEACHER OF ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AND AS A PRINCIPAL OF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ONE OF MY MAJOR GOALS WAS TO DEVELOP A LOVE FOR BOOKS AND READING SAMUEL'S LIBRARY WAS NOT ONLY A SOURCE OF BOOKS FOR MYSELF, MY OWN CHILDREN AND MY STUDENTS, BUT FOR SPECIAL READING PROGRAMS AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN TO HAVE THEIR OWN LIBRARY CARD.
I HAVE SERVED AS A VOLUNTEER AT THE LIBRARY AS A MEMBER OF THE FRIENDS OF SAMUEL'S LIBRARY, ALSO SERVING AS ITS VICE PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENT.
I CURRENTLY VOLUNTEER AND SERVE AS A LEAD ON AN EDUCATION PROJECT OF THE WARREN COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS WHO ARE PART OF THE VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE LIBRARY TO OFFER QUARTERLY CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS, AND WE ALSO MAINTAIN ALL OF THE LARGE PLANTS INSIDE THE LIBRARY TO INCLUDE PROVIDING EDUCATION ABOUT THE PLANTS AND THEIR CARE FOR LIBRARY PATRONS.
I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE HARDWORKING STAFF AND BOARD OF SAMUEL'S LIBRARY.
IF YOU DID MISS THE VIDEOS, WHEN THEY ALL INTRODUCED THEMSELVES, IT'S WAS PHENOMENAL.
THESE 15 PEOPLE KNOW SO MUCH AND ARE SO DEDICATED, AND THEY NOT ONLY GIVE OF THEIR TIME, THEY GIVE MONEY AND NOT JUST A LITTLE.
UM, AND I ALSO AM A DONOR TO, UM, TO SAMUELS, UM, AND MELODY EK IS THE, JUST THE BEST LEADER WE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE.
THAT WOMAN WORKS SO HARD FOR THAT LIBRARY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR AWARD WINNING LIBRARY IS WORKING VERY SUCCESSFULLY AT THE MOMENT AND ALREADY HAS A HIGHLY QUALIFIED BOARD DONATING TIME AND MONEY TO THE LIBRARY.
I WOULD IMPLORE YOU TO PAUSE, TAKE A BREATH, PAUSE AND TAKE TIME FOR MORE DIALOGUE, PROBLEM SOLVING AND INFORMATION GATHERING.
LET'S EMBRACE THE SPIRIT OF COOPERATION.
AS SUPERVISORS, YOU REPRESENT ALL THE PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT, NOT JUST SOME OF THEM.
THIS LIBRARY IS A SHINING STAR FOR ALL OF US.
LET'S EMBRACE THE SPIRIT THAT, UH, LEGEND.
THERE'S A LEGENDARY BASKETBALL COACH, JOHN WOODEN.
UH, WE USED HIS PYRAMID OF SUCCESS AT SCHOOL TO HELP KIDS LEARN.
UH, HE, HIS, ONE OF HIS, UH, PREMISES WAS COOPERATION, AND HE SAID, BEING MORE INTERESTED IN FINDING THE BEST, BE MORE INTERESTED IN FINDING THE BEST WAY, NOT HAVING YOUR WAY.
MY NAME IS MISSY NEAL FROM THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UH, I REALIZE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE USUALLY LIP SERVICE AND YOUR DECISION'S ALREADY BEEN MADE.
HOWEVER, UH, THE LIBRARY REPORT, UH, STATES, THE COUNTY HAS FOUR OPTIONS.
JOIN A REGIONAL SYSTEM, CREATE A COUNTY DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS UNLIKELY.
UH, A COMPETITIVE PROCESS OR CONTINUE WITH, UH, SAMUELS THE WAY IT IS, WHICH AS YOU CAN SEE IS WHAT WE WANT.
THE LIBRARY DOES NOT HAVE ANY SCANDALS, DEFAULTS, DEBTS, WHICH IS MORE THAN I CAN SAY ABOUT THE COUNTY.
[02:35:02]
YOU REPEAT WITHIN THE REPORT THAT A COMPETITIVE PROCESS IS YOUR GOAL, BUT HOW CAN YOU CONDUCT A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL PROCESS WHEN THERE IS CLEARLY A VENDETTA AGAINST THE LIBRARY? YOU CAN'T.YOUR ANIMOSITY IS ON FULL DISPLAY AND NO ONE HERE BELIEVES THAT YOU CAN CONDUCT A FAIR PROCESS.
TO BE CLEAR, THE VIRGINIA PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT STATES THAT ALL PUBLIC BODIES SHALL CONDUCT PROCUREMENT IN A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL MANNER, FREE FROM IMPROPRIETY OR THE APPEARANCE OF SUCH, AND THAT NO OFFER SHALL BE ARBITRARILY OR CAPRICIOUSLY EXCLUDED.
THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS SHALL NOT BE WRITTEN IN A WAY TO FAVOR ONE VENDOR OVER ANOTHER.
THE BOARD'S GOALS ARE CLEAR AND A MISUSE OF YOUR POSITION.
THERE PIECE APPEARS TO BE A LACK OF ETHICS AND HONESTY, AND THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST HERE IS ON FULL DISPLAY.
YOU WILL LEAD THIS, THIS LIBRARY BOARD WILL LEAD YOU TO PROTEST AND LEGAL FIGHT COSTING US THE TAXPAYERS MONEY AND GOING AFTER A, A LOVE, UH, COMMUNITY ASSET IS NOT THE WAY TO GO.
THE REPORT AND SUBSEQUENT RESPONSES ISSUED STATE THAT THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR.
UH, IT'S ABOUT PERCEIVED ISSUES WITH GOVERNANCE.
YET EVERY SINGLE SECTION OF THE REPORT DETAILS PERSONAL GRIEVANCES AND OPINIONS REGARDING YOUR, UH, LAST YEAR.
YOU CANNOT PRESENT A REPORT AND DATA BASED ON FALSEHOODS AND BIASED OPINIONS.
IF THIS IS TRULY ABOUT TAXPAYERS, HIRE AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY WHO IS UNBIASED TO DO THE REPORT FOR YOU AND COM AND PRESENT IT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE BOARD.
THE CURRENT REPORT LACKS REAL CITATIONS OR DETAILS REGARDING THE DATA OR HOW IT WAS USED.
THE GRAPHS, CHARTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS DO NOT DEPICT ANYTHING DISCERNIBLE.
EVERYTHING IS UP FOR PERSONAL INTERPRETATION, AND IF THIS WAS PRESENTED IN A BUSINESS WORLD, IT WOULD BE UNPROFESSIONAL.
LASTLY, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE IS CLEARLY A BAD CUT AND PASTE JOB.
IT'S VAGUE, LACKS SPECIFICS AND WOULD BE CONSIDERED, UH, LESS THAN ANY OTHER ORDINANCE THAT THE COUNTY HAS ISSUED.
IT'S, IT'S RUSHED AND IT SHOWS IT SHOULD BE TABLED AND REEVALUATED.
HOW MANY TERMS CAN A MEMBER SERVE? IS THERE AN APPLICATION PROCESS OR DO WE HAVE TO BE FRIENDS OF THE BOARD? HOW WILL THE BOARD INTERACT WITH THE LIBRARY SINCE IT'S ALREADY OPERATING AND NOT A COUNTY DEPARTMENT? MOST IMPORTANTLY, UNDER THE POWERS AND DUTY SECTION, YOU CLEARLY FORGOT TO MENTION THAT ANY FUNDS OR DONATIONS THE COUNTY MAY COLLECT, MUST BE HELD IN A SEPARATE LIBRARY FUND.
YOU CANNOT USE THEM FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
YOU MAY OWN THEM, BUT THEY ARE ONLY MEANT FOR THE LIBRARY.
UH, I'LL TRY THE FIRST TWO NAMES AGAIN.
IT WAS MALLORY DHAR AND STEVEN SPAS.
MY PENMANSHIP IS NOT THE GREATEST.
I AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT I AM ON THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
THE ONLY REPRESENTATIVE THAT I THINK IS ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT THE LIBRARY.
I'M GOING TO ASSUME THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE BOOKS.
THIS IS ABOUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
THE WARREN COUNTY BUDGET FOR 2025 IS AROUND $97 MILLION, AND THIS BUDGET IS MONITORED BY A BOARD CONSISTING OF SIX PEOPLE.
THE SAMUEL'S 2025 BUDGET GETS APPROXIMATELY $1 MILLION FROM THE COUNTY, AND IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A BOARD OF FIVE TO SIX PEOPLE PROVIDE OVERSIGHT.
THAT IS 1% OF THE ENTIRE BUDGET NEEDS AS MANY PEOPLE AS WHAT CURRENTLY OVERSEES $97 MILLION.
I THINK THAT IS OVERBURDENED OVERBEARING.
THE WARREN COUNTY ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, $27 MILLION.
THE SAMUEL'S LIBRARY WAS VOTED THE BEST LIBRARY IN VIRGINIA.
OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS IN THE LOWER 50%.
WHY DO I MAKE THAT COMPARISON? BECAUSE EVERY SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS A LIBRARY.
IF YOU ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW LIBRARIES WORK AND HOW LIBRARIES ARE EFFICIENT, YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THE LIBRARIES IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND MAYBE TAKING SOME LESSONS FROM SAM.
YOU WILL SEND LIBRARY SAMUEL'S LIBRARY ON HOW TO MAKE THEM BETTER.
IF A LIBRARY REFRIGE, UH, COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT SHOULD BE
[02:40:01]
ESTABLISHED, THEN YOU SHOULD ALSO BE LOOKING AT ALL THE LIBRARIES WITHIN WARREN COUNTY.SOMEONE SAID YOU NEED TO SUPPORT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
I'VE BEEN KEEPING TRACK OF WHO IS FOR AND WHO IS AGAINST.
AND YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT AS OF THIS SPEECH, THE PEOPLE FOR SAM UL'S LIBRARY THAT DO NOT WANT YOUR OVERSIGHT ARE RUNNING FOUR TO ONE AGAINST THOSE THAT BELIEVE THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MENTIONED TRUMP, I WILL SAY THIS.
JUST LIKE TRUMP SAID, IF YOU CAN CONTINUE TO OPPRESS THE PEOPLE, YOU WILL BE PRIMARIED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.
EXCEPT FOR YOU, CHERYL WILL BE CHALLENGED DURING THE NEXT ELECTION.
THEN NEXT UP WE HAVE ELIZABETH HEATON, GARY HEATON, AND CHRISTINE REDEL.
UM, BEFORE WE HAVE THE NEXT, UM, SPEAKER, UM, CAN WE, UH, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO HAVE A, A LITTLE BREAK? WELL THEN, UM, UM, LET'S GET THROUGH THESE THREE SPEAKERS AND THEN TAKE A FIVE AT 10 O'CLOCK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UM, NOT SURE THREE SPEAKERS OR GET THROUGH BY 10, BUT OKAY.
AFTER THE THREE SPEAKERS, WE'LL TAKE A, WE'LL JUST TAKE A SHORT BREAK.
I'M IN THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
AND EVERY TIME I EMAILED YOU THIS MONTH, YOU SENT ME BACK PROMPTLY YOUR OPINIONS, AND I'VE READ THEM.
I READ THE REPORT AND THE ADDENDUM.
I ALSO READ THE LETTER THAT PROMPTED THE ADDENDUM.
AND ALTHOUGH I COULDN'T COME TO THE LIBRARY MEETINGS, I WAS BABYSITTING, I WATCHED THE WHOLE, WHAT, TWO HOURS PLUS ON ONE OF THE YOUTUBE CHANNELS.
SO I'VE LOOKED AT IT ALL AND WHAT I'M THINKING IS NOVEMBER 19TH TO DECEMBER 10TH IS TOO SHORT A TIME TO PUT ALL THIS OUT TO THE PEOPLE AND HAVE A PROPER DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
I THINK 30 DAYS IS SOMETHING MENTIONED IN ONE OF THE PAPERS WAS THE STANDARD AMOUNT OF TIME.
WE'VE HAD THIS LIBRARY OPERATING THE WAY IT HAS AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S DOING WELL TO WIN WIN LIBRARY OF THE YEAR.
UM, I KNOW I'VE ALWAYS BEEN PLEASED WITH IT AND MY HUSBAND'S JOB HAS TAKEN US ALL AROUND VIRGINIA, BUT I'VE LIVED 20 YEARS OF THE PAST 36 IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE KEEP COMING BACK AND NOW WE'RE HERE FOR GOOD.
WE LOVE THIS PLACE AND I LOVE THAT LIBRARY, AND I THINK IT'S RUN WELL.
I FEEL LIKE YOU ALREADY HAVE OVERSIGHT.
YOU HAVE ONE PERSON ON THEIR BOARD THAT GOES TO THE MEETINGS.
THEY WANT TO BE INCLUDED IN DECISIONS.
THEY WANT TO BE PART OF THE DECISION MAKING ABOUT IT.
AND YOU ALL GET TO APPROVE THEIR BUDGET.
THEY ASK FOR MONEY FOR WHAT THEY WANT, AND YOU GET TO DO BACK AND FORTH AND, AND YOU HAVE THE SAY IN THOSE FUNDS, BUT THEY ALSO BRING SOMETHING TO THE TABLE.
THEY HAVE THE HISTORY OF THIS ORGANIZATION THAT STARTED THE LIBRARY IN THIS COUNTY, AND THEY HAVE ALL THE BOOKS.
THEY DO HAVE THE ENDOWMENT, WHICH I THINK, UH, FORMER SUPERVISOR TONY CARTER, AND ONE OF THE ARTICLES I READ SAID THAT WAS DONE ABOVE BOARD.
THEY BRING SOMETHING TO THE TABLE AS WELL.
YOU BRING THE OPERATING COSTS.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S BEEN A GOOD THING THAT'S BEEN WORKING.
I ENCOURAGE YOU, PLEASE TAKE MORE TIME AND TALK ABOUT THIS.
INCLUDE THE LIBRARY IN YOUR DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
I'M GARY HEATON, UH, NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
I'M THE 10,000 FOOT BIG PICTURE PERSON.
SO, UH, MY REPRESENTATIVE, MR. JAMESON, HAS, UH, PRESENTED A REPORT.
I KNOW HOW EACH OF YOU WANT, YOU KNOW, HAVE PROJECTED YOUR VOTE ON THIS.
AND, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER, UH, AN ENCOURAGEMENT THAT YOU TABLE THIS SO THAT YOU CAN DO A BETTER JOB SERVING THE COMMUNITY THAT ELECTED YOU.
UM, I'VE SERVED IN THIS COMMUNITY IN LEADERSHIP POSITION, UH, SINCE 1986 FOR IN THREE DIFFERENT CONGREGATIONS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
I'VE MADE SOME BAD DECISIONS AND MY CONGREGATIONS USUALLY LET ME KNOW WHEN I DID.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE GREATEST CHARACTERISTICS OF LEADERSHIP IS THE ABILITY TO
[02:45:01]
RECOGNIZE, HMM, MAYBE WE CAN, UH, THE, IN THE MILITARY WORD WAS IF YOU'RE MARCHING ONE DIRECTION AND YOU, YOU REALIZE YOU SHOULD BE GOING THE OTHER DIRECTION, YOU REPENT.AND I'D INVITE YOU TO LOOK BEHIND YOU ON THE WALL WHAT THAT SAYS.
AND MY EXPERTISE IS IN TRYING TO DISCERN THAT.
AND I WOULD JUST REMIND YOU THAT THE GOD IN WHOM WE TRUST IS A GOD WHERE OUR NEIGHBOR AND OUR GOD ARE LOVED.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE DO LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS, WE LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.
WE, WE ACTUALLY APPRECIATE OUR OPPONENTS BECAUSE THEY MAKE US BETTER.
I WANNA MAKE, I WANNA MAKE YOU BETTER.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I'VE BEEN WHERE YOU ARE AS A PLANNING COMMISSIONER IN THIS STATE.
I'VE SAT IN THE MEETINGS THAT GO TILL TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
THANK YOU YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
UM, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER A REPENTANT MARCH.
I'M A 20 YEAR RESIDENT OF THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO OPPOSE THE, UH, PROPOSED ORDINANCE.
BASED ON EVERYTHING I'VE READ, I'VE READ THE REPORT THREE TIMES.
I'VE READ THE ADDENDUM, I'VE READ PEOPLE'S RESPONSES TO THE REPORT.
IT'S BASED ON INCOMPLETE DATA, POOR ANALYSIS, AND A DEMONSTRATED GRUDGE AGAINST THE SPL BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
THE SPL BOARD MADE UP ENTIRELY OF LOCAL TAXPAYERS HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB IN MANAGING SERVICES AND DELIVERING VALUE FOR OUR TAX DOLLARS.
THE LIBRARY'S FINANCIAL RECORDS ARE CLEAN AND UNDERGO REGULAR AUDITS.
TRUSTEES HAVE PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUNDS AND FIELDS INCLUDING LAW AND FINANCE.
THEIR TAX DOLLARS, OUR TAX DOLLARS, AND THEIR DONATED DOLLARS ALL GO INTO THE LIBRARY FUNDING POOL.
WHY WOULD THEY TOLERATE WASTE AND ABUSE? OUR LIBRARY IS RUN WELL BY TRUSTEES WHO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY AND HAVE DEALT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE BOARD OF BOARD SUPERVISORS IN GOOD FAITH.
AND WHEN YOU GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT, THE CONCEPT OF GOOD FAITH IS WHY I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS NOT DEALT WITH SPL IN GOOD FAITH.
YOU'VE BEEN ACCUSATORY, SECRETIVE AND PETTY FAILING TO WORK WITH THE LIBRARY TRUSTEES TO RESOLVE ANY SO-CALLED CONCERNS ABOUT GOVERNANCE AND TAX DOLLARS.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ISN'T DEALING WITH TAXPAYERS IN GOOD FAITH EITHER.
YOU'RE RAMMING THIS ORDINANCE THROUGH AT HIGH SPEED, PROVIDING US WITH NO TRANSPARENCY ABOUT THIS NEW LIBRARY BOARD AND HOW IT COULD AFFECT LIBRARY OPERATIONS IN THE FUTURE.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS NOT PRESENTED A DATA-DRIVEN RATIONALE FOR HOW A DIFFERENT GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE WOULD WORK FOR A COMMUNITY AND BE BETTER.
WHAT IF YOUR HANDPICKED LIBRARY BOARD DECIDES TO WITHHOLD FUNDING FROM SAMUELS? WARREN COUNTY OWNS THE BUILDING, BUT NOT THE BOOKS.
HOW WOULD WE FINANCE A NEW LIBRARY COLLECTION? WHAT'S THE PRICE RANGE FOR CONTRACTING WITH ANOTHER ORGANIZATION TO RUN OUR LIBRARY? WOULD IT COST LESS THAN THE MILLION DOLLARS WE CURRENTLY CONTRIBUTE TO IT ANNUALLY? NOW, FAT CHANCE IN ITS REPORT, THE BOARD SPECULATES ON A FEW DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES PROVIDING LIBRARY SERVICES, BUT IT MAKES NO STUDY OF THE TIME, MONEY, AND RISK TO SERVICES THAT SUCH AS SWITCH COULD BRING YOUR FAILURE TO PROVIDE THIS COMMUNITY WITH A REASONABLE PICTURE AND TRANSPARENCY ABOUT COSTS AND OTHER IMPLICATIONS IS IRRESPONSIBLE.
THIS LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY LEADS ME TO ANOTHER REASON FOR OPPOSING YOUR RESOLUTION.
THE FACT IS, I DON'T TRUST MOST OF YOU TO APPOINT LIBRARY BOARD REPRESENTATIVES WOULD ACT FOR THE COMMUNITY'S BEST INTEREST BASED ON YOUR INTERACTIONS WITH THE LIBRARY STAFF AND BOARD DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS, INCLUDING SUPERVISOR JAMESON'S DEROGATORY COMMENTS IN THE, UH, TEXT EXCHANGE WITH SUPERVISOR COOK.
I DON'T TRUST YOU TO APPOINT PEOPLE WHO WOULD BRING THE LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM AND COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE THAT MAKES SPL THE GREAT RESOURCE THAT IT IS FOR US TODAY.
SO WE'LL TAKE, UM, PROBABLY TO GET EVERYONE IN THE BATHROOM BREAK, PROBABLY TAKE ABOUT 10 MINUTES, SO WE'LL COME BACK HERE ABOUT 10 15.
[02:50:01]
OKAY, I'VE, UH, BEEN QUESTIONED AS TO WHERE WE ARE ON THE LIST.UH, MR. HENDERSON, CAN YOU GIVE US HOW MANY ORIGINALLY SIGNED UP AND WHERE WE ARE IN THAT NUMBER? UH, WE ARE ON SPEAKER 49 OUT OF THE 113 SIGNATURES I HAVE.
SO IF YOU WANNA CALL THE NEXT PEOPLE, UM, TO SPEAK AND BE ON DECK, WE'LL GET STARTED AGAIN.
THE NEXT THREE I HAVE ARE BETHANY O'NEILL, STEVE FOREMAN, AND THOMAS BALL.
HELLO, MY NAME IS BETHANY O'NEILL AND I'M A SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY PATRON, A PARISHIONER AT ST.
JOHN'S AND HAVE LIVED IN FRONT ROYAL FOR 15 ISH YEARS IN THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
HERE I AM AGAIN ADDRESSING YOU ABOUT SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THIS IS THE LIBRARY THAT JUST RECEIVED VIRGINIA LIBRARY OF THE YEAR, FRIENDS OF THE, OF THE LIBRARY AWARD TRUSTEE OF THE YEAR IN THE MELLON GRANT.
HAVE YOU TAKEN THE TIME TO LET THAT SINK IN? OUT OF THE ENTIRE STATE, SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS DECLARED THE BEST.
THIS WEEKEND, MY DAUGHTER AND I TOOK A NICE WALK AT EASTON PARK AND ENJOYED THE STORY WALK.
IT'S PUT ON BY THE LIBRARY, ALONG WITH THE ROTARY CLUB AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
AS YOU WALK THE PAVED TRAIL, YOU READ A STORY ALONG THE WAY.
THE STORY WAS THE MESSY BOOK, AND IT SURE DID MAKE ME THINK OF WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE THIS FIASCO YOU THE BOARD HAVE CREATED REGARDING THE LIBRARY BOARD.
IT'S ABOUT, THE BOOK IS ABOUT A CAT THAT MAKES A HUGE MESS AND A DOG TRYING TO CONVINCE THE CAT TO CLEAN UP THE MESS.
AND WHILE I WANTED TO MAKE AN ANALOGY OF THE BOARD BEING THE CAT, MAKING THE MESS, THE LIBRARY BEING THE OTHER ANIMALS, WONDERING WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON.
AND THOSE OF US THAT SUPPORT THE LIBRARY ARE THE DOG.
BUT I'LL JUST CUT TO THE CHASE AND SAY, THE LIBRARY HAS BEEN FUNCTIONING AND FUNCTIONING VERY WELL FOR I BELIEVE 225 YEARS.
AND NOW, FAST FORWARD TO TODAY, RECEIVING THREE AMAZING AWARDS IN THE MELLON GRANT AND ALL THE STATE SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY GOT THE RECOGNITION IT DESERVES.
AND NOW YOU WANT TO DISMANTLE THAT.
AND IS IT ALL BECAUSE OF 135 BOOKS THAT ARE STAYING ON THE SHELVES THAT YOU COULDN'T GET RID OF LAST YEAR? OR IS THAT A STRANGE COINCIDENCE THAT'S HARD TO IGNORE? I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE IDEA OF GETTING A THIRD PARTY MEDIATOR OR LETTING THE PUBLIC VOTE.
IF THE NEW LIBRARY BOARD IS INSTALLED, WHERE WILL OUR COMMUNITY GET SERVICES THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING PROVIDED BY SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY? IN THE PAST, IT TOOK ME SIX FULL MINUTES, TWO MEETINGS OF PUBLIC COMMENT TO REMIND YOU WHAT SERVICES THE LIBRARY PROVIDES TO ALL WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THOSE SERVICES.
IT SEEMS TO ME IT IS VERY APPARENT THE LIBRARY IS DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.
SO WHY TRY TO CREATE SOMETHING TO FIX WHAT'S NOT EVEN BROKEN? THE LIBRARY IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HUNDRED PERCENT TRANSPARENT IN ACCOMMODATING TO REQUEST YOU THE BOARD HAVE MADE.
IF YOU CREATE A NEW LIBRARY BOARD APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THEN IT BECOMES A POLITICAL ENTITY AND THE LIBRARY LEGALLY HAS TO BE RUN BY AN APOLITICAL BOARD.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE LIBRARY HAS DELIVERED EVERY REQUEST YOU DEMANDED TO RELEASE THE BUDGET LAST YEAR.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CAN'T CALM DOWN A MINUTE AND GET A THIRD PERSON MEDIATOR TO COME TOGETHER AND KEEP THINGS GOING AS THEY CURRENTLY ARE.
THE LIBRARY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HUNDRED PERCENT TRANSPARENT AND OPEN WITH YOU ABOUT WHEN AND HOW MONEY IS SPENT AT THE END OF THE BOOK, DOG DECLARES WOO-HOO.
EVERYTHING IS BACK WHERE IT BELONGS.
I HOPE YOU CAN TAKE TO HEART WHAT'S BEEN SAID SO FAR TONIGHT AND ALL GROUPS HAVE COME TOGETHER.
PLEASE VOTE NO TO A WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF LIBRARIES.
I WAS A NETWORK ENGINEER AT SPRINT FOR 13 YEARS.
I WAS PART OF A NATION NATIONWIDE ENGINEERING GROUP RESPONSIBLE FOR INTERNAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS.
MY TERRITORY WAS COVERED FROM MAINE TO VIRGINIA AND CONTAINED SOME OF THE LARGEST MARKETS IN THE NATION.
MY OFFICE WAS IN RESTON WITH OVER 3000 USERS ON SITE.
THIS SITE HOSTED ONE OF THE FOUR NATIONAL CALL CENTERS FOR SPRINT.
FROM TIME TO TIME, IT WAS NECESSARY TO UPGRADE WITH CAREFUL PLANNING, VETTED BY BOTH THE INTERNAL USERS AND ENGINEERING STAFF.
WE WOULD TAKE EQUIPMENT OFFLINE WHILE PERFORMING THESE UPGRADES.
WHEN I FLIPPED THAT SWITCH, IT WAS VITAL TO KNOW IT WAS VITAL THAT I KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT ALL THE WHILE DEALING WITH MURPHY'S LAW.
DO YOU SUPPOSE THAT I WOULD UNDERTAKE THIS WITH LITTLE PLANNING AND BY MAKING ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THE UPGRADE WOULD WORK? THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS CONCOCTED A CASE FOR CREATING A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD WITH MANY ASSUMPTIONS AND NOT ENOUGH ANSWERS.
WE ARE SUPPOSED TO IMAGINE THAT THE NEW ENTITY WILL CREATE BETTER EFFICIENCIES IN THE PRESENT LEADERSHIP
[02:55:01]
OF SAMUELS.THEY ASSUME THAT SOMEHOW THEY CAN RECREATE THE CONDITIONS THAT SAMUELS HAS FOSTERED OVER ITS LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY, AND THEY INSIST ON DOING IT IMMEDIATELY WITH LITTLE INPUT.
AND WHILE HIDING MUCH OF THE DELIBERATION BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
I THINK WE CAN DISPENSE WITH THE FICTION THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS ABOUT THE FINANCIAL WELFARE OF THE COUNTY.
THE BOS CREATED VAGUE NUMBERS THAT SUPPORT THEIR CASE.
THE RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS MADE IT SOUND AS THOUGH THE BOS SHOULD NOT BE QUESTIONED.
THEIR RESPONSES VOICE A DISPROVEN GRIEVANCE AGAINST THE ORIGINS OF THE ENDOWMENT FUND.
THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT HOW THE MEDIA REPRESENTS THE BOS CASE.
OFFENSE WAS TAKEN THAT SAMUEL'S DEFENDED ITSELF WHEN SUBJECTED TO A SPECTACLE WHERE AN ORGANIZED GROUP READ SNIPPETS OF BOOKS OUT OF CONTEXT.
THE BOS IS NOT REPRESENTING THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY, BUT THOSE OF A MINORITY OBSESSED WITH CONTROLLING WHAT OTHERS THINK, READ AND BELIEVE.
WAS IT WHAT IT IS? BANNING BOOKS.
SAMUELS IS ALREADY GOVERNED BY LOCAL TAXPAYERS AND THE LIBRARY BOARD THAT THE BOS IS ATTEMPTING TO FORCE INTO THIS RELATIONSHIP WOULD DISRUPT THE BONDS FORMED BY YEARS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE.
THE PUBLIC SUPPORT OF SAMUELS IN THE WAY OF DONATIONS, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND VOLUNTEERISM WOULD LIKELY BE LOST.
CITIZENS OF WARREN COUNTY ARE USING SMALL DEED DEMOCRACY TO CHALLENGE THIS GOVERNMENT OVERREACH.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND PUBLIC LITERACY IS AT STAKE.
THERE IS A REASON THAT THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
AND ON DECK I HAVE AJ LANCASTER, PATRICK PENN FATHER AND AARON ROONEY.
I'M FROM THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
I OPPOSE THE ORDINANCE TO CREATE A NEW LIBRARY BOARD, DR.
THE REPORT YOU PRESENTED TO SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL IS BIASED AND MISLEADING.
IT ARGUES THAT COUNTY FUNDING FOR THE LIBRARY HAS GROWN TOO FAST.
THAT THE COUNTY RECEIVED NO VALUE FOR PAST SUPPORT, THAT IT IS INAPPROPRIATE TO APPOINT ONLY ONE OF 16 TRUSTEES, AND THAT THE LIBRARY EXPENDITURES ARE TOO HIGH.
YOU LOOK AT 2006 TO 2018 AND NOTE, LIBRARY ALLOCATIONS GREW BY 9.5% ANNUALLY FASTER THAN INFLATION, PLUS THE POPULATION GROWTH OF 2.7%.
THE LIBRARY MOVED TO A NEW FACILITY WITH AN EXPANDED COLLECTION AND MORE USERS.
PLEASE DON'T TAKE IT BACK TO 2006.
WHY OMIT THE PAST FIVE YEARS? INFLATION WAS 23%.
WARREN COUNTY POPULATION GREW 3.5%.
ACCORDINGLY, COUNTY EXPENDITURES GREW 27%.
COUNTY FUNDING FOR THE LIBRARY GREW 4.6% INSTEAD OF OUT OF CONTROL.
ESCALATION SPENDING ON THE LIBRARY HAS LAGGED BEHIND INFLATION.
MORE THAN A DECADE AGO, THE COUNTY PURCHASED THE OLD VILLA AVENUE PROPERTY AND WROTE OFF A LOAN TO THE LIBRARY.
YOU IMPLY THIS WAS A POOR DECISION BY THE SUPERVISORS BECAUSE THERE WAS LITTLE VALUE GAINED BY THE COUNTY.
WE CITIZENS, HOWEVER, SEE OUR LIBRARY AS A GOOD RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT.
OUR PREVIOUS SUPERVISORS RECOGNIZED THAT THE LIBRARY IS ONE OF FIVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVE FUNDING IN THE RECREATION AND CULTURAL SECTION OF THE COUNTY BUDGET.
ONLY ONE SUPERVISOR, CHERYL CU, SITS ON THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE TOTAL BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REPRESENTATION FOR THE OTHER FOUR ORGANIZATIONS.
WHY PICK ON THE LIBRARY? MS. COLOR SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO BALANCE, COST AND SUPPORT.
SHE SUPPORTS THE CURRENT ARRANGEMENT AND STATES IT WORKS WELL AND IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CAN RUN THINGS CHEAPER.
FINALLY, YOU COMPARE STAFF EXPENSES AT SAMUEL'S WITH THOSE OF THE LEY REGIONAL LIBRARY.
DO YOU MEAN TO IMPLY THAT THE STAFF AT SAMUEL'S ARE OVERPAID FOR THEIR WORK? I DON'T THINK SO.
YOUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE BOARD DOES NOT SEEM TO THINK SO EITHER.
THE PORTION OF MY TAX SCHOLARS GOING TO THE LIBRARY ARE WELL SPENT.
[03:00:01]
TO BE A RESPONSE TO THE CONTROVERSIAL EVENTS OF LAST YEAR.UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.
UH, FIRST OFF, I'M AJ LANCASTER.
I'M FROM THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UM, SO MY, MY FAMILY AND I, WE, WE HAVE BOOKS AND MOVIES CHECKED OUT FROM THE LIBRARY WEEKLY.
WE'RE, WE'RE VERY, WE WE FREQUENT THE LIBRARY ALL THE TIME.
UM, WE APPRECIATE ITS SERVICES.
WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THOSE SERVICES CONTINUE.
AND, UM, AFTER, AFTER READING THE REPORT, UM, PROPOSED BY THE BOARD, I'M CONFIDENT THAT THOSE CAN STILL BE CONTINUED.
UM, THE MAIN, THE MAIN CRUX TO THE ISSUE IS ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE, TO THE PEOPLE.
AND JUST BECAUSE TAXPAYERS ARE ON THE CURRENT BOARD DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE, THE, THE REST OF TAXPAYERS.
AND SO AT LEAST WITH HAVING AN INDIRECT CONNECTION OF ELECTING OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WHO THEN CHOOSES A BOARD, WE'VE GOT SOME SAY IN THE MATTER.
UM, SO THIS PROPOSAL SEEMS VERY APPROPRIATE.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF LEAPS OF LOGIC GOING ON THIS EVENING OF LIKE, OH, WELL, THERE BE WIFI REMOVED.
WILL THE BOOKSHELVES BE REMOVED OF BOOKS? UM, I IT'S UNFOUNDED.
IT'S, WE, WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD BE VERY LOGICAL ABOUT THIS APPROACH.
UM, AND YEAH, LAST, LASTLY, WE WOULD JUST LOVE TO SEE THE, THE SERVICES OF LIBRARY CONTINUE EVEN MORE PROGRAMS ADDED.
UM, SO IF THERE'S, YEAH, PLEASE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID BY BOTH SIDES HERE.
UH, I KNOW YOU ALL PUT IN A LOT OF TIME REVIEWING THE MATTER.
UM, I TRUST YOUR JUDGE, YOUR JUDGMENT, SO GOD BLESS YOU ALL HAVE MERRY CHRISTMAS.
PATRICK PENN, FATHER FORK DISTRICT.
UM, GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
UM, I STAND BEFORE YOU TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN REGARDING THE PROPOSAL TO FUND A PRIVATELY OWNED LIBRARY WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
WHILE I FULLY SUPPORT THE IDEA OF A PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE, THE COOPERATION BEHIND THIS LIBRARY HAS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH ITS ACTIONS THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE THE PUBLIC'S BEST INTEREST IN MIND.
UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE LIBRARY HAS SHOWN A CLEAR UNWILLINGNESS TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR REFUSAL TO ENGAGE WITH THE UPDATED MOA IN A FAIR AND TRANSPARENT MANNER.
THE LACK OF COOPERATION SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT THEIR PRIORITIES AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY.
FURTHERMORE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT TAXPAYERS ARE CURRENTLY FUNDING 83% OF THIS LIBRARY'S OPERATION, YET WE ONLY HAVE 6% REPRESENTATION IN ITS DECISION MAKING PROCESS.
THIS IS A STARK IMBALANCE AND IS TROUBLING AS TAXPAYERS WHO ARE FUNDING THE MAJORITY OF THE LIBRARY'S ACTIVITIES HAVE MADE SAY IN HOW THEIR MONEY IS SPENT.
THE LIBRARY RECENTLY USED 52,000 OF TAXPAYER, $50,000 OF TAXPAYER FUNDS FOR A PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN THAT MISLED THE PUBLIC INTO BELIEVING THAT THE LIBRARY WOULD CLOSE IF IT DID NOT RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
DESPITE HAVING ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS IN RESERVES AT THE TIME, UM, THOSE FUNDS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TO KEEP THE LIBRARY RUNNING WITHOUT RESORTING SUCH DECEPTIVE TACTICS.
IN CONCLUSION, I WOULD MUCH RATHER SEE, UH, LOCAL INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ELECTED BY THE BOS WHO WE ELECT AND JUST LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON NOW WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, WE ELECT THE PRESIDENT.
THE PRESIDENT GETS HIS GUYS IN.
THAT'S EXACTLY HOW POLITICS WORKS.
SO IT'S KIND OF BEYOND ME HOW THERE'S SOME DISCONNECT HERE WITH, WELL, THIS SHOULD WORK, BUT THIS DOESN'T WORK.
UH, TRUMP IS CURRENTLY ELECTING HIS CABINET NOW, AND WE'RE NOT VOTING ON EVERY PERSON THAT GOES INTO THAT CABINET.
UM, SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD LEAVE IT UP TO A BOARD WHO'S PRIVATELY OWNED AND IS ELECTING THEIR PEOPLE TO THE LIBRARY THROUGH NO ACCOUNTABILITY TO US, THE TAXPAYERS.
SO I APPRECIATE MR. JAMESON'S REPORT AND I HOPE THAT Y'ALL CONSIDER THIS AND MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.
AND ON DECK I HAVE JESSICA SAYERS, CHERYL HARRISON, AND KATHLEEN ER.
I AM CURRENTLY FROM THE FORK DISTRICT AND HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING THE DIRECTOR OF SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE WHO ATTENDED OUR Q AND A FORUM THIS PAST WEEK.
WHILE I CAN'T REPEAT ALL THE INFORMATION, UH, WE PROVIDED IN THE ALLOTTED TIME, HERE ARE TWO POINTS CONCERNING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR REPORT THAT LED TO THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
IT WAS STATED THAT WARREN COUNTY PROVIDES AN AVERAGE OF 83% OF OUR OPERATING EXPENSES AS OF
[03:05:01]
THIS YEAR.THAT AVERAGE NUMBER IS 69%, NOT 83.
THAT NUMBER FROM THE REPORT IS INFLATED AND INCLUDES STATE AID AND THE COST OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CURRENT LIBRARY BUILDING.
THAT IS NOT AN ACCURATE LOOK AT THE AVERAGE CONTRIBUTION FROM THE COUNTY TO THE LIBRARY OPERATING EXPENSES EVERY YEAR.
HANLEY REGIONAL LIBRARY ALONE IS NOT AN ACCURATE PEER-TO-PEER COMPARISON ON LIBRARY OPERATIONS.
AS IT HAS BEEN SAID TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THAT'S APPLE'S TO ORANGES WHEN LIBRARIES USE PEER DATA TO SEE HOW THEY COMPARE TO OTHER SYSTEMS. THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS THAT ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT SUCH AS THE SIZE OF THE SERVICE POPULATION, NUMBER OF BRANCHES, THE BUILDING SQUARE FOOTAGE, AND THAT'S JUST TO NAME A FEW AS EVERY LOCALITY IS DIFFERENT AND CONTEXT MATTERS.
HANLEY REGIONAL LIBRARY SERVES A POPULATION AROUND THREE AND A HALF TIMES THE SIZE OF WARREN COUNTY.
NATURALLY, THEIR COSTS PER CAPITA ARE GOING TO BE LOWER.
THE LIBRARY WAS NOT INVOLVED WITH THE REPORT.
AND THESE ARE JUST A FEW INSTANCES OF MISINFORMATION THAT COULD BE CLEARED UP BY TAKING THE TIME TO SIT DOWN AND TALK.
INSTEAD, THERE'S A HASTY DECISION TO CREATE A NEW LIBRARY BOARD.
AS STATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN IN JANUARY AND AUGUST AND IN OCTOBER AS WELL AS LAST YEAR, WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ALL AND ALL INFORMATION ABOUT THE LIBRARY.
FROM OUR PERFORMANCE METRICS TO OUR FINANCIAL DATA, WE ARE WILLING AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND GO THROUGH AND EXPLAIN HOW THE LIBRARY WORKS, WHAT WE PROVIDE, AND HOW MUCH IT COSTS.
THE LIBRARY AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WERE ABLE TO DO THIS BACK IN 2017, AND WERE SUCCESSFUL IN COMING TO A RESOLUTION THAT SATISFIED BOTH PARTIES.
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ON OCTOBER 29TH, CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY LIVE IN POVERTY AND 12.2 LIVE IN WHAT'S CONSIDERED DEEP POVERTY.33% OF OUR LOCAL FAMILIES ARE WORKING BUT CANNOT AFFORD BASIC NECESSITIES LIKE HOUSING, FOOD IN HEALTHCARE AND ARE SUICIDE RATE IS 50% HIGHER THAN THE STATE AVERAGE.
YET HERE WE ARE DISTRACTED BY A MANUFACTURED CONTROVERSY OVER SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT SAVING MONEY OR IMPROVING SERVICES.
THIS IS ABOUT CONTROL, ABOUT PUSHING A NARROW AGENDA THAT THREATENS OUR COMMUNITY'S ACCESS TO FREE AND DIVERSE INFORMATION.
IT'S ABOUT AN IDEOLOGICAL INTERFERENCE MASQUERADING AS A GOVERNANCE.
THE CLAIM THAT FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES CAN ONLY BE MET BY AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
NOT ONLY IS THIS FALSE, IT'S INSULTING.
IT IGNORES THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF HUNDREDS OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES, FIRST RESPONDERS, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY.
EDUCATORS, VOLUNTEERS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHO WORK TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY.
IT DISRESPECTS THE DEDICATION OF OUR TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND SOCIAL WORKERS WHO ADDRESS THE REAL PROBLEMS WITH LIMITED RESOURCES.
FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY IS A SHARED OBLIGATION.
IT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND ANY GOVERNMENT BUILDING OR GOVERNMENT CENTER AND BELONGS TO ALL OF US.
THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE FAILS EVERY TEST OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND PUBLIC SERVICE.
IT LACKS BENEFIT OF A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS IGNORES FINANCIAL RISKS.
IT PRIORITIZES POLITICAL AGENDAS OVER PRESSING COMMUNITY NEEDS.
LET US REJECT THIS DECISIVE PATH AND REFOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS.
COMBATING THE OPIOID CRISIS, ADDRESSING OUR POVERTY, REPAIRING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND SUPPORTING THE SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
A CORNERSTONE OF LITERACY, LEARNING AND INCLUSION FOR OVER THE LAST 200 YEARS.
LET US CHOOSE PROGRESS OVER DIVISION.
LET'S DEMAND REAL LEADERSHIP THAT PUTS PEOPLE BEFORE POLITICS AND LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD A BETTER WARREN COUNTY FOR EVERYBODY.
HELLO, UH, JAMES DOEL FORK DISTRICT.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS VERY LENGTHY SESSION.
UH, I KNOW A LOT OF CRITICISM HAS BEEN DIRECTED YOUR WAY AND SOME MORE IS GONNA BE HEADED YOUR WAY RIGHT NOW.
UM,
IT'S CLEAR A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE COMMUNITY ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, I'VE NOT HEARD ONE PERSON ALLEGED SERIOUS MISCONDUCT OR MISMANAGEMENT ON THE PART OF THE LIBRARY.
IN FACT, BY ALL ACCOUNTS, IT IS VERY WELL RUN.
SO WHAT'S BEHIND THIS PROPOSAL? I CAN'T READ ANY MINDS, BUT IF IT IS FOR PERSONAL RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS, THEN I UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT THOSE, THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I SUBMIT THAT AS PUBLIC SERVANTS, YOU HAVE A DUTY TO PROTECT ESSENTIAL CIVIC INSTITUTIONS OF WHICH LIBRARIES ARE ONE OF THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL.
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THAT, UH, MIGHT HELP SEE THINGS FROM THE FRIENDS OF SAMUEL'S POINT OF VIEW.WHAT IF THERE WAS A GROUP OF CITIZENS WHO WERE ATTACKING SAMUEL'S LIBRARY BECAUSE THEY OBJECTED TO BOOKS THAT FEATURED CHRISTIAN THEMES AND IMAGERY IN THERE? WOULD YOU BE OUTRAGED? I WOULD BE, BUT I THINK THE IRONY IS THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE DEFENDING SAMUELS TODAY WOULD ALSO BE DEFENDING SAMUELS IF IT WAS UNDER ATTACK BECAUSE OF ITS RELIGIOUS BOOKS.
I DON'T THINK ENOUGH THOUGHT HAS BEEN PUT FORWARD FOR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THIS PROPOSAL GOES, GOES THROUGH.
IT'S BEEN SAID VERY WELL BEFORE ME, AND I WON'T REITERATE ALL THE REASONS WHY.
THERE ARE SERIOUS CONCERNS FOR WHY THE LIBRARY SERVICES COULD BE SEVERELY CURTAILED.
I CAN'T PREDICT THE FUTURE, BUT I THINK IT'S FAIRLY OBVIOUS THAT IF THE BOARD GOES FORWARD WITH THIS, IT WILL BE CREATING PROBLEMS FOR ITSELF WHERE NONEXISTENT IT WILL LAST TIME.
THIS MADE NATIONAL AND EVEN INTERNATIONAL NEWS.
THIS WILL OCCUPY A HUGE AMOUNT OF THE BOARD'S TIME, ITS ENERGY AND THE TOWN'S MONEY.
WHY SHOULD OUR REPRESENTATIVES BE CREATING PROBLEMS RATHER THAN SOLVING THEM? THANK YOU.
AND ON DECK I HAVE MICHELLE LEISURE, SUSAN BLAIR, AND MARIA HIBELL.
HI, MY NAME IS DOROTHY LANDRY AND MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE LIVED IN HAPPY CREEK FOR THE PAST 23 YEARS.
HOW MANY OF YOU CAN HOLD UP A LIBRARY CARD? WELL, GOOD.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO LEND MY SUPPORT TO OUR WONDERFUL SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THE ACTIONS OF THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THE ACTIONS OF A SMALL MINORITY, HAVE BROUGHT THIS COMMUNITY TO WHERE WE ARE TONIGHT.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ANY OF YOU TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT A GEM WE HAVE HERE IN THE SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THIS LIBRARY AND STAFF HAS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH THEIR CARE AND SERVICE, AND THEY HAVE THAT THEY DESERVE TO BE NAMED THE VIRGINIA LIBRARY OF THE YEAR.
THEY HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ADDRESS ALL OF YOUR CONCERNS OF THE PAST YEAR.
BUT STILL, YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED.
THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT BOOKS ARE NOT THE ISSUE.
YOU WANT CONTROL INSTEAD OF WASTING, WHICH OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID TAXPAYERS, TIME AND MONEY TRYING TO TEAR APART.
ONE OF THE BEST THINGS, IF NOT THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS COUNTY, YOU ALL SHOULD BE CELEBRATING THE, THE ACCOLADES THE LIBRARY HAS RECEIVED.
I BELIEVE THAT THE MAJORITY OF CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY DO NOT WANT THIS BOARD, THIS PROPOSAL TO GO THROUGH.
I THINK THAT'S BEEN OBVIOUS TONIGHT.
AND IT NEEDS TO TAKE A STEP BACK.
REMEMBER THAT YOU WORK FOR US.
WE HIRED YOU, YOU WORK FOR US.
I BELIEVE THAT WE ALL SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN THIS.
DO NOT FORGET THE WORDS OF ONE OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS AND VIRGINIA PATRIOT THOMAS JEFFERSON.
THINK ABOUT THAT FOUNDING FATHER, I URGE YOU TO TABLE THIS SO THAT THE PEOPLE OF WARREN COUNTY DON'T HAVE TO LIVE WITHOUT THEIR BOOKS.
HELLO, MY NAME IS MICHELLE LAER.
I RESIDE IN THE SANTO DISTRICT.
I AM ON THE SAMUELS LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES SERVING THE ROLE OF TREASURER.
I'M HERE TO TALK TODAY ABOUT TRUTHS AND WHAT TRUTHS ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO READ THE REPORT LEADING UP TO THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE FOR THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD.
THE TRUTH IS THE NUMBERS IN THE REPORT ARE WRONG OR MISLEADING.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE REPORT REFLECTS TAXPAYERS PAID 88% OF ALL PUBLIC COSTS FROM 2007 TO 2023.
BUT INCLUDED IN THAT NUMBER IS OVER $6 MILLION OF COST FOR A BUILDING THE COUNTY OWNS, NOT THE LIBRARY CLEARLY MISLEADING.
THE TRUTH IS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS COMMITTEE NEVER MET WITH THE LIBRARY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE LIBRARY'S FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OR OPERATIONS.
EARLY ON IN MR. JAMISON'S TERM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER, YOU COULDN'T RECONCILE THE COUNTY BUDGET REQUEST FORM TO SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY OPERATING BUDGET.
WE TOOK YOUR RED LINED DOCUMENT AND WERE ABLE TO RECONCILE
[03:15:01]
IT FOR YOU AND SEND IT BACK TO YOU.WE NEVER HEARD FROM YOU AGAIN.
THE TRUTH IS THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE OF FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT.
NOWHERE IN THE 58 PAGES OF THE 58 PAGE REPORT, WHAT'S FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT CITED.
SO WHY IS FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT USED AS A RATIONALE FOR THIS BOARD? THE TRUTH IS THERE'S NUMEROUS POINTS IN WHICH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT OF SAMUEL'S SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY FINANCIALS ARE REVIEWED AND DISCUSSED AT EVERY BIMONTHLY TRUSTEE MEETING ANNUALLY.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DETERMINES THE BUDGET LIBRARY, THE THE LIBRARY BUDGET.
AT ANY TIME, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CAN MAKE FINANCIAL REQUESTS JUST AS YOU DID WHEN YOU COULDN'T RECONCILE OUR BUDGET DOCUMENT TO YOUR COUNTY FORM.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REPRESENT REPRESENTATIVES CAN ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN ALL LIBRARY BOARD MEETINGS.
THE TRUTH IS FOUR OUT OF FIVE OF YOU PARTICIPATED IN THE 2023 BOOK CHALLENGE AGAINST THE LIBRARY.
THE TRUTH IS, THE LIBRARY SUPPORTERS WHO HAVE WRITTEN TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WHO ARE SPEAKING ON THE BEHALF OF THE LIBRARY, ATTENDING MEETINGS, READING THE DOCUMENTS, THESE PEOPLE REPRESENT THE WARREN COUNTY AND SHOULD NOT BE SILENCED BY A VOTE THAT DOES NOT REPRESENT THEM.
AND MY OWN FINAL TRUTH IS THAT AFTER LISTENING TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS SPEAK AT THE NOVEMBER 19TH MEETING, AFTER HEARING THE FACTS OF FROM THE SAMUELS LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT THE TOWN HALLS, AFTER LISTENING TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS SPEAK TONIGHT, IF YOU STILL VOTE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD, I QUESTION THE LEGITIMACY OF THIS PROCESS, WHICH SCARES ME MORE THAN ANY BOOK ON ANY SHELF IN ANY LIBRARY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
MY NAME IS SUSAN BLOSS AND I'M FROM, UH, SHENANDOAH DISTRICT.
AND FIRST OF ALL, AGAIN, LAST TIME I WAS UP HERE, I THANKED YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR TIME AND I AGAIN, WANNA DO THAT.
UM, I SEE YOU AS THE WEARER OF TWO HATS, YOUR STEWARDS OF OUR MONEY AND REPRESENTATIVE VOICES FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE IN CONFLICT WITH EACH OTHER.
I'VE BEEN DOING ALL THE RESEARCH, READ THE REPORTS AND ALL THE ADDENDUMS TO THAT.
AND THE NUMBERS DO MAKE A CA POWERFUL CASE FOR THE GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT OF THE SAMUELS LIBRARY.
LETTERS TO THE EDITORS SUGGEST THOUGH THAT THIS IS NOT WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS.
WHY SHOULD THEY WITH SUCH AN EXEMPLARY LIBRARY? I'VE ATTENDED THE SAMUELS, UH, TRUSTEE MEETING ON SATURDAY AND I WAS IMPRESSED WITH ALL OF THE, UH, EXPERTISE THAT THE TRUSTEES HAD AND HOW THEY HANDLED THE MATTER.
ALL MATTERS AND HAD DIVISION OF LABOR AND THE STAFF IS DESERVING.
AND, BUT THE COMMUNITY IS PERSEVERANT IN THAT NOTHING SHOULD BE CHANGED.
BUT IN ALL TOUGH SITUATIONS, THERE MUST BE A COMPROMISING POSITION.
AND IF YOUR RESEARCH SUGGESTS A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD IS, UH, THE BEST THING FOR THE COUNTY, THEN PERHAPS AT SOME POINT IT COULD BE WOVEN INTO THE GOVERNANCE OF THE TAXPAYER, UH, GOVERNANCE OF THE BOARD OF THE, I'M SORRY, THE SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
UM, BUT I THINK SLOWING THE PROCESS IS THE BEST THING FOR ALL PARTIES.
THERE'S ALREADY AN MOA IN EFFECT UNTIL JUNE 30TH THIS COMING YEAR.
YOU DON'T HAVE HAVE TO RUSH ALL THIS.
THIS GIVES YOU TIME TO ADDRESS THE, UH, CHAPTER SEVEN ORDINANCE.
AND LIKE YOU MADE CHANGES TONIGHT, YOU MIGHT FIND THAT THERE ARE OTHER ONES TO DO.
UM, OVERALL I WANNA END WITH THIS.
THAT THE ONE WORD THAT I KEPT THINKING OF WHEN AFTER I ATTENDED THE, UH, THE SAMUELS, UM, TOWN HALL MEETING IS THEY HAVE SUCH SYNERGY.
AND FOR JUST A REMINDER, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE HEARD IT BEFORE, IT MEANS THE INTERACTION BETWEEN TWO AGENTS OR FORCES SO THAT THEIR COMBINED EFFORT IS GREATER THAN THE SUM OF THE INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS.
THAT'S WHAT THE TRUSTEE BOARD SHOWS.
NOW, IF YOU WANNA INCORPORATE A LIBRARY BOARD INTO THIS, THEY HAVE TO BE WORKED INTO THE SYNERGY.
AND ON DECK WE HAVE DANIELLE FUR, ETHAN, HE AND KATES.
[03:20:03]
HELLO, MY NAME IS MARIA HILLEL.I LIVE IN THE FORK DISTRICT AND I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I HAVE BEEN GOING TO SAMUELS SINCE BEFORE I CAN REMEMBER.
I GREW UP IN THE LOCAL CATHOLIC HOMESCHOOL COMMUNITY.
AND WE USE THE RESOURCES SAMUELS PROVIDES ON A REGULAR BASIS.
SOME OF YOU MAY RECOGNIZE ME FROM SAMUELS, WHERE I HAVE WORKED FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.
SAMUELS IS WHERE MY LOVE OF READING WAS FOSTERED FROM A YOUNG AGE.
IT HAS BEEN A SAFE AND COMFORTING SPACE TO ME FOR MANY YEARS.
WHEN I FIRST SAW A POSITION OPEN AT SAMUELS, I WAS SO EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AT AN INSTITUTION THAT HAD MEANT SO MUCH TO ME.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW BLESSED I HAVE BEEN TO WATCH THE LOVE OF READING A COMMUNITY GROW IN THE HUNDREDS OF PATRONS I ASSIST ON A DAILY BASIS.
I HAD ALWAYS HOPED TO CONTINUE TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY AT SAMUEL'S FOR YEARS TO COME.
I HAD A PATRON JUST THIS MORNING WHO WAS UNAWARE OF OUR CURRENT SITUATION AND EXCITED ABOUT OUR HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE THIS WEEKEND.
AND SHE SHARED THAT THEY LIVE HALF OF THE, THE YEAR IN NEW YORK.
AND THAT EVEN WITH ALL THE FUNDING, THOSE LIBRARIES THERE HAVE, SHE'S ALWAYS IMPRESSED WITH HOW COMPARABLE SAMUEL'S MANAGES TO BE WITH THEM IN OUR PROGRAMS AND COLLECTION.
SHE SAID SHE ACTUALLY PREFERS COMING TO SAMUELS.
INTERACTIONS LIKE THIS HAPPEN FREQUENTLY AND MAKE ME GRATEFUL TO BE A SMALL PART OF SOMETHING THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO SO MANY THE PEOPLE OF WARREN COUNTY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT SAMUELS BECAUSE IT, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN BUILT BY THIS COMMUNITY, FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY HAVE GIVEN IT THEIR TIME IN VOLUNTEERING AND DONATIONS FOR COUNTLESS PROJECTS AND MANY PROGRAMS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND SPONSORSHIPS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT OVER YEARS WITH SAMUEL'S.
THEY LOVE IT BECAUSE IT IS THEIRS.
RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS LIKE SAMUEL'S HAS ARE NOT BUILT OVERNIGHT.
AND TO START A NEW LIBRARY DISREGARDS THE IMPORTANCE THESE RELATIONSHIPS HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I HOPE FOR A PRODUCTIVE FUTURE BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND SAMUELS, AND THAT NO HASTY DECISIONS ARE MADE BEFORE THE TWO BOARDS CAN COME TOGETHER AND NEGOTIATE A WAY FORWARD THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE LOSING THE IMPORTANT RESOURCES AND CONNECTIONS SAMUELS PROVIDES.
HELLO, MY NAME IS DANIELLE FUR.
I LIVE IN STRASSBURG AND I'VE WORKED AT SAMUEL'S LIBRARY FOR ALMOST 12 YEARS.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN WARREN COUNTY, A VORACIOUS READER.
I WAS AT SAMUEL'S LIBRARY AS OFTEN AS I COULD CONVINCE MY PARENTS TO BRING ME.
MY FATHER, RICHARD FUR, SERVED THIS COMMUNITY FOR 30 YEARS AS AN OFFICER WITH THE FRONT ROYAL POLICE DEPARTMENT UNTIL HE RETIRED AS POLICE CHIEF IN 2012.
AS I GREW OLDER AND STARTED THINKING ABOUT WHAT I WANTED TO DO WITH MY LIFE, I KNEW THAT LIKE MY FATHER, I WANTED A CAREER WHERE I COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
WHEN I JOINED SAMUEL'S LIBRARY AS A MEMBER OF THE CIRCULATION TEAM IN 2013, I KNEW I'D FOUND MY CALLING.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT IS TO BRING PEOPLE INFORMATION AND IDEAS TOGETHER TO ENRICH LIVES AND BUILD COMMUNITY.
IT HAS BEEN MY PRIVILEGE TO WATCH THIS HAPPEN IN REAL TIME.
DURING THE YEARS I HAVE WORKED AT THE LIBRARY, WE HAVE BUILT A CHILDREN'S GARDEN WITH AN AMAZING GIANT CHESS SET THAT IS PEOPLE STOPPING BY JUST SO THEY CAN GO IN AND PLAY.
WE'VE PARTNERED WITH PARKS AND REC TO CREATE A STORY WALK AT EASTON PARK FOR FAMILIES TO READ A STORY WHILE ENJOYING THE BEAUTIFUL RIVER WALK.
WE JOINED THE THOUSAND BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM AND ADDED A SPECIAL COLLECTION OF CLASSIC CHILDREN'S LITERATURE TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO READ A THOUSAND BOOKS TO THEIR CHILD BEFORE THEY START KINDERGARTEN WITH PARTIES CELEBRATING THE CHILD WHEN THEY REACH CERTAIN MILESTONES.
WE ADDED A GRAPHIC NOVEL COLLECTION ON THE ADULT SIDE FOR MANGA AND COMIC BOOKS THAT HAS BEEN WILDLY POPULAR, AS WELL AS AN ANNUAL MINI COMIC COMIC-CON THAT CONSISTENTLY DRAWS A THOUSAND OR MORE VISITORS IN A SINGLE DAY.
IN 2020, WE ADDED A LAPTOP AND HOTSPOT LENDING PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY'S NEED FOR AT-HOME ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY.
WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR ADULT SPANISH LANGUAGE BOOK COLLECTION AND ADDED A CHILDREN'S SPANISH LANGUAGE COLLECTION FEATURING MINI BILINGUAL BOOKS TO HELP BOTH ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND ENGLISH SPEAKERS WHO ARE LEARNING SPANISH.
THIS IS ONLY A SMALL SAMPLE OF THE MANY WAYS THAT SAMUEL'S LIBRARY HAS GROWN TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR WARREN COUNTY COMMUNITY.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH SO MANY PATRONS WHO TELL ME THAT SAMUEL'S LIBRARY WAS A MAJOR FACTOR IN WHY THEY CHOSE TO MOVE TO WARREN COUNTY OVER OTHER SURROUNDING AREAS.
VISITORS ARE ALWAYS AMAZED AT OUR LIBRARY AND HOW BEAUTIFUL AND WELL RUN IT IS.
OUR STAFF IS KNOWLEDGEABLE AND WELCOMING AND A PRICELESS PART OF WHAT MAKES SAMUEL'S LIBRARY ONE OF THE BEST ASSETS IN WARREN COUNTY.
I ASK THE BOARD TO RECOGNIZE THAT SAMUEL'S LIBRARY IS A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT OF TAX DOLLARS, EXACTLY AS IT IS.
[03:25:04]
UH, HELLO.MY NAME IS ETHAN HEN AND I ACTUALLY TRAVELED HERE FROM WINCHESTER, SO I'M SURE YOU CAN GUESS I'M THRILLED AT HOW LONG THIS MEETING'S GOING.
UH, I, UM, AM 21 YEARS OLD, GOING TO BE 22.
I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY DESERVES A LOT OF CREDIT FOR THAT.
UH, AROUND 2018, UH, MY DAD OFFICIALLY MOVED OUT DUE TO THE DIVORCE, AND THAT MEANT A LONG COMMUTE BETWEEN THE TWO PLACES, AND I WASN'T IN A GREAT PLACE TOP TO BOTTOM.
I WAS FIGURING OUT WHAT LIFE WAS REALLY LIKE AND I WAS REALLY, AND I WAS HOMESCHOOLED, SO I WAS REALLY LACKING A SOCIAL ELEMENT THAT I FOUND THAT I REALLY WANTED IN MYSELF.
I, UM, UH, I WANNA MAKE MOVIES ONE DAY.
I WANT TO BE PART OF PEOPLE, AND I JUST WASN'T, UH, HAVING THAT AT THE TIME.
HOWEVER, I DID LOVE BOOKS, UH, VERY DEARLY, AND SO THROUGH THAT I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE LIBRARY, AND THROUGH THAT, I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE VOLUNTEERING THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO DO IN THE CHILDREN'S SECTION.
UM, I STARTED ON THURSDAYS, WHICH WAS A QUIETER DAY, BUT THE WONDERFUL HEAD OF THE CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT OF MCHALE, UH, CONVINCED ME TO GO TO SATURDAY BECAUSE SHE COULD TELL THAT I WAS MADE FOR THE MORE SOCIAL HECTIC TO AND FRO FOOT TRAFFIC.
AND SO AFTER BEGGING AND PLEADING WITH MY DAD TO LET ME DO THAT, I FINALLY, UH, WAS ABLE TO START GOING THERE.
PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSE TO ME CAN ATTEST THAT THIS IS TRUE BECAUSE I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE.
MY TIME SPENT VOLUNTEERING AT SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY SAVED MY LIFE.
I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT I WOULD'VE ENDED IT GIVEN THE POINT I WAS AT, THAT IF IT WASN'T FOR THE OUTREACH AND THE COMMUNITY AND THE WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PLACE THAT THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED THERE OVER YEARS AND YEARS OF BEING THE BEST LIBRARY, UH, FRANKLY EVER.
MY TWO BEST FRIENDS ARE TWO WOMEN THAT I MET THERE THAT I TALK TO ON A DAILY BASIS, AND THEY ENRICH MY LIVES.
IT IT, IT AFFECTED ME IN SO MANY WAYS.
I WANT, UH, RIGHT NOW I'M ON THE CAREER PATH TO BECOME A LIBRARIAN, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF MY TIME SPENT VOLUNTEERING THERE.
HERE, THERE ARE A MILLION, MILLION REASONS WHY I THINK SO.
A SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY SHOULD STAY EXACTLY AS IT IS FROM, UH, CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH, UH, OBVIOUS XENOPHOBIA, UM, PLAIN HUMAN DECENCY.
HOWEVER, I THINK THE NUMBER ONE, THE NUMBER ONE REASON, THE NUMBER ONE REASON WITHOUT A DOUBT, IS THAT I AM TERRIFIED OF THE CONSEQUENCES THAT THERE IS SOMEONE OUT THERE LIKE ME RIGHT NOW, AND THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE A SAMUELS LIKE THE ONE THAT I FOUND IF THIS PLAN GOES THROUGH THE BOARD.
HAVE A FANTASTIC REST OF YOUR EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR STAYING SO LONG.
ON ON DECK, WE HAVE JEN RITEN BOW, NANCY SMITH AND JAMES FOX.
MY NAME IS KATE TROCHE AND I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF THE SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
I'VE BEEN A TAXPAYER IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT SINCE 2008, AND I OPPOSE THE FORMATION OF THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD.
I'VE BEEN IN THE AUDIT AND ACCOUNTING PROFESSION FOR 32 YEARS.
I BEGAN AS AN AUDITOR WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSPECTOR GENERAL, WHERE THE MISSION WAS TO LOOK FOR FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE.
I THEN WORKED AS A CPA WHO HELD LICENSES IN MULTIPLE STATES AND WHERE MY WORK OBJECTIVE WAS TO IDENTIFY MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS AND GIVE AN AUDIT OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND INTERNAL CONTROLS OF AN ORGANIZATION.
IN A CAREER WHERE I HAVE DETECTED FRAUD, HAVE SEEN MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS, AND HAVE SEEN WASTE AND ABUSE OF BOTH TAXPAYER AND CORPORATE DOLLARS.
I HAVE SEEN NONE OF THAT WITH SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND WHILE MY TENURE ON THE BOARD HAS NOT BEEN LONG, I'VE SPENT HOURS REVIEWING THE FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS OF THIS LIBRARY AND MY OPINION.
THE FUNDS GIVEN TO SAMUELS MAY BE ONE OF THE FEW USES OF COUNTY MONEY THAT DOES NOT NEED MORE OVERSIGHT.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THE CREDENTIALS OF THIS ORGANIZATION AND THE TRANSPARENCY OF ITS REPORTING TO THE COUNTY, STATE, AND ITS DONORS, AND UNDERSTAND THAT ADEQUATE OVERSIGHT IS IN PLACE.
THE DISPROPORTIONATE ATTENTION AND DOLLARS SPENT BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THIS LATEST EFFORTS TO TAKE DOWN THE LIBRARY ARE WHAT IS WASTEFUL.
MY WISH AS A TAXPAYER IS THAT YOU WOULD DEVOTE YOUR ATTENTION TO THE AREAS OF THE COUNTY THAT DO NOT HAVE THESE CONTROLS IN PLACE.
MY WISH IS THAT YOU WOULD FOCUS ON THE FRAUD AND SCANDALS THAT HAVE BEEN COMMITTED IN THIS COUNTY AND PREVENT THEM FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.
MY WISH IS THAT YOU WOULD WORK TO BETTER OVERSEE RECLAIMING THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WERE LOST TO SUCH FRAUD.
[03:30:01]
SAMUEL HAS CONTROLS IN PLACE AND HAS A CLEAN AUDIT OPINION FROM AN INDEPENDENT CPA FIRM.IT DOES NOT NEED ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT.
CAN THE SAME BE SAID FOR THE OTHER USES OF COUNTY FUNDS AS A TAXPAYER, I ASK YOU TO BE TRANSPARENT IN WHAT THIS ORDINANCE WILL COST US.
NO FINANCIAL DETAILS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC FOR YOUR PLAN, AND YET YOU'RE TRYING TO PUSH THROUGH THIS NEW BOARD REGARDLESS.
NO TIME HAS BEEN ALLOWED FOR TAXPAYERS TO GET CLARITY AND ANSWERS.
IN 2017, IT WAS NOT FOUND TO BE COST BENEFICIAL TO CHANGE THE STRUCTURE OF THIS PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
IT APPEARS THAT NO SUCH DUE DILIGENCE HAS BEEN DONE AT THIS TIME.
IT IS TRULY, IF IT IS TRULY YOUR OBJECTIVE, THAT LESS MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT ON THE LIBRARY, THEN NEGOTIATE WITH THE SAMUEL'S REPRESENTATIVES TO COME TO A COMPROMISE ON SPENDING.
HAD YOUR ACTIONS BEEN TRANSPARENT AND ABOVE BOARD IN THE PAST YEAR, TAXPAYERS WOULD ALREADY HAVE BEEN SAVED.
YOUR TIME IS BETTER SPENT NOT IN TRYING TO TAKE DOWN A COMMUNITY TREASURE, BUT RATHER IN PRESERVING SOMETHING THAT PROVIDES SO MUCH GOOD FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
HELLO, I'M JENNIFER RITTENBACH.
WE'VE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THIS MANY TIMES AS A NATION THEOCRATS OVERREACH AND TRY TO FORCE THEIR RELIGION ON THE REST OF US.
WE ALWAYS STOP YOU BECAUSE AS MUCH AS YOU HATE THE FIRST AMENDMENT, IT APPLIES TO ALL AMERICANS EQUALLY.
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WILLIAM J. BRENNAN WROTE, IF THERE IS A BEDROCK PRINCIPLE UNDERLYING THE FIRST AMENDMENT, IT IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT MAY NOT PROHIBIT THE EXPRESSION OF AN IDEA SIMPLY BECAUSE SOCIETY FINDS THE IDEA ITSELF OFFENSIVE OR DISAGREEABLE.
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WILLIAM O. DOUGLAS WROTE LITERATURE SHOULD NOT BE SUPPRESSED MERELY BECAUSE IT OFFENDS THE MORAL CODE OF THE CENSOR.
A HOSTILE TAKEOVER OF A PUBLIC LIBRARY BY A GROUP OF THEOCRATS IS UN-AMERICAN.
IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT YOU PERSONALLY DETEST L-G-B-T-Q PEOPLE.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT STILL APPLIES.
HE SAID FREE SPEECH IS THE WHOLE THING.
THE WHOLE BALL GAME FREE SPEECH IS LIFE ITSELF.
HE SHOULD KNOW THEOCRATS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MURDER HIM FOR HIS BOOK, THE SATANIC VERSES.
FOR DECADES, PENN AMERICA ALREADY SUED THE ESCAMBIA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN FLORIDA FOR PULLING THIS KIND OF NONSENSE.
YOU MAY BE SUED NEXT VOTE AGAINST THIS UNNECESSARY BOARD.
STOP INTERFERING WITH OUR LIBRARY.
NANCY SMITH, SHENANDOAH DISTRICT.
MY HUSBAND AND I ARE BOTH RETIRED TEACHERS OF 30 YEARS.
I HAVE A BA IN ELEMENTARY ED AND SPECIAL ED AND I HAVE A MASTER'S IN EARLY CHILDHOOD.
I WANTED TO BE CERTAIN TO PROVIDE THAT MY ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANNA BE CALLED DUMB AS ROCKS BY SOME OF YOU.
I KEEP ASKING MYSELF OVER AND OVER.
HOW DID WE GET HERE? THIS IS SURREAL.
TONIGHT, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS VOTING ON WHETHER TO ADOPT AN UNWARRANTED TAKEOVER OF THE SAMUELS LIBRARY.
THIS IS LESS THAN 30 DAYS AFTER JAMON BLINDSIDED OUR COUNTY WITH THIS DOCUMENT THAT IS FULL OF MISINFORMATION.
LET'S GO THROUGH, THROUGH THE DATES.
NOVEMBER 12TH, JAMISON PRESENTED A FINAL 2023 LIBRARY DEBRIEF AND RESEARCH AT THE BOS WORK SESSION.
THE SAMUELS LIBRARY HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT UNTIL CONTACTED BY A NEWS REPORTER THE NEXT DAY.
WHAT HAPPENED TO TRANSPARENCY? WHAT HAPPENED TO COLLABORATION? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DECADES OF THE BOS AND THE SAMUELS LIBRARY TRUSTEES WORKING TOGETHER, COLLABORATING FOR THE GOOD OF OUR WARREN COUNTY? NOVEMBER 20TH, THE WARREN COUNTY BOS VOTED FOUR TO ONE TO ADVERTISE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FORMATION OF A NEW COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD.
20 SPEAKERS URGED AGAINST CREATING THIS NEW LIBRARY BOARD.
ONE PERSON DESCENDED DECEMBER 4TH AND SEVENTH.
SAMUEL'S LIBRARY PROVIDED A Q AND A TO SHA SHARE FACTS, A POWERPOINT AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS, WHICH THEY ANSWERED.
I ATTENDED BOTH TWO AND A HALF HOUR SESSIONS ON SATURDAY.
THE QUESTION I ASKED THE SAMUEL'S LIBRARY WAS, YOU HAVE MONTHLY, DO YOU HAVE MONTHLY BUDGET MEETINGS OR BI-MONTHLY BUDGET MEETINGS? UM, AND THEY REPLIED, YES.
DO YOU DETAIL OUT THE EXPEND EXPENDITURES AND FUNDS? YES.
I SEE THAT ONE BOS ATTENDS AND REPORTS BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
ARE ALL OF THE BOS SUPERVISORS INVITED TO THESE MEETINGS? YES.
HAVE THEY ATTENDED THESE MEETINGS? NO.
[03:35:02]
HAS JAMISON ATTENDED ANY OF THESE BUDGET MEETINGS? NO.DECEMBER 4TH, JAMISON ADDED AN ADDENDUM TO THE 2023 LIBRARY DEBRIEF, WHEREAS THE EOS OF WARREN COUNTY HAS DECIDED THAT IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF ITS CITIZENS TO ESTABLISH A LIBRARY BOARD.
WHAT DO YOU BASE THAT DECISION ON? YOU CERTAINLY HAVE NOT BEEN LISTENING TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS, AND THEN THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF MISHANDLING OF FUNDS BY SAMUEL'S LIBRARY.
AT THE END OF JAMESON'S PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO BE VOTED ON TONIGHT, IT STATES THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE UPON ADOPTION.
AGAIN, WHY THE RUSH? THANK YOU.
ON DECK, I HAVE LORI GERARD, TRACY LANE, AND DR.
I'M FROM THE FORKS DISTRICT AND I'M ALSO A, A MEMBER AT SAMUEL'S LIBRARY.
UM, SO MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PROPOSED BOARD ARE THAT IF TAXPAYERS PROVIDE THE MAJORITY OF THE FUNDING FOR THE LIBRARY, WHETHER IT'S 83% OR 69%, IT MAKES SENSE FOR 'EM TO HAVE A LOT MORE REPRESENTATION THAN THE CURRENT ONE BOARD MEMBER.
UM, AND THIS NEW, UH, COMMITTEE SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD STEP IN THE RIGHT, UH, THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR MORE REPRESENTATION FOR ALL WARREN COUNTY RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS ALIGNING WITH BEST PRACTICES FOR OTHER PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THE REGION, IN THE REGION.
I ALSO HOPE THAT THE NEW COMMITTEE WOULD POSSIBLY LOOK INTO WHY THE LIBRARY IS SPENDING $50,000 ON THESE AD CAMPAIGNS WHEN THEY ALSO, UH, CLAIM TO BE DESPERATELY A NEED OF MONEY FOR MAKING ALL THESE REPAIRS, SUCH AS FOR THE ROOF, THE LIGHTING IN THE PARKING LOT, ET CETERA.
IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD POSSIBLY BE A BETTER USE OF THEIR FUNDS.
UM, AND THEN BESIDES THAT, I'VE BEEN, UH, HEARING A LOT TODAY ABOUT, UH, ACCUSING THE BOARD OF ENCOURAGING DIVISIVENESS, UM, AND ABOUT HOW SAMUELS IS FOR EVERYONE.
AND YET SO MANY OF THESE SUPPORTERS, I'VE BEEN HEARING THEM ATTACKING THE MAJORITY, THE VAST MAJORITY OF WARREN COUNTY VOTERS.
I'VE BEEN HEARING THEM ATTACKING DIFFERENT FAITH COMMUNITIES IN THIS AREA, AND I DON'T, AND I DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN TRULY BE, UH, A WELCOMING SPACE FOR ALL WARREN COUNTY RESIDENTS WHILE YOU'RE DOING THIS.
AND I THINK THIS NEW BOARD COULD BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR, UM, MAKING SURE THAT ALL WARREN COUNTY VOTERS ARE TRULY REPRESENTED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.
I AM IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT AND HAVE LIVED THERE SINCE AUGUST OF 2000.
I SIT ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.
TODAY I WANNA TALK ABOUT LIMITED GOVERNMENT IN ITS SIMPLEST FORM, LIMITED AND GO LIMITED GOVERNMENT IS THE BELIEF THAT GOVERNMENTAL POWER SHOULD BE RESTRICTED SO AS NOT TO INFRINGE ON INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS.
GOVERNMENT, WHILE NECESSARY FOR MAINTAINING ORDER AND PROTECTING CITIZENS SHOULD NOT HAVE UNCHECKED AUTHORITY OVER PEOPLE'S LIVES.
THE ORIGINS OF LIMITED, OF LIMITED GO GOVERNMENT CAN BE TRACED BACK TO ENLIGHTENMENT THINKERS LIKE JOHN LOCKE AND MONTESQUIEU, THEY ARGUE THAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE NATURAL RIGHTS TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND PROPERTY, AND THAT ANY GOVERNMENT MUST BE BOUND BY LAWS THAT PROTECT THESE RIGHTS.
LOCKE BELIEVES THAT THE POWER OF THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE LIMITED TO ITS ROLE IN PROTECTING THE PUBLIC GOOD, AND THAT ANY OVERREACH COULD LEAD TO TYRANNY.
AT THE CORE OF LIMITED LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS THE BELIEF THAT POWER SHOULD BE DISTRIBUTED AS CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SHOULD ADDRESS ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT THEIR COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS EDUCATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND ZONING.
HOWEVER, THEIR AUTHORITY MUST BE CONSTRAINED TO AVOID INFRINGING ON PERSONAL LIBERTIES AND TO MAINTAIN A BALANCE OF POWER.
SUBSIDIARITIES ARE A KEY COMPONENT OF LIMITED GOVERNMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WHERE MATTERS SHOULD BE HANDLED BY THE SMALLEST OR LEAST CENTRALIZED AUTHORITY CAPABLE OF ADDRESSING THEM.
THIS MEANS THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SHOULD ONLY INTERVENE IN AREAS WHERE THEY CAN HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON THEIR CITIZENS' WELLBEING.
FOR EXAMPLE, THEY SHOULD REGULATE THINGS LIKE ZONING LAWS OR LOCAL POLICE SERVICES, BUT THEY SHOULD NOT OVERSTEP INTO AREAS LIKE CONTROLLING PERSONAL BEHAVIOR OR IMPOSING UNNECESSARY RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESSES.
[03:40:01]
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WAYS TO ENSURE LIMITED LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS THROUGH A TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.LOCAL LEADERS MUST BE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF ALL THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND ENSURE THAT THEIR ACTIONS ARE GUIDED BY THE PUBLIC'S BEST INTERESTS.
DECISIONS SHOULD BE MADE THROUGH OPEN PROCESSES, AND THERE SHOULD BE CHECKS AND BALANCES TO PREVENT ANY ONE PERSON OR GROUP WITHIN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FROM GAINING TOO MUCH CONTROL.
MOREOVER, LIMITED LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEANS THAT COMMUNITIES HAVE THE AUTONOMY TO DECIDE WHAT WORKS BEST FOR THEM.
WHILE BEING MINDFUL OF BROADER REGIONAL OR STATE INTERESTS.
IT'S ABOUT STRIKING A BALANCE BETWEEN ENSURING COMMUNITIES CAN ADDRESS THEIR UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND MAINTAINING RESPECT FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS. IN CONCLUSION, A LIMITED LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS ONE THAT RESPECTS THE AUTONOMY AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUALS, WHILE ENSURING THAT LOCAL LEADERS EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
BY KEEPING GOVERNMENT POWERS WELL-DEFINED AND FOCUSED ON LOCAL NEEDS, WE CAN FOSTER STRONGER, MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITIES WHERE PERSONAL LIBERTY AND COLLECTIVE WELLBEING COEXIST.
I'M RESPECTFULLY ASK, I'M RESPECTFULLY ASKING YOU TO EITHER TABLE OR VOTE NO ON THIS MEASURE.
I LIVE IN THE SHENANDOAH DISTRICT.
I DON'T HAVE ANY WRITTEN NOTES.
I CAME TO LISTEN AND STAND VIGIL FOR OUR LIBRARY AND FOR THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT NEED THE LIBRARY AS IT IS AND NOT INTERFERED WITH.
UM, I DIDN'T KEEP TRACK OF HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE FOUR AND HOW MANY WERE AGAINST, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THERE'S AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME OUT AND IT'S, YOU KNOW WHAT? MIDNIGHT I'M GONNA BE TEACHING NINTH GRADERS IN A COUPLE HOURS.
YOU GOTTA BE CONSCIOUS FOR THAT.
ANYWAY, THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME IS ONE, THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WANTS TO DO FISCAL OVERSIGHT.
I'VE LOOKED AT YOUR, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS.
I'VE FOIAED THEM FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
AND THE IDEA THAT YOU GUYS ARE GONNA DO FISCAL OVERSIGHT OF SAMUEL'S LIBRARY IS LAUGHABLE.
OKAY? UM, WE KNOW THIS IS NOT ABOUT THAT.
WE KNOW THAT 2016, NOVEMBER, 2016, MY CHILDREN WERE AT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.
MY DAUGHTER WAS AFRAID TO GO TO SCHOOL FOR MORE THAN A WEEK BECAUSE SHE WAS GETTING FOLLOWED THROUGH THE HALLWAYS CALLED F****T.
SHE WAS TRAPPED ON A SCHOOL BUS FOR TWO HOURS WHEN IT GOT CAUGHT AT THE TRAIN TRACKS CALLED F****T.
ALL RIGHT? MY CHILD LEFT THIS COMMUNITY AND NOW LIVES IN RICHMOND AND WON'T COME BACK HERE.
THE LIBRARY WAS WHAT SAVED HER.
YOU GUYS HEARD MY YOUNGEST A LITTLE WHILE AGO, EWEN, THAT'S MY BABY 23.
HIM STANDING UP HERE TODAY BEFORE YOU, WAS THE FIRST TIME HE HAS EVER STOOD UP FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN HIS, HIS ENTIRE LIFE.
THAT'S MY KID THAT GOT PERSECUTED IN OUR SCHOOLS.
AND SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS THEIR SANCTUARY.
YOU'VE HEARD OTHER KIDS, OTHER YOUNG ADULTS WHO HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW THAT LIBRARY SAVED THEM.
IF YOU GUYS VOTE TO DO WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING TO DO, YOU'RE NOT VOTING BECAUSE YOU REALLY, TRULY BELIEVE THAT THAT'S WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU'RE VOTING FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL BELIEFS BECAUSE IF YOU WERE VOTING FOR WHAT YOU THOUGHT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR KIDS, YOU'D BE LISTENING TO THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE HERE.
TONIGHT, I TEACH NINTH GRADE ENGLISH, AND I TEACH 12TH GRADE ENGLISH THIS YEAR.
I HAVE NINTH GRADERS THAT ARE READING ON THE THIRD GRADE LEVEL.
THIRD GRADE, AND I TEACH IN LOUDOUN COUNTY.
THAT'S WHERE THE RICHEST COUNTIES IN THIS COUNTRY, AND WE'VE GOT KIDS READING ON A THIRD GRADE LEVEL LEVEL.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO DAMAGE OUR LIBRARIES.
AND ON DECK, I HAVE CRAIG FERGUS, CELESTE BROOKS, AND MARGARET THURMOND, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M FROM NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UH, I WANT TO SAY FIRST, UH, THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS NOT AN EASY JOB, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT Y'ALL ARE, WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT ALL THE CITIZENS OF WARREN COUNTY, NOT JUST THOSE IN YOUR DISTRICT OR SPECIAL
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INTERESTS.I THINK THAT, UH, IT SEEMS CLEAR FROM THE OUTPOURING THAT WE'VE SEEN TONIGHT AND PREVIOUSLY, THAT YOUR PREMISE THAT THE MAJORITY OF CITIZENS DO NOT AGREE WITH YOUR PLANS.
EXCUSE ME, FOR THE COUNTY TO TAKE OVER SAMUEL'S, UH, LIBRARY.
IT'S AN EXCELLENT RUN LIBRARY AS YOU'VE ALL KNOWN, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THE TIME TO REITERATE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN OVER.
THEY'VE BEEN OVER PLENTY OF TIMES THAT I'M SURE IT IS LATE AND YOU'RE READY TO GET HOME.
UH, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO REMOVE A SUCCESSFUL ENTERPRISE, UH, JUST WITH NO ASSURANCE THAT THE COUNTY WOULD TAKE IT OVER AND DO A BETTER JOB.
WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE THINGS, AND I WOULD BRING UP ONE AREA, THE 5 0 1 C, IT'S REALLY GONNA BE A PROBLEM IF YOU DO TAKE IT OVER AND YOU CAN'T CONTINUE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE DONATIONS COME IN.
THAT'S WHY THE PEOPLE GIVE, VOLUNTEER THEIR SERVICES.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN AS FAR AS THE LEGAL ASPECTS IF THIS GOES THROUGH, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT WILL ENTAIL.
I THINK THAT, UH, I'LL ASK YOU REALLY JUST TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU SAY NO, BUT IT MAY MAKE MORE SENSE SINCE THERE'S SO MANY OTHER QUESTIONS TO LOOK AT THINGS, GET SOME OTHER ANSWERS, KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS WILL BE IF YOU DO GO THROUGH WITH IT FAR AS LONG TERM, AND PROBABLY HAVE SOME TYPE OF MEDIATION GROUP THAT CAN LOOK AT THINGS AND, AND REACH A REASONABLE CONCLUSION WITH EVERYBODY BEING INVOLVED.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CRAIG FERGUS.
I'M FROM THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT, AND THOSE THAT HAVE SPOKEN IN SUPPORT OF THIS NEW MEASURE HAVE BROUGHT UP THE IDEA OF EFFICIENCY, BROUGHT IN FROM THE NATIONAL POLITICAL IDEAS AS WELL AS JUST WITHIN SPACE.
THE REPORT, I THINK WHEN A CLASSIC PHRASES WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT EFFICIENCY IS MEASURE TWICE CUT ONCE.
YOU DON'T WANNA MESS THE THING UP THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO WORK ON.
THAT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT WHEN THE THING THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON IS SOMETHING THAT'S TREASURED.
AND I'M NOT GONNA, PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN FAR BETTER THAN I COULD ABOUT WHY THEY TREASURE SAMUEL'S LIBRARY.
THERE A TIME WHERE YOU REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU MEASURE TWICE IS WHEN TENSIONS ARE HIGH.
THERE'S POTENTIALLY A REASON WHY YOU COULD BE BIASED IN THE RESULTS THAT YOU'RE SEEING, OR YOU WANT A SECOND PAIR OF EYES THAT HELPS YOU LOOK AT IT, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S IN COMPETITION OR NOT COMPETITION, BUT IN CONTENTION WITH SOMEBODY ELSE.
SO IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE A SINGULAR REPORT THAT ON ITS OWN HAS, THERE'S BEEN CHALLENGES TO THE ACCURACY OR THE QUALITY OF THAT REPORT.
BUT EVEN BEYOND THAT, JUST THE IDEA THAT YOU WOULD HAVE A SINGULAR REPORT AS OPPOSED TO TWO CLEAR COMPARISONS BEFORE MAKING A DECISION.
LIKE THIS SEEMS A POOR MANAGEMENT CHOICE.
OTHERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE IDEA OF BRINGING IN A THIRD PARTY.
THAT SEEMS MUCH MORE RATIONAL AND REASONABLE MOVEMENT AT THIS TIME, GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF TENSIONS THAT'S COME UP IN RELATIONSHIP TO THIS ISSUE.
BUT I WILL SAY IN THAT CONTEXT AS WELL, THE SUPPORTERS OF THIS NEW NEW PROPOSAL, ROB, THE IDEA OF THE LIBRARY BEHAVING INAPPROPRIATELY IN RELATION TO THE TENSIONS FROM LAST YEAR THAT THEY WERE RECALCITRANT TO CHANGE, BUT IT WAS THE LIBRARY THAT I SAW PULL FORWARD COMMON SENSE COMPROMISES, THINGS THAT MAYBE SOME OF THE MORE PASSIONATE FOLKS ON THE SIDE OF THE LIBRARY MIGHT NOT REALLY LIKE, BUT THEY PUT THAT FORWARD AS A MEASURE OF GOOD FAITH THAT SUPPORTED BALANCING THE NEEDS OF THE BREADTH OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY'RE DOING THAT, SEEM LIKE THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.
AND THEN SO WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE RISK OF, AT LEAST FROM THE MONETARY SIDE, 1%, 1% OF THAT BUDGET? YEAH, THAT GOES A LONG WAY AT THE LIBRARY.
BUT FROM WHAT'S COMING OUT OF OUR POCKETS AND WHAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT HOW IT'S BEING SPENT, ARE YOU READY TO HAVE 99 OTHER BOARDS CREATED TO COVER THE REST OF THAT BUDGET? I THINK THAT WOULD BE A LOT OF GOVERNMENT, MORE GOVERNMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE.
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YOU MY MUCH.MY NAME IS CELESTE BROOKS AND I RESIDE IN THE FORK DISTRICT AND I SERVE ON THE SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD.
SEEK JUSTICE, LOVE, MERCY, WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD.
I HAVE HAD TO REPEAT THIS TO MYSELF OFTEN BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN ANGRY.
I PRAY THAT WE ALL HAVE THE HUMILITY TO LISTEN TO EACH OTHER AND SEE WHAT IS TRULY JUST TO ALL INVOLVED.
BUT I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT BEING POSSIBLE BECAUSE IF YOU RUN AN INVESTIGATION WITH A CONCLUSION IN MIND, YOU ARE GOING TO FIND WHAT YOU EXPECTED, WHETHER IT IS THE TRUTH OR NOT.
IF YOU WERE ACTUALLY INTERESTED IN DISCERNING WHAT IS BEST FOR WARREN COUNTY, YOUR COMMITTEE WOULD'VE MIRRORED WHAT WAS DONE IN 2017.
YOU WOULD'VE INCLUDED MEMBERS OF ALL INTERESTED PARTIES AND PERHAPS A NEUTRAL THIRD PARTY.
INSTEAD, TWO OF YOUR MEMBERS WITH AN APPARENT VENDETTA RAN YOUR INVESTIGATION.
AND THE RESULTING REPORT PREDICTABLY SHOWCASES AN INTENSE BIAS AGAINST THE LIBRARY AND IS FULL OF MISINFORMATION.
WE DID NOT SPEND $52,000 OF TAXPAYER MONEY ON A PR FIRM THAT INCLUDED OUR LEGAL FEES, AND IT WAS DONATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT PURPOSE.
YOU ALSO HAVE NO IDEA IF WE WOULD'VE ALLOWED YOU ONE MORE SEAT ON OUR BOARD BECAUSE YOU NEVER ASKED FOR THAT.
YOU PUSHED FOR NUMBERS THAT COULD GIVE YOU A MAJORITY.
WE HAVE PUBLICLY OFFERED TO WORK WITH YOU MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR TO NO AVAIL.
IN FACT, IT SEEMS YOU WERE SO DETERMINED NOT TO WORK WITH US THAT YOU DIDN'T EVEN NOMINATE ANYONE FOR THE THREE OPENINGS ON OUR BOARD THIS YEAR.
NOW WE FACE CONCERNS ABOUT THE BIAS OF ANY FUTURE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD BECAUSE ANYONE APPOINTED BY AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IS LIKELY TO HAVE A POLITICAL AGENDA.
IN CONTRAST, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY, ALL OF WHOM ARE INTELLIGENT, OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONALS AND REPRESENT ALL FIVE MAGISTERIAL DISTRICTS, DID NOT RUN ON A PLATFORM TO RECEIVE THEIR BOARD APPOINTMENTS.
MOST OF THEM, IF NOT ALL, WOULD PREFER TO AVOID POLITICS OF ANY KIND.
THEY WANTED TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY AND CHOSE TO DO SO AT THE LIBRARY.
THEY ATTEND BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS, LEND THEIR EXPERTISE, AND DONATE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO THE LIBRARY EVERY YEAR.
POLITICIANS MAY NOT HAVE TO SET ASIDE THEIR PERSONAL BELIEFS TO SERVE, BUT THE SPL BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND THE STAFF ARE PRETTY MUCH EXPECTED TO DO SO.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT WE THINK ABOUT LGBTQ PLUS, WHAT OUR RELIGION IS, WHAT OUR POLITICAL AFFILIATION IS, WE MUST DECIDE ON POLICIES AND BOOKS THAT SERVE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST THOSE THAT AGREE WITH OUR PERSONAL INTERESTS.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT THE LIBRARY SERVES EVERY WARREN COUNTY CITIZEN TONIGHT.
PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR TWO BOARDS IS IRREPARABLY BROKEN.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT IF WE SHOW MERCY AND FORGIVENESS, IF WE SEEK A RESOLUTION THAT IS JUST FOR ALL AND COMMUNICATE WITH HUMILITY, WE CAN ONCE AGAIN WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF ALL.
AND ON DECK, I HAVE PATRICIA GER, KIM EVANSON, AND KATE BERRY.
I'VE LIVED IN THE FORK DISTRICT FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.
I'M A RETIRED FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER, A RETIRED TEACHER.
I'M CURRENTLY A FEMA RESERVIST, AND I'M A PROUD VOLUNTEER AT THE LIBRARY AND A PAST BOARD MEMBER OF THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY.
AS PREVIOUS SPEAKERS HAVE NOTED, MANY OF US HERE TONIGHT ARE APPALLED THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS DECIDED THAT THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF YOUR ELECTED OFFICE IS TO ATTACK OUR PREMIER COMMUNITY INSTITUTION, THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN, WHICH IS SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.
NO OTHER INSTITUTION IN THIS TOWN SERVES SO MANY OF OUR CITIZENS.
WITHOUT REGARD TO AGE, GENDER, RACE, OR RELIGION, THERE IS NO CHURCH, NO CIVIC ORGANIZATION, NO FRATERNAL ORDER, NO CLUB IN THIS TOWN THAT OPENS ITS DOORS SIX DAYS A WEEK TO WELCOME ANY AND ALL RESIDENTS WITH INTERESTING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, FREE COMPUTERS AND WIFI, COMFORTABLE CHAIRS TO ESCAPE THE HEAT AND THE COLD.
AND OF COURSE, THERE ARE THE WONDERFUL BOOKS.
WONDERING WHY THIS BOARD HAS TARGETED OUR LIBRARY FOR RESTRUCTURING.
I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY THE MAJOR PROBLEMS OF SMALL TOWNS THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSING.
PREVIOUS SPEAKERS HAVE NOTED THE DRUG ISSUES, HOMELESSNESS, AIR, AND WATER QUALITY.
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BUT ONE ISSUE CLOSE TO MY HEART AS A FORK DISTRICT RESIDENT IS PRESERVING THE DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.NO ONE ON THIS BOARD SEEMS CONCERNED THAT MANY OF OUR MOST HISTORIC HOMES IN THE FORK DISTRICT HAVE BEEN CONVERTED INTO MICRO SCHOOLS ON WEST MAIN STREET IN LERAY AVENUE, FOREVER ALTERING OUR IN TOWN NEIGHBORHOODS.
LOOK AT BOWMAN PARK, ANOTHER GEM OF OUR TOWN, WHICH WAS LOVINGLY MAINTAINED FOR DECADES BY THE TREE STEWARDS AND THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE.
IT'S BEEN COMMANDEERED AS A CAFETERIA AND A PLAYGROUND.
THE GRASS HAS GROWN, THE OAK TREES HAVE DIED.
THE FLOWER GARDENS ARE TRAMPLED AND TOWNSPEOPLE NO LONGER FEEL WELCOME IN THEIR OWN PARK.
NOWHERE IN MY RESEARCH DID I FIND PUBLIC LIBRARIES IDENTIFIED AS A MAJOR CONCERN OF 21ST CENTURY SMALL TOWN GOVERNMENTS.
AND YET THIS BOARD SEEMS TO THINK IT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES IN OUR SMALL TOWN BANNING BOOKS AND ATTACKING OUR BELOVED LIBRARY.
DOES NOTHING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OUR TOWNSPEOPLE AND FRANKLY, MAKES FRONT ROYAL LOOK SILLY.
OUR LIBRARY IS NOT AND HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE SOLVED.
I'M FROM THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
I'M VERY NEW IN FRONT ROYAL, AND I WAS DELIGHTED TO FIND OUT THAT OUR NEW HOME WAS SERVED BY SUCH AN EXCEPTIONAL LIBRARY.
THANK YOU TO THE INCREDIBLY TALENTED AND CARING LIBRARY LEADERSHIP, THE STAFF AND THE VOLUNTEERS.
YOU HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY ON BEHALF OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU ENORMOUSLY.
YOU'VE BEEN SO BRAVE IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION AND LITERALLY CREATED THE BEST LIBRARY IN VIRGINIA.
IT IS WELL RUN FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND REMARKABLE IN ITS SOCIAL IMPACT.
WE HEARD A LITTLE EARLIER LIFESAVING, TRULY LIFESAVING SAMUEL'S LIBRARY IS A TREASURE FOR WARREN COUNTY.
THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP CAN AND WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
I LIVE IN THE FORK DISTRICT, AND I'VE LIVED IN THE SAME, UM, SPOT FOR 35 YEARS.
I'M STRONGLY OPPOSED TO ADOPTION OF THIS PROPOSED WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD ORDINANCE, THE VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 42.1 DASH 33 GRANTS, QUOTE, THE GOVERNING BODY OF ANY CITY, COUNTY, OR TOWN, THE POWER TO ESTABLISH A FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR THE USE AND BENEFIT OF ITS RESIDENTS.
IT GOES ON TO SAY, THE GOVERNING BODY SHALL PROVIDE SUFFICIENT SUPPORT FOR THE OPERATION OF THE LIBRARY BY LEVYING A TAX.
THEREFORE, AND THE WORD SUPPORT, AS USED IN THIS CHAPTER, SHALL INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO AMONG OTHER THINGS, PURCHASE OF LIBRARY BOOKS, MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT, COMPENSATION OF LIBRARY PERSONNEL, AND ALL MAINTENANCE EXPENSES FOR LIBRARY PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT.
GIVEN THAT THE COUNTY CAN'T OR WON'T PROVIDE US TAXPAYERS WITH A COST ANALYSIS FOR ESTABLISHING A NEW LIBRARY BOARD, A NEW LIBRARY SERVICES PROVIDER, A NEW COLLECTION AND FURNISHINGS AND MAINTENANCE COSTS, I BELIEVE IT IS COMPLETELY PREMATURE TO ADOPT THIS ORDINANCE.
THE COUNTY FAILS TO PROVIDE COST ESTIMATES FOR THE PROPOSED NEW LIBRARY STRUCTURE OR HOW THOSE EXPENSES COMPARE TO THE COST OF EXISTING SERVICES PROVIDED BY SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THE COUNTY CONVENIENTLY FAILS TO NOTE WHETHER IT WILL LEVY A NEW TEXT TO IMPLEMENT THIS SCHEME.
I BELIEVE THE DEBRIEF REPORT IS A POOR AND FRANKLY, PETTY AND UNPROFESSIONAL SUBSTITUTE FOR GIVING YOUR CONSTITUENTS FACTUAL INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THIS PROPOSAL WOULD BE PAID FOR WITH OUR TAXES.
GIVEN THE TORTURED LOGIC AND THE DEBRIEF USED TO JUSTIFY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OVERSIGHT, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS ABOUT CONTROLLING THE CONTENT OF THE LIBRARY COLLECTION AND
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NOT ABOUT PROPER FISCAL OVERSIGHT.I URGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE.
GO BACK AND WORK IN GOOD FAITH WITH SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY AND ENGAGE AN OBJECTIVE PROFESSIONAL FACILITATOR IF NEEDED TO RESOLVE YOUR DIFFERENCES.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND SAMUEL PUBLIC SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE SAME TEAM.
IN THAT CASE, NEXT UP WE HAVE COREY HUDSON, FOLLOWED BY PATRICK MCDERMOTT AND LOUIS MOTTEN.
I'M CORY HUNTS IN FORT DISTRICT, AND UH, I AM DEFINITELY IN SUPPORT OF THE EXISTING BOARD AT THE LIBRARY.
UM, UH, THE WONDERFUL THINGS HAPPEN AT THE LIBRARY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I VEGETABLE FARMED FOR 30 YEARS IN ARIZONA.
I'VE BEEN FARMING FOR 50 YEARS.
AND, UH, WHEN WE MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH, UH, I, I MIGHT MAKE AN AGREEMENT WITH A BUYER AND, UH, WE'D SHAKE HANDS ON IT.
AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHAT Y'ALL DID WITH YOUR MOAS.
YOU, YOU MADE AGREEMENTS WITH PEOPLE AND THEN YOU SAID, WE'RE GONNA HONOR THESE.
AND I'VE HAD A FEW AGREEMENTS THAT WE, THAT PEOPLE WEREN'T ABLE TO HONOR ACT.
SOME OF 'EM WERE ACTS OF GOD HAILSTORMS. OTHER THINGS HAPPEN.
BUT WHEN SOMEBODY DELIBERATELY BACKED OUT OF A, OF A, UH, CONTRACT AS I CALL IT, OR AN AGREEMENT, WE KIND OF, THERE WAS, WE LOST.
BESIDES FRIENDSHIP, IF THERE WAS ANY.
IT WAS LIKE, YOU JUST DIDN'T DO IT.
YOU KNOW? SO I WAS KIND OF, WHEN I HAVE HEARD WHAT'S GONE ON WITH THE, UH, LIBRARY BOARD AND THE COUNTY BOARD, I'M LIKE, WOW, THIS DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S TOO, UH, BEEN TOO, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T LOOK TOO KOSHER.
I'M LIKE, THIS HAS NOT BEEN GOOD.
IT MAKES YOU KIND OF QUESTION THE, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON.
UH, BUT ANYWAY, I WANT TO LET THE LIBRARY KNOW THAT EVERYBODY THAT I'VE MET THAT WORKS THERE INVOLVED LI EVERYTHING ABOUT THE LIBRARY, FIRST CLASS OUTFIT.
AND I BACK IT A HUNDRED PERCENT.
PATRICK MCDERMOTT OR LOUIS MARTIN.
LOUIS MOTON, UH, NORTH RIVER DISTRICT TRUSTEE AT LARGE AT SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
UH, YOU'VE PRETTY MUCH GOT MY NOTES IN THE FOLDERS, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SAID WHAT I'M GONNA SAY, SO I'M GONNA JUST WING IT.
AND, UM, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE, UH, THE REASONS BEHIND THIS SEEMS TO BE GOVERNANCE AND FINANCES.
YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE IT THROUGH THE MOA, THAT'S HOW PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS GO.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT YOU AREN'T GETTING WITH THAT.
THE ONLY THING THAT I KNOW OF IS THIS BOARD REQUESTED GENDERQUEER AND LAWN BOY TO BE REMOVED FROM THE LIBRARY IN ALL SIMILAR BOOKS, BOTH FROM THE LIBRARY AND FROM THE EBOOK COLLECTION.
UH, THIS WAS, THEN THEY, THIS WAS DENIED, BUT THEN THE MOAS CAME AND SAID THAT, UH, YOU WANT TO CONTROL OVER THE COLLECTION AND THE SELECTION PROCESS.
SO IN TERMS OF GOVERNANCE, THESE ARE THE ONLY THINGS I HAVE SEEN THAT YOU ARE NOT GETTING.
AND WE CANNOT DO THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE LAWS.
UM, THE FINANCES ARE JUST BAD.
UM, AND I CAN'T BELIEVE I CAN ACTUALLY POKE HOLES THROUGH A REPORT WRITTEN BY SOMEBODY WHO CLAIMS TO HAVE A PHD.
UM, I GREW UP WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION THROUGHOUT MOST OF MY CHILDHOOD UNTIL I MOVED TO A HIGH SCHOOL THAT
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DID NOT HAVE SPECIAL EDUCATION.UM, NOW I DO HAVE AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE, BUT I DON'T GO PUT AN AA ON EVERYTHING, BUT I, I KNOW TO ACTUALLY VERIFY OTHERWISE IT SOMEBODY CAN EMBARRASS ME OVER IT.
HOPEFULLY YOU'LL THINK NEXT TIME BEFORE YOU LOOK AT THE DATA AND TRY TO PRESENT YOUR OWN ALTERNATE REALITY.
BUT THE OTHER THING ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION IS I LEARNED TO BE INCLUSIVE TO UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY.
AND IF YOU'VE NOTICED, YOUR FOLDERS ARE DIFFERENT COLORS AND THAT PRETTY MUCH, I CHOSE THAT SPECIFICALLY TO REPRESENT INCLUSIVITY.
WE'RE NOT JUST ONE PERSON HERE.
WE ARE MULTIPLE PEOPLE, MULTIPLE VIEWPOINTS.
UM, SO OBVIOUSLY I'M, I'M AGAINST WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS.
NEXT UP IS REBECCA ALAZAR, FOLLOWED BY BRIAN PE AND RUTH FUR.
I I WAS ALMOST DESPAIRING THAT MY NAME WAS EVER GONNA BE CALLED, BUT IF YOU HANG IN THERE LONG ENOUGH, UM, MY NAME IS REBECCA TIES AND I LIVE IN THE SOUTH FORK AND I'VE LIVED HERE SINCE 2001.
AND TAXPAYER PAID MY TAXES A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.
AND WHEN I PAY THEM, I LIKE TO THINK IT GOES TO THE SCHOOLS AND IT GOES TO THE LIBRARY.
AND PART OF THE JOY OF TEACHING THESE LITTLE KIDS WAS TO SEE HOW MUCH THEY LOVED BOOKS, HOW MUCH THEY LOVE LEARNING TO READ.
AND THEY COULD PICK UP A BOOK AND GO TO ANY PLACE IN THE WORLD THEY WANTED TO GO ON THEIR OWN.
AND NOW THIS, IT MAKES ME WONDER, WHAT'S THE MOTIVE FOR THIS BOARD TO, TO TRY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT CLEARLY ISN'T BROKEN.
AND, AND I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND I THOUGHT, IS IT POWER? IS IT CONTROL? IS IT BOOKS? AND THEN, UH, I'M NOT SURE.
I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF ALL OF THAT, BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR OWN PERSONAL AGENDAS.
AND, UM, THIS, I'M GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF DEJA VU HERE 'CAUSE I WENT TO THE, UM, SHENANDOAH SCHOOL BOARD WHEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT CHANGING THE NAMES OF THE SCHOOLS BACK TO TRADERS TO OUR COUNTRY, AND TO THE NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD KEEP A VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN SLAVERY.
AND, AND I LISTENED TO ALL THE PASSIONATE SPEAKERS, UH, ADDRESSING THE BOARD.
AND I, I HAD HEARD, OH, THEY'VE ALREADY MADE UP THEIR MINDS.
AND I THOUGHT, NO, THEY'RE LISTENING TO THESE PEOPLE AND THEY'RE GOING TO LET COMMON SENSE OVERRULE WHAT THEY MAY HAVE BEEN THINKING.
WELL, SOMEONE EARLIER SAID MUCH EARLIER THAT, UH, PROVE ME WRONG.
PROVE ME WRONG, THAT YOU ARE NOT ALREADY DECIDED HOW YOU'RE GONNA VOTE.
WE'VE HEARD THESE ACCOLADES ABOUT, UH, SAMUEL'S AND WHAT A GREAT PLACE IT IS.
AND IT IS ALL OF THAT AND EVEN MORE.
AND I, I WANT TO BE PROUD AS A VIRGINIAN THAT I DON'T LIVE IN A COUNTY THAT DISRESPECTS PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO GO TO A PUBLIC LIBRARY.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN TELL FROM MY SHIRT, BUT UM, THIS IS OUR COUNTRY.
AND THIS IS OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY.
AND MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY KWANZA AND UH, HANUK.
I DON'T KNOW WHY EVERYBODY SEEMS YES, WHATEVER TIME OF DAY IT IS.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
UM, DO I NEED TO MOVE THIS DOWN? SORRY, MY TIME STARTED.
ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA DO BULLET POINTS.
I DID PREPARE A SPEECH, WORKED ON TIMING.
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I'M GONNA HIT BULLET POINTS 'CAUSE I WANT TO EXPAND ON A COUPLE OF STORIES.I'M A RESIDENT OF THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.
I AM A PATRON AT SAMUELS AND HAVE BEEN SINCE ALL OF THIS, UM, SINCE 1982.
I MAKE IT A POINT I BEFORE ELECTION TO FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUES ARE, DIG INTO WHO THE PERSON IS THAT I'M VOTING FOR, AND WHETHER I BELIEVE ON WHAT THEIR ISSUES ARE AND UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
I'VE LOOKED AT THE THINGS ON THE GOVERNMENT SITE, DIDN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING, I'LL BE HONEST ON THAT.
I THINK THERE WERE A LOT OF HOLES.
I WAS WISHING YOU HAD DONE A Q AND A LIKE THE LIBRARY DID SO THAT I COULD ASK QUESTIONS AND UNDERSTAND.
UM, WHAT I'VE DONE ON DIGGING INTO THE CURRENT BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT SAMUEL'S IS I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE COMPOSED OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS.
Y'ALL CAN READ FOR YOURSELVES ON WHAT THE BACKGROUND IS ON THESE PEOPLE.
EVERYONE'S MENTIONED, OR SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED THAT SAMUEL'S ALREADY BEEN, WAS RECENTLY NAMED VIRGINIA LIBRARY OF THE YEAR.
AND I JUST THINK THAT'S AN AMARK, A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT THAT REFLECTS THEIR DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO DISRUPT SOMETHING THAT'S CLEARLY WORKING.
SO MY CONNECTION WITH SAMUEL'S SPANS DECADES AND SAMUEL'S HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE OF GROWTH, LEARNING AND SUPPORT FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.
WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS YOUNG, SHE READ ABOVE HER AGE AND KEPT ME SCRAMBLING TO KEEP UP WITH HER AND THE BOOK SHE WAS READING AND IS IT APPROPRIATE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO KEEP IT WITHIN HER AGE? WELL, ONE DAY SHE HAD CHECKED OUT A BOOK ABOUT DOGS AND A FEW DAYS LATER SHE'S PLAYING WITH HER POUND PUPPIES AND SHE YELLS OUT PUPPIES FOR SALE.
TWO MALES AND THREE B*****S,
SO AFTER I PICKED MYSELF UP OFF THE FLOOR, I PUT MY PARENTING ON BECAUSE WE'RE A PARENT.
SHE USED THAT WORD APPROPRIATELY.
IT, I SAID, OH, WHERE DID YOU GET THAT? YOU KNOW, HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT DOG NAMES? AND SHE SHOWED ME IN THE BOOK, IT'S WHAT THEY'RE CALLED.
AND I'M LIKE, WELL, YEAH, IT IS, IT WAS APPROPRIATE.
BUT AS A PARENT, I GET TO CHOOSE AND I GET TO TEACH HER APPROPRIATE CONTEXT OF USING WORDS.
AND THAT'S THE SAME WAY IT IS WITH PARENTS TODAY.
PARENTS GET TO BE PARENTS, RIGHT? WE GO TO THE LIBRARY WITH OUR CHILDREN, WE HELP THEM CHOOSE BOOKS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE.
AND I TOTALLY RAN OUTTA TIME AND YOU MISSED MY SECOND STORY AND THAT WAS A GOOD ONE.
ON DECK I HAVE MEGAN O'BRIEN, AILEEN DEER, AND JOSH PHILLIPS.
I AM BRIAN NESS, A RESIDENT OF LAKE FREDERICK.
SO I HAVE A INTEREST IN WHAT HAPPENS HERE.
I'D LIKE TO APPROACH THIS ISSUE FROM A PERSPECTIVE IN LINE WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, UH, DESIRE TO KEEP THE DISCUSSION FOCUSED ON FINANCIAL AND OR GOVERNANCE ASPECTS.
QUOTING FROM PAGE FOUR OF THE 2023 LIBRARY DEBRIEF AND RESEARCH DOCUMENT QUOTE.
THE REPORT PROVIDES DETAILED ANALYSIS SUPPORTING THESE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING EXAMINATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE SERVICE, DELIVERY MODELS, AND IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS.
FURTHER QUOTING FROM PAGE 19, IT WOULD BE PRUDENT FOR THE COUNTY TO THOROUGHLY EVALUATE THE CURRENT MARKET RATE FOR THESE SERVICES BY EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY MODELS.
I AM IN TOTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE DESIRE OR THE FOCUS OF THESE STATEMENTS.
I'M ALSO, UH, FOR INFORMED REPRESENTATION IN READING THE DEBRIEF DOCUMENT AND THE ADDENDUM DOCUMENTS FIVE DELIVERY ALTERNATIVES WERE PROPOSED, WHICH OTHERS HAVE, UH, TALKED ABOUT ALREADY.
SO I WILL NOT TALK ABOUT THAT.
I WILL SPEND THE REMAINDER OF MY THREE MINUTES REVIEWING THE DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE ABOVE OF THOSE ALTERNATIVES CONTAINED IN THE BRIEF.
I GUESS I WOULD CALL IT A BRIEF RATHER THAN A DEBRIEF.
BASED ON THE LACK OF REAL ANALYSIS IN THE DEBRIEF RELATING COST AND STRUCTURES, I WOULD RESPECTIVELY SUGGEST THAT YOU ARE PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE AND
[04:15:01]
CONSIDERING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LIBRARY BOARD, IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS ABOUT FINANCE AND GOVERNANCE CONSIDERATIONS, THEN IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO STOP.TAKE THE TIME TO RESEARCH THE ALTERNATIVES WITH REPRESENTATION FROM ALL INVOLVED PARTIES, PRODUCE OR COMMISSION AN INFORMED ANALYSIS PRIOR TO THE ENACTMENT OF THIS ORDINANCE.
WHY PRIOR? WELL ASK YOURSELF DO YOU THINK THE FIVE INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUALS YOU MIGHT APPOINT CAN PROVIDE A BALANCED ANALYSIS OF THIS COMPLEX SITUATION? YOU NEED BROADER INPUT.
I ALSO CONSIDER THIS A WIN-WIN.
IF YOU DO THE ANALYSIS AND YOU DO FIND A BETTER ALTERNATIVE THAN THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HELPED YOU WITH THAT ANALYSIS WOULD BE IDEAL CANDIDATES FOR YOUR BOARD.
THEY'RE INFORMED, THEY'RE INTELLIGENT, THEY'RE INVOLVED.
SO YOU HAVE THREE ALTERNATIVES, APPROVE, DENY OR TABLE.
I SUGGEST YOU TABLE THIS FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS.
HELLO, MY NAME IS MEGAN O'BRIEN AND I'M IN THE FORK DISTRICT.
UM, I'M A LIFELONG COUNTY RESIDENT AND AS A VOTER AND A TAXPAYER, I FULLY SUPPORT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY HERE IN OUR COUNTY.
AND I APPRECIATE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS EFFORTS AT ENSURING FULL OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY FOR OUR TAX DOLLARS.
I URGE ALL OF YOU TO VOTE YES TO THE FORMATION OF A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOD BLESS.
I AM AILEEN DERICH AND I LIVE IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.
I COULD STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT AND ATTEMPT TO APPEAL TO YOUR HUMANITY.
AS SOMEONE WHO HAS PERSONALLY RELIED ON THE RESOURCES THAT OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY PROVIDES TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING.
I COULD POINT OUT AS MANY OTHERS HAVE JUST HOW INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS BEEN AS THE MANY WONDERFUL THINGS OR THE MANY WONDERFUL THINGS IT HAS DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I COULD POINT OUT THE IMPORTANCE OF UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO EDUCATION DESPITE SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS.
I COULD POINT OUT THAT THE CRIES OF OUTRAGE OVER THE LIBRARY'S FINANCES HAVE BEEN UNFOUNDED AND DIRECTLY ADDRESSED BY THE LIBRARY, OR THAT THE REAL WASTE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS HAS COME FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ITSELF.
BY CONTINUALLY DRAGGING OUT THIS ORDEAL FOR SO LONG, I COULD EVEN ADDRESS THAT.
THIS IS ALL AN OBVIOUSLY VERY THINLY, VERY POORLY VEILED ATTACK ON THE LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS AN ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE OUR ACCESS TO COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND RESOURCES BECAUSE THOSE WHO ARE SO STAUNCHLY OPPOSED TO THE LIBRARY ARE AFRAID OF THE FREEDOM AND POWER THAT COMES WITH KNOWLEDGE OF WHICH EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM IS ENTIRELY AWARE.
BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REALLY CARES ABOUT ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
AS WE HAVE ALL POINTED THEM OUT TO YOU OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
THE LIBRARY'S EXISTING BOARD OF TRUSTEES DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED.
AND WHAT I WISH TO EMPHASIZE IS THE VERY CRUCIAL POINT THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS FAILED TO EVEN PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN THEIR PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO TAKE OVER THE LIBRARY'S BOARD.
IT DOES NOT LAY OUT WHAT EXACTLY THIS WILL COST US AS WARREN COUNTY TAX PAYERS.
THIS, UH, ONE FRONT AND BACK PAGE IS INSUFFICIENT TO THOROUGHLY EXPLAIN WHAT EXACTLY WILL HAPPEN TO ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST INVALUABLE ASSETS.
TONIGHT I IMPLORE YOU ALL NOT TO VOTE FOR THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE FOR THE SAKE OF THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU ALL HAVE SWORN TO SERVE.
I IMPLORE YOU TO REMEMBER THAT YOU ALL ARE OBLIGATED TO VOTE IN THE GENUINE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
ON DECK, I HAVE GLEN WOOD RE, HOWORTH AND GREG MASSAWA HOWDY BOARD.
I'M FROM SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UH, I THINK I KNOW THE MAJORITY OF YOU AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM HERE.
UH, MY WIFE AND CHILDREN AND I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS NOW AND ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
[04:20:01]
WE ARE THERE IN ALL HONESTY, PROBABLY ONE OR TWO TIMES A WEEK.UH, MY THREE KIDS HAVE BEEN VERY GRATEFUL.
UM, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT SAVING SAMUELS VERSUS NOT SAVING SAMUELS.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S KIND OF NOT TO THE POINT.
I WOULD ACTUALLY URGE YOU TO APPROVE THIS AND TO VOTE ON IT AND TO APPROVE IT, PARTLY BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH WE DO CARE ABOUT SAMUELS.
UM, AS SOMEBODY WHO IS INCREDIBLY ANTI THE OVERSTEP OF GOVERNMENT, I HATE GOVERNMENT GETTING INVOLVED IN PLACES THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE.
BUT WE'RE, WE'RE IN A SPOT WHERE WE ARE ALREADY FUNDING SOMETHING AND USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO TAKE CARE OF SOMETHING.
I DO NOT SEE THE REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T HAVE THE OVERSIGHT THAT GOES WITH THAT.
AND WHETHER IT'S 1% OR HALF A PERCENT OF THE BUDGET, IT'S STILL A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
UH, SOMEBODY BROUGHT UP TONIGHT THE FACT THAT THERE'S MANY OTHER THINGS THAT WE COULD BE DOING.
WE COULD BE FOCUSING ON THE POVERTY OR HOMELESSNESS OR WHATEVER ELSE IT IS.
AND FRANKLY, I THINK THAT MAKING THIS STEP IS DEEPLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE OTHER OPTION WOULD BE WE NOT PUT THE MONEY TOWARDS THE LIBRARY AND THEN WE ACTUALLY MOVE IT TOWARDS THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT PEOPLE SEEM TO BE RECOMMENDING.
UM, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT.
WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT ACTUALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR LIBRARY FUND THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT THE LIBRARY DOES, AND HAVE THE APPROPRIATE OVERSIGHT SO THAT IT CAN CONTINUE ON FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
UH, SO THAT, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TONIGHT.
I WOULD URGE YOU TO PLEASE VOTE YES ON IT.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING Y'ALL HAVE DONE AND THE RESEARCH THAT YOU HAVE PUT IN, UM, THE CAREFUL DOCUMENTATION AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.
MORNING GLENWOOD NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
THAT'S HOW MUCH WE'RE PAYING MR. HAM'S FIRM TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
TO GO OVER ALL THIS TALKING ABOUT TAXPAYERS RUNNING SO FAR, SOMEWHERE IN NEAR A HUNDRED PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN FOR THE LIBRARY.
NOW, UH, UPDATE THIS, I THINK 14TH AGAINST THIS.
WE'VE HAD OTHER ISSUES IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE SEVERAL NONPROFITS THAT RECEIVE TAXPAYER FUNDING FROM THE COUNTY.
I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL AWARE OF THEM.
LET'S LOOK ACROSS THE STREET AT THE FRONT ROW.
VOLUNTARY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS A 5 0 1 C3 THAT RECEIVES FUNDING FOR OPERATIONS.
ADDITIONALLY, THEY HAVE NO COUNTY REPRESENTATION ON THEIR BOARD.
THEY RAISE MONEY, THEY BUY EQUIPMENT WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM THE COUNTY.
THEY BUY VERY EXPENSIVE FIRE TRUCKS.
THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT AND THEY PAY FOR IT.
SO WHO CARES? OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT'S A SHINING EXAMPLE OF NON-PROFIT AND GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP.
SO YOU'RE NOT INVOLVED WITH THAT YET.
WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING FIRST RESPONDER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
OUR HUMANE SOCIETY'S ALSO A NONPROFIT THAT OPERATES ANIMAL SHELTER FOR THE COUNTY AND IT RECEIVES FUNDING FOR THE COUNTY.
THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE NOT COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
THE SHELTER'S WELL RUN A GREAT PARTNER WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT RECEIVING ANIMALS FOR ANIMAL CONTROL.
THEY ALSO FUNDRAISE AND COVER MANY EXPENSES NORMALLY THE COUNTY WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR.
SO NONPROFITS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH KEEPS OUR TAXES LOW, ARE USUALLY TREASURED.
WHY ISN'T SAMUEL'S? SO WHAT'S NEXT? DO YOU PLAN TO TAKE OVER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE SHELTER? I THINK IT WOULD BE SILLY.
PLEASE DON'T MAKE US ANY MORE THAN LAUGHING STOCK OF THE STATE AND MAYBE EVEN NATIONALLY.
AGAIN, YOU DO HAVE BIGGER FISH TO FRY THAT WILL BENEFIT TAXPAYERS THAN MORE GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT.
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN HOMEOWNERS FOR 20 YEARS HERE IN MORGAN COUNTY AND WE MOVED HERE FULL TIME AFTER RETIRING IN 2015.
I'M TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTED TO BE HERE AGAIN,
[04:25:02]
NOT PRAISING YOU, BUT ANXIOUS THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO MAKE ANOTHER TERRIBLE MISTAKE REGARDING SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.OTHERS FAR MORE ELOQUENT THAN I AND FAR MORE INFORMED HAVE GIVEN YOU THE NUMBERS, MA'AM, THAT REFUTE.
COULD YOU PUT YOUR NAME AND YOUR DISTRICT? YES.
AND I'M A, A, UH, RESIDENT OF, UH, THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.
I WAS AT A CAB MEETING, WHAT WE CALL THE COFFEE AND BAGELS GROUP ON HIGH KNOB.
MR. BUTLER, YOU REPRESENT US AND YOU'VE VISITED US.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS LIBRARY CONTROVERSY NOT JUST LAST YEAR WHEN WE THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS SOLVED BY NOVEMBER.
I HAVE NEIGHBORS WHO ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW SORRY THEY ARE THAT THEY MOVED TO WARREN COUNTY, NOT ONLY BECAUSE WE HAVE A REALLY DANGEROUS ENTRANCE TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT BECAUSE ONE OF THE FEW SHINING EXAMPLES OF OUR COUNTY IS ABOUT TO BE TAKEN OVER BY A POLITICAL, A PUBLIC BODY THAT IS COMPOSED OF ELECTED OFFICIALS.
BY DEFINITION, THIS PROPOSAL IS A TAKEOVER.
YOU ALREADY HAVE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LIBRARY.
YOU READ LINE WHAT YOU DON'T LIKE, SUGGEST ALTERNATIVE NUMBERS.
YOU HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE ON THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES WHO ATTENDS THE MEETINGS, WHO HAS EDUCATED HERSELF.
THE OTHER FOUR OF YOU HAVE NOT.
NOT ONE OF YOU HAS ATTENDED A PUBLIC MEETING.
NOT ONE OF YOU BESIDES MS. CALLERS WHO WAS OUT SICK THE WASHINGTON POST TODAY.
AND ALONG WITH OTHER NUMEROUS MEDIA OUTLETS INCLUDING THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY AND OUR OWN ROYAL EXAMINER HAVE REPORTED TO US ACCURATELY THAT THE MEMBERS OF WARN THAT YOU GUYS THINK THAT OUR WONDERFUL LIBRARY AND ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES ARE SUPPOSEDLY ENGAGED IN FISCAL MISMANAGEMENT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG EACH OF YOU HAVE LIVED IN THE COUNTY.
I'VE ONLY LIVED HERE 11 YEARS.
I FEEL LIKE I'M JUST GETTING HERE.
BUT BEFORE THIS WHOLE LIBRARY DEBATE BECAME AN ISSUE, WHAT OUR TOWN WAS MOST KNOWN FOR WAS FOR HAVING ELECTED AND UNELECTED OFFICIALS STEALING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BY ABUSING THEIR POWER.
SO THANK YOU FOR CHANGING THAT NARRATIVE.
YOU FOUND A COMPLETELY FRESH WAY TO ABUSE YOUR POWER.
I ATTENDED THE LAST MEETING AND I DID MY BEST TO TAKE YOU AT YOUR WORD THAT YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE LIBRARY WERE PURELY FINANCIAL.
I WENT AND LOOKED AT EVERYTHING I COULD FIND.
SO WHETHER YOU BELIEVE THAT ALL THE CONTRARY NUMBERS THAT ARE PRESENTED ARE REAL OR NOT, OR WHETHER YOU BELIEVE THAT THE THREATS THAT DONORS OR VOLUNTEERS MAY PULL OUT, NO PUN INTENDED, OF WHAT LITIGATIONS MIGHT COST THE COUNTY OR WHETHER $500,000 IN GRANTS IS JUST GONNA DISAPPEAR AND GO NOWHERE.
YOUR STATED PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FINANCIAL EFFICIENCY FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY MEANS YOU MUST CAREFULLY CONSIDER ALL OF THESE FACTORS.
IT SEEMS TO ME YOU'RE LOGICALLY BOXED IN.
IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN YOUR ADAMANTLY STATED BUT THINLY BELIEVE PURPOSE OF FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT, YOU MUST AT THE VERY LEAST TABLE THE DISCUSSION TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS.
BECAUSE YOUR LACK OF SCRUTINY MAY END UP COSTING THE TAXPAYERS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR NO REASON.
ALL OVER AN ISSUE OF 1% OF THE COUNTY FINANCES OF THE CROWN JEWEL OF OUR COMMUNITY.
JAMISON, I LOOK FORWARD TO READING ALL OF YOUR OTHER REPORTS AND ANALYSES OF THE 99% OF THE BUDGET THAT I HAVEN'T ALREADY SEEN BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S NO WAY YOU SPENT 11 MONTHS WRITING A 58 PAGE REPORT ABOUT 1% WITHOUT ALSO DOING THE SAME FOR THE 99%.
[04:30:01]
SO ALL JOKING ASIDE, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT WHEN IT'S AVAILABLE, UH, IF IT ISN'T ALREADY, BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE THAT, IT'S HARD TO KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE AND SAY THAT YOU'RE A CHAMPION OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY.AND I KNOW NO ONE'S KEEPING SCORE ON THESE TYPE OF THINGS, BUT I HAVE A 3-YEAR-OLD SON AND AT ANY GIVEN TIME, HE HAS 60 BOOKS CHECKED OUT FROM THE LIBRARY.
AND THAT'S NOT AN EXAGGERATION.
I THINK THAT'S THE HIGHEST NUMBER ANYBODY SAID.
BUT EVERY BOOK THAT COMES HOME, HIS MOM READS IT BEFORE HE GETS IT AND HE READS IT BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO MAKE SURE IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR HIM TO READ, FOR OUR FAMILY, WHATEVER, WHATEVER THE ISSUE MIGHT BE.
AND IF IT ISN'T, I TAKE IT BACK TO THE LIBRARY AND I THROW IT IN THE BOX.
BUT PLEASE, I URGE YOU DON'T VOTE YES ON THIS.
IF YOU VOTE YES ON THIS TONIGHT, YOU CAN DROP ANY PRETENSION THAT YOU'RE DOING THIS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.
YOU HAVE TO VOTE NO OR TABLE IT TO LATER.
NEXT UP IS MARIA O'BRIEN, AND THAT'S GONNA BE FOLLOWED BY SAMARA THOMAS AND T JENKINS.
PLEASE APPROVE THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD TONIGHT.
UM, WE DESERVE THE OVERSIGHT, UM, THAT THIS BOARD WOULD PROVIDE MUL.
MULTIPLE SPEAKERS TONIGHT HAVE NOTED THAT THE LIBRARY BUDGET IS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AS IF THAT AMOUNT OF OVERSIGHT IS SUFFICIENT.
BUT AS IT HAPPENS, THAT BUDGET ISN'T LEGALLY BINDING.
MRS. CALLERS, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DISCOVERED THIS WHEN A CERTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS TOOK MONEY THAT WAS BUDGETED FOR NEW SCHOOL BUSES, BUT INSTEAD SPENT IT ON, I BELIEVE, BONUSES OR OTHER EXPENSES FOR THEIR TEACHERS POSSIBLY TO INCLUDE HIMSELF.
UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT AFTER THAT FIASCO, THE SCHOOL'S BUDGET WAS THEN DIVIDED INTO SPECIFIC ACCOUNTS WHEREIN THOSE FUNDS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR THE SPECIFIC CATEGORY FOR WHICH THEY WERE BUDGETED AND DEPOSITED.
AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR YOUR WORK THERE.
I HOPE MRS. COLORS, THAT YOU WILL REMAIN CONSISTENT IN YOUR ENDEAVORS FOR THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED, EVEN WHEN YOUR FRIENDS MAY EXPECT YOU TO SIDE WITH THEM.
INSTEAD OF FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY, WE ARE URGING YOU TO HAVE LOGICAL CONSISTENCY WHEN GUARDING OUR TAX DOLLARS.
THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS UNFAIR AND GIVES TO THE LIBRARY SPECIAL TREATMENT THAT OUR OWN PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM DOESN'T GET.
FOR EXAMPLE, SPOUSES, RELATIVES, AND BUSINESS PARTNERS CAN'T SERVE ON THE SAME GOVERNMENT BOARD.
BUT THE SPL INC BOARD HAS ALLOWED THIS MANY TIMES.
IN FACT, AN ARRESTED EDA BOARD MEMBER AND HIS WIFE SAT TOGETHER ON THE LIBRARY BOARD.
I BELIEVE THEY'RE NOW BOTH FACING FELONY EMBEZZLEMENT CHARGES FOR THEIR ALLEGED CRIMES.
THE SCHOOL BOARD MUST FOLLOW A FAIR PROCUREMENT PROCESS FOR CONTRACTS THAT SPEND TAXPAYER FUNDS TO ENSURE THE BEST USE OF OUR FUNDS.
THE LIBRARY AS A PRIVATE ENTITY DOES NOT HAVE THIS LEGAL REQUIREMENT.
IN FACT, A FRIEND OF MINE HAS BEEN ASKING FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE CONTRACTS FOR THE ORIGINAL, ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE LIBRARY, THE RENOVATIONS, NEW COMPUTERS, ET CETERA, TO NO AVAIL.
LOCAL NEWSPAPER SEARCHES COME UP EMPTY AND FOER REQUESTS ARE IGNORED OR DODGED OR INCOMPLETE.
UM, IN FACT, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE LIBRARY MAY BE CURRENTLY IN VIOLATION OF A RECENT FOYER REQUEST, UM, FOR THIS INFORMATION, SURE, YOU CAN LOOK OVER A BUDGET REPORT AND SEE HOW MUCH WAS SPENT ON A NEW ROOF, BUT THAT BUDGET LINE DOESN'T REVEAL WHETHER THE ROOF PROJECT WAS PUT OUT TO BID FAIRLY, WHETHER A NEW ROOF WAS NEEDED, WHAT COMPANY WAS GIVEN THE JOB, IF THERE'S ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST, ANY INSIDE DEALS, WHAT A FAIR PRICE WAS VERSUS WHAT WAS SPENT.
ALL YOU KNOW, IS HOW MUCH WAS SPENT.
NO OTHER INFORMATION BEHIND IT.
UM, SOME HAVE FALSELY STATED THAT THEY WON'T GET GRANTS FOR SPL IF IT'S A NONPROFIT, BUT A QUICK SEARCH REVEALS THAT BOTH THE MELLON FOUNDATION AND THE CARNEGIE FOUNDATION DONATE FUNDS TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
I TRUST THAT THE NEW BOARD WILL ENSURE THAT OUR FUNDS ARE WELL SPENT AND THAT WE RECEIVE THE FUNDS NEEDED FOR THRIVING LIBRARY.
MY NAME IS SAMARA THOMAS, AND I RESIDE IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT, DR.
I'M FILLED WITH RAGE AND CONCERN OF THE MYRIAD OF FREEDOMS BEING THREATENED DURING THIS
[04:35:01]
MEETING.TAKING CONTROL OF A PUBLIC LIBRARY OVER A DISAGREEMENT ON WHICH MATERIALS OF KNOWLEDGE SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IS WRONG.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HILL TO DIE ON THE QUESTION ASKED AND THE THE QUESTIONS ASKED AND THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU COMPOSED OR ANSWERED IN THE MULTIPLE PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT FOR REASONS THAT AREN'T CLEAR YOU DID NOT ATTEND YOUR POSITION EXISTS AS A LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE TAXPAYERS OF THIS COUNTY, YOU CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO SIMPLY TALK YOUR PERSONAL FEELINGS OVER THE PEOPLE YOU WERE ALLEGEDLY CHOSEN TO REPRESENT.
NO ONE PERSON'S EMOTIONS ON THIS MATTER ARE MORE IMPORTANT.
REGARDLESS OF TITLE, PUBLIC LIBRARIES ARE VITAL FOR COMMUNAL CONNECTION, SUPPORT OF ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE.
PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE SHARING IN THIS SPACE MAKES YOU FEEL SO THREATENED.
THIS LIBRARY HAS EXISTED LONG BEFORE ANYONE IN THIS ROOM WAS BORN AND IT DESERVES TO REMAIN AN AUTONOMOUS ENTITY.
WE COULD STOP WASTING PRECIOUS TAX MONEY ON THAT IS VITAL FOR THIS COUNTY.
ON ELECTING AN ADDITIONAL GROUP TO CONTROL WHAT TYPES OF BOOKS, SUBJECT TOPICS, AND AUTHORS TO OPENLY DISCRIMINATE AGAINST.
WHY NOT USE THAT MONEY ON THINGS THAT ACTUALLY BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY? LIKE NEW STOPLIGHTS, ROADS AND ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES FOR DISABLED PEOPLE? WE CAN DISAGREE ON WHICH BOOKS ARE APPROPRIATE AND STILL SEE ONE ANOTHER AS HUMANS WHO CAN RESPECT THE CHOICES OF LITERATURE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL.
REMOVING THAT CHOICE IS A REMOVAL OF PERSONAL FREEDOM AND WE WILL NOT STAND FOR IT.
MY LOVELY PARTNER AND I MOVED HERE AFTER SEEING THE GORGEOUS OVERCAST SKIES, LIGHT RAIN, DELIGHTING IN THE VIRGINIA FOG, MEETING THE CLOUDS ATOP THE MOUNTAINS.
ONCE WE BEHELD THIS BEAUTY OF THIS PLACE, WE KNEW THAT THIS IS WHERE WE WANTED TO BUY OUR FIRST HOME.
WE ALL DESERVE A SAFE PLACE TO READ WHATEVER BRINGS US THE MOST JOY.
AND WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER BOARD.
YOU GUYS COULD JUST TALK TO THEM.
AND ON DECK, I HAVE A TIM FRANCIS, ANDREW THOMAS, AND ELISA JENKINS.
HI, MY NAME IS THERESA JENKINS AND I AM IN THE FORK DISTRICT.
UM, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY ON THE PART OF THE BOARD.
THERE MUST BE AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE FOR THE QUICK PROPOSAL AND FAST TRACK OF APPROVAL.
WHAT COULD THAT BE? A FOIA REVEALED A MESSAGE ON NOVEMBER 18TH BETWEEN MR. JAMESON AND MS. COOK REFERRING TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
AND I QUOTE, WE SHOULD REMOVE THE REFERENCE TO SAMUELS AND STATE.
THE COUNTY WILL PROVIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES.
IF IT IS TRUE YOU WANT TO DIVERT SPENDING ELSEWHERE, PERHAPS YOU HAVE ANOTHER EXISTING LIBRARY IN MIND FOR THE COUNTY FUNDS.
PERHAPS ONE OF THE CATHOLIC LIBRARIES WOULD BENEFIT FROM ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
I AM REMINDED EACH DAY AS I DRIVE PAST THE NATIVITY SCENE IN THE LAWN OF THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE OF THE VAGUE LINE OF SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IN THIS COUNTY.
AS TO YOUR PUBLICLY STATED INTENTIONS, WHAT WILL BE THE END RESULT? IF A NEWLY APPOINTED LIBRARY BOARD, UM, WITHDRAWS THE REFUNDING FOR SAMUELS? WHAT WILL BE THE ALTERNATIVE COSTS OR SERVICES AND SERVICES LOST TO CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY? I URGE YOU TO TABLE THIS RESOLUTION UNTIL YOU SUFFICIENTLY JUSTIFY THIS DECISION TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE COUNTY.
MY SPOUSE HAS A PHD AND IS A RESPECTED SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN HIS FIELD.
SOMETHING HE'S LEARNED THROUGH THE YEARS IS THAT A PHD IS NOT A LICENSE TO BE AN ASS.
YOU DON'T NEED A PHD TO BE AN EXPERT IN A SUBJECT AREA.
CASE IN POINT, MR. LEWIS MORTEN'S IN DEPTH, WELL-RESEARCHED REPORT IN ANALYSIS DOES A SUPERB JOB PROVIDING DATA TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IN PUBLIC OF SAMUEL PUBLIC LIBRARY FINANCIAL HISTORY AND TRANSPARENCY.
MR. MOTEN DOES NOT HAVE A PHD YET.
HIS INFORMATION PUTS YOUR POULTRY
[04:40:01]
RED HERRING OF A REPORT TO SHAME.THE ONLY THING HIS REPORT LACKS IS A WHINY PERSONAL ADDENDUM.
IT IS YOUR SHAMEFUL ARROGANCE THAT COMPELS YOU TO DISDAINFULLY.
REFER TO THOUGHTFUL, DEEPLY ENGAGED MEMBERS OF SAMUEL'S LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES AS DUMBEST ROCKS.
MR. JAMISON CREDENTIALISM IS A VICE, NOT A VIRTUE.
YOUR HAUGHTY BEHAVIORS DISRESPECTFUL AND BENEATH THE DIGNITY OF A PUBLIC OFFICIAL IN THIS RURAL COMMUNITY, THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY DESERVE BETTER.
I AM DR. TIMOTHY LANG FRANCIS.
I SERVED 23 YEARS IN THE NAVY AND I LIVE IN THE FORK DISTRICT.
AND I STAND IN OPPOSITION TO THIS MEASURE, WHICH IS RUNNING ABOUT SIX TO ONE AGAINST TONIGHT FROM ALL THE SPEAKERS, MULTIPLE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, INCLUDING MY LIBRARY SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT ANALYSIS ON 25 NOVEMBER AND ONE DECEMBER.
AND LOUIS MO'S MORE DETAILED AND EXTENSIVE ANALYSIS ON FIVE DECEMBER HAVE SHOWN THAT YOUR SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT DOES NOT REPEAT, NOT JUSTIFY THE CREATION OF AN ALTERNATIVE LIBRARY BOARD FROM ANY FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE.
INDEED, EVERY ONE OF THE FINANCIAL CRITIQUES OF SAMUELS IS EITHER FALSE OR EXAGGERATED.
TO REPEAT THOSE BRIEFLY, THE REPORT IGNORED SIGNIFICANT ASPECTS OF VILLA AVENUE LOCATION PURCHASE AND THE MOVE TO REISER ROAD, INCLUDING THE COST OF MOVING TO A NEW LOCATION, MORE SERVICES AND STAFF, HIGHER UTILITY COSTS, THE SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF TOWN FUNDING AND THE FLAT LINE OF COUNTY FUNDING SINCE 2018.
IT ALSO IGNORED THAT IT WAS THE COUNTY ITSELF THAT WANTED TO PURCHASE THE LOCATION SO IT COULD MODIFY AND REPURPOSE THE BUILDING FOR LIBRARIES SERVING SIMILAR POPULATIONS.
SAMUEL'S IS ALIGNED IN SALARIES PER FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE AND COST PER CAPITA, WHICH IS SPENDING PER PERSON.
IF THAT ISN'T CLEAR TO YOU, SAMUEL'S ALSO HAS A BETTER RATIO OF BORROWERS TRANSACTIONS, NUMBER OF BOOKS AND TOTAL VISITS.
YOU CLAIM YOU WANT PUBLIC CONTROL TO BETTER NEGOTIATE OVER THE BUDGET, BUT YOU IGNORE THE SAMUELS BOARD WHO OPENLY STATE THEY WANNA NEGOTIATE WITH YOU IN GOOD FAITH DURING PRIVATE CLOSED WORKING SESSIONS.
SO THERE'S NO EMBARRASSMENT FOR ANYBODY.
NOR DO YOU ADDRESS TAXPAYER CONCERNS OVER THE COST OF REPLACING THE CURRENT SYSTEM BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER LOGICAL CONCLUSION FOR THIS PROPOSAL.
YOU HINT AT FINANCIAL SAVINGS TO THE TAXPAYER, BUT YOU REFUSE TO SAY HOW YOU PROVIDE NO CONCRETE EXAMPLES OVER THEIR SERVICE PROVIDERS.
YOU CAN FIND THE SAME SERVICES AT LOWER COST.
DO YOU INTEND TO PROVIDE FEWER LIBRARY SERVICES? WILL YOU REQUIRE HIGHER TAXES? YOU REFUSE TO SAY THERE'S NO LOGIC IN YOUR PLAN UNTIL YOU PROVIDE ANSWERS TO THE PUBLIC ON WHAT YOU INTEND TO DO WITH THIS NEW AUTHORITY.
PUSHING THIS INITIATIVE IN SUCH A HASTY AND ILL CONSIDERED MANNER AND WITHOUT FULL DISCLOSURE OF COST TO THE WARREN COUNTY CITIZENS, IS AN INEFFICIENT AND IRRATIONAL ABUSE OF POWER.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO INSTEAD IS WRITE ANOTHER REPORTER THREE THAT LAYS OUT YOUR PURPOSE THE COST INVOLVES AND WHETHER THIS BENEFITS WARREN COUNTY CITIZENS.
ONLY THEN CAN TAXPAYERS KNOW IF THIS CHANGE IS COST EFFECTIVE AND LEGITIMATE.
I STRONGLY URGE, URGE THAT THIS MOTION BE TABLED PENDING FURTHER REVIEW.
I LIVE IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.
SOCIOLOGIST RAY OLDENBERG WROTE IN HIS WORK THE GREAT GOOD PLACE ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF THIRD PLACES.
THESE ARE SPACES ACCESSIBLE BY THE WHOLE PUBLIC WHERE THEY CAN COME TOGETHER AND BE IN COMMUNITY WITH ONE ANOTHER.
A LIBRARY IS ONE OF THE LAST PLACES IN OUR SOCIETY THAT ALLOW FOR THIS WITHOUT THE NEED TO SPEND MONEY.
THEY ARE PLACES WHERE WE CAN GET TO KNOW OUR NEIGHBORS, EVEN THE ONES WE DISAGREE WITH, AND SEE EACH OTHER INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON.
WE ARE ALL MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
THIS PLAN TO INSTALL A SELF-APPOINTED LIBRARY BOARD WILL THREATEN THE ABILITY FOR THE LIBRARY TO BE A SPACE FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS RELATED TO THE PREVIOUS EFFORTS TO BAN BOOKS BY
[04:45:01]
A SMALL SUBSET OF THIS COMMUNITY.THIS WOULD FURTHER THE GOAL TO TRY TO ELIMINATE SAMUELS AS A VIABLE THIRD PLACE AS IT WOULD SEEK TO MAKE OTHER SUBSETS OF THE COMMUNITY FEEL DISTINCTLY UNWELCOME.
HECK, EVEN THE REPORT THAT JAMESON PUT OUT SERVES AS A PIECE OF COMMUNITY ALIENATION.
IT MAKES A DISTINCTION BETWEEN PRIVATE AND TAXPAYER REPRESENTATION.
WHILE YES, THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES ARE A 5 0 1 C3, WHICH MAKES THEM A PRIVATE ENTITY, IT IS ALSO COMPRISED OF TAXPAYERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
TO THINK THAT THEY DON'T ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT THEIR COMMUNITY IS THE MOST PESSIMIST, PESSIMISTIC, AND VILIFYING OUTLOOK ONE COULD TAKE WHILE EXAMINING THE 2024 VIRGINIA LIBRARY OF THE YEAR, PROTECT OUR LAST REMAINING THIRD PLACES AND REWARD SAMUELS FOR ITS EXEMPLARY WORK INSTEAD OF PUNISHING THEM FOR THEIR SUCCESSES IN ORDER TO ATTACK MARGINALIZED PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO LIVE HAPPY LIVES LIKE THE REST OF US.
SAMUELS PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A PUBLIC GOOD.
SO LET THEM CONTINUE SERVING THIS COMMUNITY WITHOUT BURYING THEM UNDER FURTHER COMPLICATED BUREAUCRACY THAT WILL ONLY SERVE TO CREATE MORE PROBLEMS. THIRD PLACES ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRONG COMMUNITY.
DESTRUCTION OF OUR THIRD PLACES WILL ONLY HURT THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO SERVE.
UM, SECOND CALL FOR LISA JENKINS.
UH, THERE WERE TWO OF THE SAME NAME FROM DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, SO YEAH.
UM, NEXT UP THEN IS, NEXT UP THEN IS JESSICA REYNOLDS, FOLLOWED BY JIM BARNES.
I WOULD SAY SHE HASN'T STEPPED UP.
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND GOOD MORNING.
I'M AND I RESIDE IN THE, SORRY, UH, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UM, I APPEAR, UH, TODAY TO OPPOSE THE CREATION OF THE LIBRARY BOARD.
UH, MANY OTHERS HAVE ALREADY ADDRESSED SOME OF THE INACCURACIES, SKEWED NUMBERS AND FAULTY CONCLUSIONS FROM THE REPORT PREPARED BY SUPERVISOR DAVISON AND COOK.
I'LL TRY TO AVOID REPEATING A LOT OF THOSE POINTS.
INSTEAD, I'LL FOCUS ON SOME OF WHAT IS STATED AND IMPLIED IN THE NARRATIVE OF THE REPORT.
THEY SEEM TO GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO DISTANCE, DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THE BOOK BANNING EFFORTS THAT STARTED THIS WHOLE BREW HAHA LAST YEAR, THEY ATTEMPT TO SPEND THE NARRATIVE TO PAINT THEMSELVES AS HUMBLE PUBLIC SERVANTS SIMPLY TRYING TO DO THE COUNTY'S BUSINESS.
THEY BEMOANED THE ACTIONS OF THE, OF THE SAMUEL PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES WHO THEY ACCUSE OF STIRRING UP PUBLIC SENTIMENT AND PLAYING THE VICTIM.
THEY EVEN TRIED TO FRAME THE EVENTS OF THE LAST TWO YEARS AS SIMPLE MISUNDERSTANDINGS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT IF THE PARTIES COULD HAVE JUST COME TOGETHER IN GOOD FAITH.
WELL, THAT PART'S ALMOST TRUE.
IT JUST WASN'T THE LIBRARY THAT WASN'T ACTING IN GOOD FAITH.
THE REPORT GOES TO GREAT LENGTHS TO STRESS THAT THERE WAS NO ATTEMPT TO DE TO DEFUND THE LIBRARY, THAT THERE WAS NEVER A THREAT OF THE LIBRARY CLOSING.
IT EVEN TRIES TO DENY THAT THE BOOK BANNING EVER REALLY HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE FUNDING NEGOTIATIONS.
IT SHRUGS OFF THE PENDULUM IMPACT OF ANY WITHHOLDING OF FUNDS BY POINTING OUT THAT THE LIBRARY HAS THE ENDOWMENT FUND THAT COULD HAVE COVERED ANY SHORTAGES.
THE REPORT DOES SEEM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS A PLAN TO WITHHOLD FUNDS, BUT THEN TRIES TO PLAY OFF ANY IMPACT OF THAT BECAUSE THE FUNDS WERE NEVER ACTUALLY WITHHELD AS THOUGH THE THREAT TO WITHHOLD WAS MEANINGLESS BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER CARRIED OUT.
SUPERVISORS JAMESON AND COOK CRY FOUL OVER THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES HIRING A HIRING OF A PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM TO TRY TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.
THEY CRY FOUL OVER THE LOCAL PAPER, NOT PAINTING THEM IN A VERY GOOD LIGHT AS A RESULT OF THEIR ACTIONS.
THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT CERTAIN LOCAL GROUPS, INFLAMING COUNTY RESIDENTS, AND PROMOTING WHAT THEY CLAIM IS A FALSE NARRATIVE.
THIS IS ALL EXPERT LEVEL GASLIGHTING.
IT IS EXPERT LEVEL GASLIGHTING TO LAUNCH A FINANCIAL ASSAULT ON AN ORGANIZATION AND THREATEN TO WITHHOLD FUNDS UNLESS THEY CAVE TO YOUR WISHES.
AND THEN WHEN YOU REALIZE YOU DON'T HAVE THE POLITICAL BACKING TO FOLLOW THROUGH, TO CRITICIZE THEM FOR HAVING THE AUDACITY TO DEFEND THEMSELVES, IT IS EXPERT LEVEL GASLIGHTING TO ALIGN YOURSELF WITH THE MOVEMENT TO BAN BOOKS.
AND THEN WHEN THAT MOVEMENT IS OVERWHELMINGLY OPPOSED TO CLAIM THAT THAT NEVER HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT, MUCH WAS MADE IN THE REPORT OF THE NEED FOR MORE TAXPAYER REPRESENTATIVE OVERSIGHT, THIS WOULD CONCEIVABLY BE ACCOMPLISHED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LIBRARY BOARD.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE LIBRARY BOARD IS TOUTED AS AN INDEPENDENT BODY MERELY APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
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IS THAT THE LIBRARY WOULD BE AS GOOD AS IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AND THAT IT IS JUST AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE THAT WON'T AFFECT THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS.BUT IT SEEMS BLATANTLY OBVIOUS THAT THE BOARD, THAT THE LIBRARY BOARD WOULD BE CONTROLLED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BECAUSE OTHERWISE, WHAT'S THE POINT? THANK YOU IF NO, JESSICA REYNOLDS.
WE WILL OPEN THE FLOOR THEN FOR ANYONE WHO DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO SIGN UP.
AND IF YOU WOULD LINE UP ON THIS SIDE, UM, THAT KEEPS ME IN LINE WITH WHERE EVERYBODY IS A LITTLE BETTER.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SUE COLORS AND I'M FROM THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT AND MY ANCESTORS GO BACK ABOUT EIGHT GENERATIONS, UH, REGIONAL SETTLE SETTLERS IN THE FORT VALLEY.
AND I, EVERYTHING'S BEEN SAID HERE.
I I I TOTALLY SUPPORT SAMUEL'S LIBRARY AND, UM, TRULY HOPE THAT YOU'LL VOTE NO ON THIS PROPOSAL.
UM, JUST IN TERMS OF LEADERSHIP, WHEN I JUST LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT'S TRANSPIRED, WHERE I'M HERE TO DEFEND THE LIBRARY, BECAUSE IT'S UNDER ATTACK.
YOU'RE TRYING TO, UM, TO SEIZE CONTROL OF THIS OPERATION AFTER YOU HAD THIS MEMORANDUM AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN TURN AROUND AND ATTACK AGAIN, HOW YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA GET THE FOLKS TO COME AND WORK HERE.
YOU RIGHT NOW, THE STAFF IS EXPERIENCED AND TRAINED AND PASSIONATE AND, AND IT'S MORE THE NUMBERS.
YOU KNOW, I, I WORRY ABOUT THIS, UM, DOGE, UH, MANDATE THAT SEEMS TO BE COMING UP THAT YOU, YOU DON'T LOOK AT THE HUMAN ASPECT AND THE SYNERGY.
IT WAS MENTIONED, THE SYNERGY OF THE STAFF WORKING TOGETHER, REALLY WANTING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.
WHO'S GONNA WANNA COME WORK FOR THE LIBRARY WHEN, YOU KNOW THEY'VE BEEN JUST, UH, ABUSED.
REALLY? UH, NO, THERE'S NO SECURITY FOR THE STAFF.
UM, AND AS SOMEBODY SAID, THIS DOES GO BACK TO THE BOOK BAN AND NOT MAYBE NOT GETTING, GETTING YOUR WAY.
AND THERE'S SOME BRUISED EGOS AND REALLY, I MEAN, IT, I DO YOU THINK I COULD GET YOU TO, TO BELIEVE IN VALUES THAT YOU DON'T SHARE IT? IT NO.
YOU CAN'T CONVINCE SOMEBODY, PERSUADE SOMEBODY TO BELIEVE IN YOUR VALUES.
THAT'S WHY THERE'S A SEPARATION OF, YOU KNOW, RELIGION AND, UM, OR POLITICS, STATE AND RELIGION OR HOWEVER THAT PHRASE GOES.
BUT YEAH, YOU CAN'T BRING, UM, RELIGIOUS BELIEFS INTO PUBLIC SPHERES BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE ALL VERY DIFFERENT.
AND, UM, WHO IS GOING TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST WHAT INFORMATION SHOULD GO INTO A LIBRARY THAT JUST, IT SHOULDN'T BE A, A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, I DON'T THINK.
UM, THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT THIS LIBRARY HAS BEEN MISMANAGED.
AND SO I, I HOPE THAT YOU'LL NOT DESTROY, YOU WILL DESTROY THE SYNERGY OF, OF THIS LIBRARY WHO'S GONNA WANNA COME WORK WHEN, YOU KNOW, IN THIS TYPE OF AN ATMOSPHERE.
SO, UM, I HOPE YOU REALLY RECONSIDER SUPPORTING THE LIBRARY AND NOT, UM, UM, DISMISSING THE BOARD THAT'S THERE AND TRYING TO REPLACE AND TRYING TO TAKE OVER CONTROL.
I'M A CONSTITUENT OF THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
I HAVE ALREADY SENT MY REMARKS TO DR.
JAMESON AND HE KNOWS I OPPOSE THE PROPOSED OR, UM, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, BUT I'M NOT HERE.
FOR ME TODAY, I'D LIKE TO REPRESENT SOMEONE WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY DUE TO HAVING A SICK BABY AT HOME.
AND I WILL READ HER STATEMENT AT THIS TIME.
I'M A CONSTITUENT OF THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT TO GET RIGHT TO THE POINT.
I AM DISTURBED BY THE BOARD'S RUSHED PROPOSAL TO CREATE BOS APPOINTED LIBRARY BOARD.
I HAVE READ THROUGH THE PROPOSAL CREATED BY DR.
JAMESON AND MRS. COOK, AND I AM LEFT AS A TAXPAYER WITH MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS.
FIRSTLY, THE PROPOSAL DOES NOT OFFER ANY CRITERIA BY WHICH MEMBERS OF THIS NEW BOARD WILL BE SELECTED.
THERE ARE NO PREVENTATIVE MEASURES FOR CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
ZERO CLARITY ON HOW THIS BOARD WILL SOMEHOW MAKE THE LIBRARY MORE FINANCIALLY ACCOUNTABLE.
IT IS UNCLEAR WHY SIMPLY ASKING FOR ITEMIZED TRANSACTION REPORTS WOULD
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NOT RESOLVE THIS ISSUE IF IT IS TRULY ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.THE PROPOSAL ALSO STATES THAT THE LIBRARY HAS BEEN RUN WITHOUT ANY OVERSIGHT OR ACCOUNTABILITY TO TAXPAYERS.
THE CURRENT LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES NOT ONLY HAS A MEMBER OF BOS ON IT, BUT ALSO TRANSPARENT OPEN MEETINGS.
THE REASONING PROVIDED BY THE BOARD THUS FAR IS CONVOLUTED AND SMACKS OF GOVERNMENT OVERREACH.
IF YOU TRULY WISH TO UPHOLD ACCOUNTABILITY, YOU HAVE A DUTY TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO SLOW DOWN AND DO MORE DETAILED, UNBIASED RESEARCH INTO WHAT COURSE OF ACTION WOULD BE BEST IN THIS SITUATION, I URGE THE BOARD TO USE CAUTION AND GOOD SENSE MOVING FORWARD.
KNOW THAT YOU HAVE WOKEN UP MANY OF US IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAD BLINDLY TRUSTED YOU TO RUN THE COUNTY.
WE SEE YOU, WE ARE WATCHING WHAT YOU WILL DO NEXT, AND WE WILL VOTE ACCORDINGLY.
UM, MELANIE SALANS, NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UM, I FELT CALLED TO SPEAK TONIGHT BECAUSE I'VE HEARD REPEATEDLY THAT THIS PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IS A GREAT THING.
UM, I GOT MYSELF INVOLVED POLITICALLY IN WARREN COUNTY IN 2018 BECAUSE OF THE EDA SCANDAL.
I GUESS MOST PEOPLE HERE DON'T REALIZE THAT THE EDA IS A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AND THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ACCUSED OF STEALING MONEY AND CONVICTED OF STEALING MONEY WERE NOT ELECTED OFFICIALS.
THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THE PRIVATE ASPECT OF THINGS.
SO I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE STANDING OUT AS NOTE.
I WAS ALSO, LET'S SAY I FOUND IT IN POOR TASTE TO SEE FORMER SUPERVISOR TONY CARTER SHOW UP TO SPEAK TONIGHT WHEN HE SERVED AS SUPERVISOR DURING THE ENTIRE DURATION OF THE LARGEST EMBEZZLEMENT IN VIRGINIA STATE HISTORY.
THE LIBRARY FIRST LANDED ON MY RADAR DURING THE EDA INVESTIGATION.
UM, I WAS INVOLVED, GAVE INTERVIEWS WITH THE WASHINGTON POST READ, THE CHERRY BECKETT REPORT, TRANSLATED THE CHERRY BECKETT REPORT, PUT IT INTO EASY TERMS FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND.
AND WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING KELLY RICHMOND POPE COME TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SHE SAID, AS YOUR COMMUNITY STARTS TO MOVE FORWARD FROM THIS EMBEZZLEMENT, YOU ARE GONNA HAVE YOUR COUNTY SUPERVISORS PLACING MORE GUIDELINES AND RESTRICTIONS IN FISCAL OVERSIGHT IN PLACE.
AND YOU'RE GONNA BE SHOCKED BECAUSE AT ABOUT FIVE YEARS IN THE PUBLIC IS GONNA SUDDENLY ACT LIKE THEY FORGOT WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY FORGOT THE REASON WHY THESE ADDED OVERSIGHTS ARE OCCURRING.
AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ANYBODY IS EVEN ACCUSING THE LIBRARY OF, OF ANY TYPE OF FISCAL MISMANAGEMENT.
WHAT IT IS, IS SAYING, HEY, THERE ARE DOORS OPEN, THE FRONT DOOR IS UNLOCKED.
SHOULD WE WAIT FOR SOMEBODY TO ROB THE HOUSE? WHEN YOU LOOK BACK TO THE HISTORY OF THAT LIBRARY BOARD, AND YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT YOU HAD EDA MEMBERS THAT WERE ARRESTED AND CURRENTLY HAVE CHARGES PENDING AGAINST THEM SPOUSES SHARING THE SAME BOARD BUSINESS PARTNERS ON THE SAME BOARD, THERE ARE DEFINITELY THINGS THAT GIVE US PAUSE WHEN IT IS AN OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT BOARD.
I CAN'T SERVE ON A BOARD WITH MY HUSBAND.
I CAN'T SERVE ON A BOARD WITH MY BUSINESS PARTNER.
I HAVE TO TURN IN A YEARLY FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
I DON'T KNOW IF SAMUELS HAS TO DO THAT OR NOT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE FOLLOWING PUBLIC PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND ONLY A GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT BOARD CAN PROVIDE THOSE DETAILED, SPECIFIC OVERSIGHTS.
UM, 18 MONTHS WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
IT IS DESTROYING THIS COMMUNITY.
PEOPLE ARE THREATENING THIS HAS TO END.
LET'S PUT IT BEHIND US SO THIS COMMUNITY CAN START TO HEAL.
MIKE SALIN, UH, NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
I KNOW MOST OF YOU PERSONALLY, AND IT'S BEEN A WHILE, BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS.
UM, I WANNA START OFF BY SAYING THE LIBRARY DOES SOME WONDERFUL THINGS, UM, AND NOBODY IS HERE DISPUTING THAT.
UH, BUT TO BE HONEST, IT'S COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT.
UM, I WASN'T GONNA SPEAK TONIGHT, BUT THE LEVEL OF MIS UH, INFORMATION, LACK OF GOVERNMENT KNOWLEDGE, MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE ACTUAL ISSUE, VIRTUAL SIG, UH, VIRTUE SIGNALING, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE LACK OF FINANCIAL UNDERSTANDING IS ASTOUNDING.
THE ISSUE IS VERY SIMPLE AND CAN BE SUMMED UP BY SIMPLY SAYING, IF TAX MONEY IS FUNDING A VAST MAJORITY OF THIS FACILITY, THEN IT ONLY MAKES SENSE THAT THE COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE SOME OVERSIGHT
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INTO HOW IT'S USED.BY THE WAY, STATE FUNDS ARE FROM TAXES.
SO JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN YOU LOOK AT PERCENTAGES.
UH, DESPITE THE COMMON LIBERAL THOUGHT THAT MONEY FALLS FROM THE SKY AND IS INFINITE, IT'S NOT, UH, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE SPEAKERS AGAINST COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD SEEM TO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT A BUDGET IS NOT LEGALLY BINDING.
ONCE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVES THE BUDGET, THE LIBRARY IS FEE FREE TO SPEND THAT MONEY HOWEVER THEY WISH.
I'VE LIVED THIS SCENARIO BEFORE, UH, WHEN I WAS A KID, MY MOM WOULD GIMME LUNCH MONEY EVERY DAY AND I WOULD NEVER USE IT ON FOOD.
INSTEAD, I'D SAVE IT UP TO BUY VIDEO GAMES.
SO BEING ARMED WITH THAT INFORMATION, IT WOULD ONLY MAKE SENSE THAT IF I GIVE MY KIDS MONEY, UH, I WATCHED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY USE IT ON WHAT THEY CLAIM THEY NEEDED IT FOR.
REMEMBER, WE'RE NOT INTERRUPTING.
UH, TO ANYONE WHO DOESN'T THINK THE COUNTY SHOULD HAVE OVERSIGHT, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM GIVING ME YOUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TO MANAGE.
FEEL FREE TO GIVE IT TO ME, UH, IN WORDS OF THE GREAT PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN, TRUST BUT VERIFY.
I'M GONNA REMIND YOU WE'VE COME A LONG WAY TONIGHT AND I'VE BEEN VERY PROUD AND APPRECIATIVE OF HOW RESPECTFUL I'VE BEEN.
LET'S NOT LET IT FALL APART NOW BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR SECOND WARNING AND I WILL START POINTING PEOPLE OUT TO THE DEPUTIES.
UH, MADAM CHAIR, I UNDERSTAND YOU'VE BEEN ILL.
I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR YOU.
I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR A WHILE AND I'VE SEEN YOUR WORK AND YOU'RE ALWAYS A DILIGENT, UH, AND WELL INFORMED PUBLIC SERVANT.
IT'S ONE OR NINE MINUTES AFTER ONE IN THE MORNING, AND I'M A LITTLE PUNCHY.
I WOULD ASK ALL OF YOU TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER SCHEDULING THESE CULTURE WARS IN THE AFTERNOON,
UM, NOW I'VE BEEN LISTENING AND I, HERE'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND.
YOU TAKE OVER THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THEN YOU TAKE OVER THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AND THEN YOU TAKE OVER THE LIBRARY, AND THEN YOU TAKE OVER WHAT THE GAZEBO
I MEAN, THAT'S HOW, THAT'S THE PATTERN WE HAVE HERE.
NOW, UM, I CAME TO A PREVIOUS MEETING AND YOU SAID BOARD, THE BOARDS WERE SAYING, WELL, THE LIBRARY CAUSED THIS PROBLEM.
WELL, WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR IS THAT THE CIRCUS CAME TO TOWN AND PEOPLE CAME IN HERE AND RAISED A BIG STINK AND JUMPED UP AND DOWN ABOUT DIRTY BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY.
OKAY? THEY WANTED TO GET RID OF THE BOOKS.
SO THE BOARD AT THAT TIME SAID, WELL, WE'LL WITHHOLD MONEY FROM THEM.
OKAY? AND THEN THINGS KIND OF QUIETED DOWN BECAUSE THE PUBLIC BASICALLY INDICATED THEY DIDN'T WANT THIS STUFF DONE.
THEY WANTED THE LIBRARY SUPPORTED.
IT'S BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT LIBRARY.
AND THEN YOU HEAR THAT THE LIBRARY CAUSED THE PROBLEM.
THE LIBRARY DIDN'T CAUSE ANY PROBLEM.
THE CIRCUS CAUSED THE PROBLEM AND ADDED TO IT THE RESPONSE OF THEN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO THE CIRCUS.
SO I WANNA LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE NUMBER OF THE PROBLEM IS.
AND IT SEEMS TO ME THE NUMBER OF THE PROBLEM IS THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE GAY PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND DON'T WANT ANY CHILD OR PERSON TO GO TO THE LIBRARY AND READ A BOOK ABOUT A GAY PERSON.
I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT IS.
THE PROBABLY BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY ABOUT ESKIMOS.
SO IF YOU FOLLOW SOME PEOPLE'S LOGIC, IF I TAKE MY KID TO THE LIBRARY AND THEY READ A BOOK ABOUT ESKIMOS, THEY'RE GONNA COME HOME AND DECIDE TO BECOME AN ESKIMO.
I'M OPPOSED TO AN INFLUX OF ESKIMOS IN WARREN COUNTY, AND I THINK YOU OUGHT TO GET THOSE BOOKS OUTTA LIBRARIES OR DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
I AM ELIZABETH UNI OF FREDERICK COUNTY RESIDENT WHO VOLUNTEERED 105 HOURS AT SAMUEL'S LIBRARY IN 2024.
THAT'S ABOUT A FULL FREIGHT OF AVERAGE PROPERTY TAX FOR WARREN COUNTY.
IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHY A NON-RESIDENT WOULD DONATE HER TIME, THEN YOU DON'T KNOW MUCH, IF ANYTHING, ABOUT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY.
MY COMMENTS, AND I'M A PROCESS GEEK, ARE RELATED TO THE PROCESS THE SUPERVISORS UNDERTOOK TO DECIDE TO INSTITUTE A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD.
SPOILER ALERT, I HAVE NOT BEEN IMPRESSED.
ON OCTOBER 29TH, THERE WAS A WORK SESSION BETWEEN THE SUPERVISORS AND THE LIBRARY TRUSTEES.
THAT WAS MY FIRST TIME IN THIS ROOM AND MY FIRST TIME OBSERVING THIS BOARD.
THE SUPERVISOR SAT ON THE DAIS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANY GOVERNMENT WORK SESSION CONDUCTED WITHOUT USING THE LEVEL PLAYING FIELD OF CONFERENCE TABLES THAT WERE AT THE BACK OF
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THE ROOM WHEN THE SUPERVISORS COULDN'T EVEN MUSTER CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LIBRARY ON WINNING LIBRARY OF THE YEAR AWARD.IT WAS CLEAR THEY WEREN'T INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH THE TRUSTEES.
THIS WAS SIMPLY A PRO FORMA MEETING THAT NEEDED TO BE CROSSED OFF THE TO-DO LIST.
ON NOVEMBER 19TH, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE APPEARED ON THE BOARD'S CONSENT AGENDA.
SUPERVISOR JAMISON ASSERTED IN HIS EIGHT MINUTE STATEMENT AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD THAT HE FAVORED TRANSPARENCY DETAILED ANALYSIS BASED ON FACTS AND BROAD PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF THE MERITS OF THE COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD.
SO I WENT HOME TO LOOK FOR THE REPORT ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE.
I DISCOVERED THE PDF ON THE BOARD'S WEBPAGE, BUT IT REQUIRED A CIVIC PLUS ACCOUNT TO DOWNLOAD, WHICH MEANT THAT YOU GOT MY EMAIL.
I SPENT THE NEXT FOUR HOURS, MULTIPLE EMAILS BACK AND FORTH TO COUNTY OFFICIALS AND IT STAFF.
AND FINALLY, THAT REPORT WAS FREELY AND BROADLY AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS ON THE AFTERNOON OF NOVEMBER 21ST ON THE BOARD'S WEBPAGE, THE TRANSMITTAL MEMO THAT ACCOMPANIES THE SUBCOMMITTEES REPORT.
THANKS THE SUPERVISORS FOR THEIR PATIENCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS THIS PROJECT WAS ONGOING.
SO WE LEARNED THE SUBCOMMITTEE'S 34 PAGE REPORT AT THAT TIME HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR 10 MONTHS AND WAS ESSENTIALLY COMPLETE ON OCTOBER 29TH.
THE PUBLIC HAS HAD A CHANCE TO READ, ABSORB, AND CHALLENGE IT FOR 19 DAYS, JUST LIKE THE WORK SESSION WITH THE LIBRARY TRUSTEES.
IT SURE LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE THE SUPERVISORS AREN'T PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN INFORMED FEEDBACK FROM CONSTITUENTS.
YOU'RE JUST MARCHING AHEAD WITH VIRTUALLY NO PLAN AT ALL, AND TRUSTING GREAT RESPONSIBILITY TO WHO KNOWS WHO THAT WILL BE ON THIS NEW LIBRARY BOARD.
I WILL SAY I'VE NEVER SEEN AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT ADDING EFFICIENCY OR QUALITY TO THE DELIVERY OF ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES IN ANY PLACE I'VE LIVED.
UM, I WILL ADD THAT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT TYPO IN YOUR ORDINANCE IN TWO PLACES THAT YOU WANNA CORRECT BEFORE YOU PASS THIS TONIGHT.
I'VE BEEN A LINDEN RESIDENT IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT SINCE 2001.
I AM HERE WITH AN APPEAL TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO VOTE AGAINST THE FORMATION OF A LIBRARY BOARD.
THE LIBRARY'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAS BEEN RESPONSIVE, HAS BEEN RESPONSIVE AND TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE LIBRARY'S POLICIES AND FINANCES OVER 200 YEARS IN THE MAKING.
OUR LIBRARY IS A PROFESSIONAL, EFFICIENT AWARD-WINNING GRANT WORTHY INSTITUTION.
JEOPARDIZING THIS PRIZE AND ESSENTIAL RESOURCE, AGAIN, IS TO PUT IT MILDLY A DISSERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO TAKE THE REASON GIVEN FOR THIS MOTION AT FACE VALUE WHEN IT SEEMS THERE HAS BEEN NO GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO WORK WITH THE LIBRARY'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
INSTEAD, THIS QUOTE UNQUOTE SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T EXIST IS BEING PURSUED WITH UTMOST HAS.
DESPITE THE POTENTIALLY HORRIBLE CONSEQUENCES AND VOCIFEROUS OPPOSITION FROM A WIDE SWATH OF COUNTY RESIDENTS, I DO NOT HAVE ANY FAITH THAT A COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD WILL PRIORITIZE THE RIGHTS OF ALL OUR CITIZENS TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE FULL RANGE OF MATERIALS REFLECTING OUR DIVERSE POPULATION.
I AM CERTAIN IT CANNOT OFFER THE MULTIFACETED ARRAY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
SAMUEL'S PUBLIC LIBRARY CURRENTLY PROVIDES FOR THE SAME INVESTMENT FROM THE COUNTY UNDER THE CURRENT STRUCTURE.
OUR RESIDENTS NEED AND ARE ENRICHED BY THESE PROGRAMS. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SETTLE FOR A STRIPPED DOWN VERSION OF THE LIBRARY TO SATISFY BOGUS CLAIMS THAT THE OPERATION NEEDS MORE OVERSIGHT OR REPRESENTATION, OR WHATEVER FIG LEAF YOU DECIDE WILL BE BAMBOOZLE CONSTITUENTS.
THE LIBRARY'S STATUS IS A FORCE MULTIPLIER FOR THE COUNTY'S DOLLARS.
IT BRINGS A DEDICATED VOLUNTEER FORCE DONATIONS AND OPENS THE DOOR TO PRESTIGIOUS GRANTS.
PLEASE SHOW THE LIBRARY'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND WARREN COUNTY RESIDENTS THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE, AND LET US CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE LIBRARY UNHINDERED BY ANY FURTHER ATTEMPTS TO UNDERMINE OR REINVENT IT TO CONFORM TO THE PREFERENCES OF A TINY MINORITY.
FOLLOW THE LIBRARY'S EXAMPLE AND MAKE ROOM FOR ALL OF US.
I AM LEE PAUL ERICKSON OF THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT, AND I BOUGHT MY FIRST
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HOUSE HERE IN FRONT ROYAL FIVE YEARS AGO.SINCE THEN, I'VE PLANTED ON MY ROOTS DEEP IN THIS AREA, MUCH SHOULD A DETRIMENT OF MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER.
FOR BACKGROUND, I'M AN ARMY VETERAN, AN ALUMNI OF THE DEFENSE LANGUAGE INSTITUTE, AND MY SPECIALTY IS IN INSIDER RISK AND THREAT MANAGEMENT.
A MODEL I USED TO SHAPE MY PROGRAMS IS A CRITICAL PATHWAY TO INSIDER THREAT, WHICH WAS DEVELOPED BY DR. ERIC SHAW, WHO'S A CLINICAL, UH, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AND FORMER INTELLIGENCE OFFICER DURING HIS WORK, UH, WITH THE FAIRFAX POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE CORE FUNCTION OF THIS PATHWAY IS THAT WHEN YOU APPLY AN ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSE, SUCH AS A SLOW DEATH OF A PUBLICLY AVAILABLE RESOURCE TO GROUPS OF DISENFRANCHISED, UNDERPRIVILEGED, AND AT RISK CITIZENS, YOU ACT TO DESTABILIZE THE LIVES, HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THOSE CITIZENS, CAUSING A SUMMATION OF PERSONAL PREDISPOSITIONS, LIFE STRESSORS, AND ORGANIZA AND ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSE TO CREATE POSSIBLE THREAT EVENTS TO THIS COMMUNITY TO MINIMIZE THE SOCIETAL RISK AND THREATS.
IT BEHOOVES THIS BOARD TO SUPPORT THE PILLARS OF THIS COMMUNITY AND NOT DESTROY THEM.
LIKE WHEN I SIGN MY NAME INTO DEFENSE OF THE CONSTITUTION, I WILL PUT MY MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH IS NOW, AND I WILL WORK WITH THE LIBRARY TO PERSONALLY PLEDGE $50,000.
SHOULD THIS SUPERVISORY BOARD DECIDE NOT TO CREATE THE LIBRARY BOARD AT THIS SUPER SUPERVISORY BOARD SHOULD PROCEED TO CREATE THIS WHOLLY UNNECESSARY LAYER OF BUREAUCRACY.
I WILL USE THAT PLEDGE TO FIGHT THIS LEGALLY AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAMPAIGNS OF THOSE WHO MAY RUN AGAINST MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD.
I'M 31 YEARS OLD AND I WILL MAKE THIS MY MISSION FOR THE REST OF MY TIME ON THIS PLANET.
HI, I AM GRANT CNET FROM THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UM, LET'S JUST IMAGINE THAT WE OWN A THRIVING RESTAURANT WITH SKILLED AND HIGHLY FUNCTIONING KITCHEN STAFF WITH WHOM WE'VE HAD A LONG AND SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP.
BUT NOW WE, THE OWNER, HAVE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD LIKE MORE OVERSIGHT OF THE DAY-TO-DAY DECISION MAKING AND FEEL DISAPPOINTED AT THE INITIAL RECEPTION, THIS SUGGESTION RECEIVED FROM THE KITCHEN STAFF.
SHOULD WE REPLACE THE ENTIRE KITCHEN TEAM OR REQUIRE THEM TO REAPPLY FOR THEIR JOBS ON THE CONDITION THEY RESPECT OUR WISHES FOR A MORE DIRECT ROLE IN RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT.
DON'T WE RISK DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD? I AGREE WITH YOU THAT IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO ENSURE THAT TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE WELL SPENT.
WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT THE LIBRARY OPERATES WITH SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC FUNDING, FORCING DIRECT GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT OF DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS RAISES BROADER QUESTIONS.
FIRST, SHOULD EVERY ORGANIZATION RECEIVING SIGNIFICANT GOVERNMENT FUNDS SURRENDER ITS OPERATIONAL INDEPENDENCE RATHER THAN MICROMANAGING OPERATIONS? IT'S ALSO QUITE COMMON FOR TAXPAYER INTERESTS TO BE PROTECTED THROUGH FUNDING AGREEMENTS WITH CLEAR EXPECTATIONS, PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS, AND FINANCIAL AUDIT REQUIREMENTS.
SECOND, DOES A GOVERNMENT APPOINTED BOARD ACTUALLY ENSURE A BETTER USE OF TAXPAYER FUNDS? AND I'M NOT SURE THAT I HAVE THIS STRAIGHT, BUT LET'S RECALL THE TOWN'S EDA SCANDAL WEREN'T MANY OF THE EDA BOARD MEMBERS CHOSEN BY A PAST WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES ARE ESSENTIAL, BUT THE LIBRARY'S CURRENT MODEL HAS PROVEN EFFECTIVE AND CONTINUES TO MEET TAXPAYER NEEDS.
YOUR COMMITMENT TO OVERSIGHT CAN BE FULFILLED WITHOUT SOME NEW GROUP OF POLITICAL APPOINTEES AND WITHOUT SACRIFICING THE NEARLY 200 YEAR OLD PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT MAKES SAMUEL'S EXCEPTIONAL.
GOOD FAITH NEGOTIATIONS HAVE WORKED IN THE PAST AND CAN WORK AGAIN, EVERYONE FEELS HURT.
BY LAST YEAR'S 11TH HOUR FUNDING NEGOTIATIONS AFTER DECADES OF TRUST AND MUTUAL RESPECT, IF I'M BEING HONEST, THE ATTEMPT TO CONDITION LIBRARY FUNDING ON MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNMENT CHANGES, GOVERNANCE CHANGES AT THE LIBRARY, FELT LIKE A RUSHED ATTEMPT TO NEGOTIATE A PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT AFTER A LONG AND HAPPY MARRIAGE.
WHY RISK LOSING THE VIRGINIA LIBRARY OF THE YEAR POTENTIALLY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN AVERAGE OR BELOW AVERAGE REPLACEMENT? IT'S EASY TO FIND FAULT IN SOMEONE ELSE'S WORK, BUT IT'S OFTEN MUCH LESS EASY TO BUILD SOMETHING HALF AS GOOD YOURSELF.
SOMETIMES WHAT APPEARS TO BE BROKEN IS SIMPLY A MISUNDERSTANDING CASE FOR DIALOGUE, NOT DRASTIC CHANGE.
[05:15:01]
SIR.I LIVED IN, UH, FRONT ROYAL FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.
UM, I'VE HEARD A LOT OF THE, SHALL WE SAY, THE LIBRARY SIDE ARGUING THAT IT WILL SOMEHOW EMBARRASS THE COUNTY IF WE, UM, IMPOSE OVERSIGHT TAXPAYER OVERSIGHT OVER LIBRARY OPERATIONS.
I, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S THE CASE.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE WANT WITH TAXATION TO COME REPRESENTATION.
WHAT I DID NOTICE THOUGH, FROM THAT SIDE IS NOT ONE, NOT TWO, BUT MAYBE CLOSE TO 10 OF THEIR SPEAKERS, UH, EXPRESSING REALLY STRONG BIGOTRY AGAINST CHRISTIANS IN GENERAL AND CATHOLICS IN SPECIFIC.
I I THINK WE, THE, THE BOARD HEARD THAT.
I DON'T THINK THE BOARD SHOULD REWARD THAT, THAT LEVEL OF BIGOTRY OR PROVIDE ANY, UH, ANY AID TOWARDS THAT.
SO, UM, AGAIN, ENCOURAGING YOU TO, UH, IMPOSE OVERSIGHT ON THE LIBRARY.
ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK THIS? THE SECOND CALL? ANYONE ELSE? THIRD AND FINAL.
PORTION OF THIS WILL BE COMPLETED.
UM, MR. HAM, USUALLY AT THIS POINT, I CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF, UM, TABLING THIS, SHOULD I STILL CLOSE IT OR LEAVE THAT OPEN? YES, WE SHOULD CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
LET, LET, LET ME START OFF BY SAYING A COUPLE OF THINGS, AND I'VE HEARD QUITE A FEW INPUTS TONIGHT AND, UH, UH, SOME OF THEM WERE VERY THOUGHTFUL AND SOME OF THEM, UH, WERE NOT VERY THOUGHTFUL.
SO THE, UH, LEMME START OFF WITH, UM, THE, UH, THE FEEDBACK THAT I'VE RECEIVED INDICATES THAT, UM, THERE ARE MORE CONSTITUENTS IN THE COUNTY, UH, WHO SUPPORT, UH, THE, UH, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD THAN THOSE PRESENT IN THIS ROOM WHO ARE AGAINST IT.
SO THE, UH, SO THE, THE, AND I KNOW THAT, UH, THAT WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND, AND TALKING ABOUT THAT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
SECOND THING IS, IS THAT, UH, SAMUEL'S LIBRARY INC.
AND THE, UH, THE, UH, AND AS A CONTRACTOR, THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD IS NOT TO REPLACE THE, UH, BOARD OF, UH, TRUSTEES ON THE, UH, THE, UH, UH, SAMUELS LIBRARY IN, UH, INC.
THE PURPOSE OF THE, UH, OF ESTABLISHING A A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD IS TO, UH, IS TO PROVIDE GOVERNANCE, AND IT'S ALSO TO PROVIDE POLICY.
AND LET ME, LET ME TELL YOU THAT, UH, I SPENT, UH, OVER 40 YEARS ASSOCIATED WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER OF, OF 32 OF THOSE YEARS WERE, WERE IN UNIFORM.
AND ANOTHER 12 WERE AS A CONTRACTOR.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT IN MY EXPERIENCE, UH, UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, NEVER DID A CON WAS A CONTRACTOR PUT IN A POSITION WHERE THEY, UH, DEVELOPED POLICY.
AND THE THE REASON WHY I SAY THAT, UH, THAT UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THE ONLY TIME I EVER SAW IT WAS WHEN I WAS IN IRAQ AND IT WAS IN A COMBAT ZONE.
SO THE, UH, OF THE, THE COMMANDING GENERAL HAD FIRED THE, UH, UH, THE, THE TWO GOVERNMENT FOLKS.
AND THE ONLY PERSON THAT HE HAD TO, TO RELY ON WAS A CONTRACTOR.
AND HE GRABBED HER AND SAID, YOU'RE IN CHARGE, YOU DEVELOP POLICY.
AND SHE SAID, BUT I'M A CONTRACTOR.
AND HE SAID, YOU ARE IN CHARGE.
SO THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME THAT I EVER SAW THAT.
OTHERWISE IT WAS IMPROPER FOR CONTRACTORS TO DEVELOP POLICY.
THAT'S WHAT THIS, THAT'S WHAT THIS, THIS BOARD, THIS WARREN COUNTY, UH, LIBRARY BOARD, THAT'S THE, THAT IS THE PRIMARY THING THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE DOING IS DEVELOPING POLICY GOVERNANCE.
SO THE, UM, AND, AND THE REASON BEING IS THAT, AS YOU ALL WELL KNOW, AND THESE, THESE ARE, UH, FIGURES THAT I GOT FROM THE, UH, PRESENTATION.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY GOOD PRESENTATION, UH, ON SATURDAY.
BUT, UH, IT WAS 68.8% OF THE FUNDING FOR THE, UH, UH, FOR SAMUEL'S LIBRARY INC.
[05:20:01]
COMES FROM, UH, UH, FROM THE COUNTY THAT, THAT LAST YEAR IT WAS 1,000,020 $4,000.AND THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, UH, I WAS TALKING WITH MY, MY DAUGHTER, MY, MY WIFE WAS TALKING WITH MY DAUGHTER UP IN VERMONT, UM, THIS, UM, UM, THIS MORNING.
AND, UH, SO I MENTIONED TO HER, I SAID, YEAH, IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE A VERY LATE NIGHT.
AND, UH, SO SHE SAID, WELL, HOW COME? AND I EXPLAINED TO HER THAT, UH, WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE LIBRARY, AND WHEN I TOLD HER THAT THE, UH, UH, THAT WE WANTED TO ESTABLISH A LIBRARY BOARD FOR GOVERNANCE OF THE, UH, AND, AND SHE SAID, WELL, DOESN'T THE, DOESN'T THE COUNTY HAVE PROPER OVERSIGHT ON THAT? AND I SAID, WELL, NO, WE, WE DON'T HAVE A BOARD THAT THAT OVERSEES THAT WE GIVE 'EM OVER A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
SO THE, UH, SO JUST NEEDLESS TO SAY, I DO SUPPORT ESTABLISHING, UH, ESTABLISHMENT OF A WARREN COUNTY, UH, LIBRARY BOARD.
SO THE, UH, AND IT'S LATE, AND, UH, I WILL, UH, I'LL SEE MY TIME TO THE NEXT PERSON.
WELL, I'LL GO AHEAD AND KIND OF ADD TO THIS.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANNA THANK EVERYBODY COMING OUT TONIGHT OR THIS MORNING AND SHARING YOUR COMMENTS IN YOUR, IN YOUR OPINIONS ABOUT, UH, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR APPROVING A, UM, THE S WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY ORDINANCE.
AND, UM, FOR WHATEVER, WHATEVER IT'S WORTH, THIS IS TRULY DEMOCRACY IN ACTION.
I DO WANNA SAY ONE THING IS THAT, UM, UM, I, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE, UH, SAMUELS LIBRARY PUBLIC FORUM.
I WATCHED THE WEDNESDAY'S MEETING.
UNFORTUNATELY, I COULDN'T MAKE WEDNESDAY, BUT I WAS THERE ON SATURDAY, AND THIS SESSION WAS VERY, UM, INFORMATIVE FOR ME, AND I'M GLAD THAT I, THAT I WAS AT THE EVENT.
SO I KNOW WE'RE SHORT ON TIME HERE, SO I'M GONNA TRY AND, AND TAKE WHAT I HAVE AND CRUNCH IT.
SO I HOPE IT'LL MAKE SENSE TO EVERYBODY.
SO, UM, TO BEGIN WITH, YOU KNOW, LAST WEEK WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS, UM, I SAID THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS NOT ABOUT GOVERNMENT OVERREACH, IT'S ABOUT GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT OF ONE POINT $24 MILLION OF TAX DOLLARS FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND FOR, AND I, AND, AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, PE MAY NOT BELIEVE ME, BUT I'M JUST GONNA SAY IT, BUT I TAKE THIS OVER THIS OVERSIGHT OBLIGATION VERY SERIOUSLY, ESPECIALLY REGARDING, UM, ANY OUR COUNTY POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND DISCIPLINES IN GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.
SO, UM, SO IN MY PERSPECTIVE, AND I'M ONLY SPEAKING FOR MYSELF HERE, THAT I BELIEVE THERE, THERE ARE FIVE, FIVE PRIMARY TYPES OF OVERSIGHT.
THIS ORDINANCE WE'LL BRING TO WARREN COUNTY, APPROXIMATELY 30 K CITIZENS WHO ARE TAXPAYERS AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
SO THE FIRST ONE IS TRANSPARENCY.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, IT'S NOT ABOUT TRANSPARENCY IN MY PERSPECTIVE, THE ROLE, UH, FOR TRANSPARENCY, THE ROLE OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO ESTABLISH COUNTY POLICIES, APPROVE BUDGETS, SET LOCAL TAX RATES, AND OVERSEE THE TOTAL COUNTY'S OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATION.
THERE IS NO LINE IN THE SAND ON TAX DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR BEING TRANSPARENT TO THE PUBLIC.
AND THAT APPROPRIATION, FOR ME, THE APPROPRIATION OF ONE POINT $24 MILLION TO A THIRD PARTY ENTITY SHOULD NOT BE EXCLUDED FROM THIS.
I CAN GO ON, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO CRUNCH IT FOR THE SAKE OF TIME.
GOING ONTO THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, THE, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR HAS RESPONSIBILITY AND CHALLENGES TO BALANCE THE COUNTY'S 1 MILLION A HUNDRED, WHAT, A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS BUDGET FOR PUBLIC SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDES PUBLIC SAFETY, OUR SCHOOLS HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES, WASTE MANAGEMENT, ET CETERA.
AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT, WHAT WE PROVIDE WHILE ENSURING TAX DOLLARS ARE, UM, WHILE ENSURING TAX DOLLARS ARE SPENT APPROPRIATELY.
EACH YEAR, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REVIEWS AND IMPROVES THE TOTAL COUNTY BUDGET, OR IN TERMS THAT I'M GONNA BE USING, WHICH I HOPE I DON'T CONFUSE EVERYBODY, UM, AS NON-DISCRETIONARY AND DISCRETIONARY SPENDING WHILE TRYING TO MINIMIZE THE TAX BURDEN TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
SINCE CURRENTLY, THE, CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FACES ANOTHER BUDGET, UM, CHALLENGE FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 WITH A $2.2 MILLION SHORTFALL
[05:25:01]
FROM OUR FORECASTED REVENUE COLLECTIONS.THIS, AND THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE 1.2 $24 MILLION FOR SAMUEL'S LIBRARY.
AND I BELIEVE RIGHT NOW, UH, IT DOESN'T, UH, IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THEIR INCREASE OF A 16.5%, WHICH I DON'T THINK THEY BROUGHT IT TO US YET OR ANYTHING, BUT I TOOK THIS OFF YOUR BUDGET BUDGET SHEET.
SO THE COUNTY'S NON-DISCRETIONARY SPENDING, OR, OR, OR WHAT I'M GONNA BE CALLING COSTS ARE SPENT ON SERVICES THAT AFFECT THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF OUR COUNTY CITIZENS, SUCH AS FIRE AND RESCUE, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, OUR SCHOOLS, ANIMAL SHELTERS, ET CETERA, ON TOP OF ATOP WITH THE $11 MILLION A YEAR IN DEBT SERVICE THAT WE PUT OUT EVERY YEAR.
NOW, ON THE OTHER HAND, OUR DISCRETIONARY SPENDING, OUR BUDGETS APPROPRIATED TO OUR PARTNERING AGENCIES FOR A GIVEN FISCAL YEAR.
SO FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, THE COUNTY'S DISCRETIONARY SPENDING, WHICH IS REALLY OUR, WHAT WE ARE TERMED, THE PARTNERING AGENCIES TOTALED $1.6 MILLION.
NOW, THESE THIRD PARTY AGENCIES PROVIDE OTHER, OTHER SERVICES TO US FOR THE COMMUNITY, LIKE, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL SOCIAL SERVICES CULTURE IN ENRICHMENT, AS WELL AS ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, OF WHICH 64% OF THAT BUDGET IS EARMARKED FOR THE SAMUELS LIBRARY BUDGET.
SO IN FACT, YOU KNOW, DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET CYCLE, THE ONE THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE PARTNER AGENCIES, UH, BUDGET REQUESTS WERE CUT TO FIT IN THE, OUR, WHAT WE'RE TERMING THE, THE BUDGET IN THE BOX.
SO I WANNA ALSO ADD THAT I BELIEVE THAT THESE ORGAN OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALSO ASSETS THAT PROVIDE VALUABLE SERVICES TO WARREN COUNTY CITIZENS, AND THEY SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
AND JUST TO NAME A FEW, BECAUSE THERE'S A, A LONG LIST.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, UH, THE BLUE RIDGE LEGAL SERVICES CONCERN HOTLINE, HABITAT, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, ST.
LUKE COMMUNITY HOUSE OF HOPE, I CAN GO ON.
SO THE NEXT ONE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY.
SO ALL ALL DEPARTMENTS AND EXTERNAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HOW TAX DOLLARS ARE, ARE ALLOCATED, SPENT AND REPORTED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE PUBLIC.
THESE INTERNAL CONTROLS REQUIRE FORMAL POLICIES AND PROCESSES TO ACCOUNT FOR ALL OF THESE APPROPRIATED DOLLARS.
ALTHOUGH SAMUELS PRODUCED A REPORT OF HOW THEY SPENT 1.1 POINT $24 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, IN MY OPINION, THIS ACCOUNTABILITY PRACTICE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE NORM FOR RECEIVING TAX DOLLARS FOR ALL FISCAL YEARS, NOT JUST PROVIDED WHEN IT WAS REQUESTED BY A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL.
THEY DO HAVE A BUDGET, UH, A, A BUDGET REPORT THAT PR THAT THEY PRODUCE AT THEIR, THEIR BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETINGS EVERY WHAT, EVERY TWO MONTHS.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THAT REPORT, IT DOESN'T BREAK OUT, THIS IS HOW MUCH TAX DO, UH, WARREN COUNTY TAX DOLLARS FOR USE.
IT, IT, IT JUST SUMMARIZES IT ALL.
SO MOVING ON TO TAXPAYER REPRESENTATION, UH, THE TAX REP, UH, TAXPAYER REP REPRESENTATION WILL, WILL PROVIDE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR LIBRARY SERVICES DELIVERED TO ALL THE WARREN COUNTY CITIZENS.
NOW, I, I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SAMUEL'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAS AN OPEN DOOR AND WILL, HE WILL HEAR ALL CITIZENS' RECOMMENDATIONS AND COMPLAINTS AT THEIR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
BUT HOWEVER, IT, THERE IS NO STANDARD PROCESS FOR THE TAXPAYER REPRESENTATION.
IS SAMUEL'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES DENIES A CITIZENS REQUEST THAT THEY BELIEVE WAS UNFAIR OR RECEIVE AN IMPROPER RESPONSE TO A FOIA REQUEST? I BELIEVE SAMUEL'S BOARD OF, UH, UH, I BELIEVE THAT SAMUEL'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES DOES ACT IN GOOD FAITH TO ADDRESS AND DIVERSIFY THIS RE REPRESENTATION.
HOWEVER, I, I THINK THAT THIS, THERE GOOD INTENTIONS GENERALLY ALLIES WITH THE MISSION OF THEIR, OF THE LIBRARY AND NOT FULLY REPRESENT ALL TAXPAYER'S INTERESTS AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT.
NEXT ONE IS THE COMMUNICATION TAXPAYER.
IN MY HOW I SEE IT, TAXPAYERS NEED A COMMUNICATION CHANNEL WITH THE COUNTY TO FACILITATE COMMUNICATION WITH ALL SAMUEL'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND LEADERSHIP.
[05:30:02]
THIS CHANNEL WILL ENSURE ALL TAXPAYERS IDEAS, CONCERNS, AND COMPLAINTS ARE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.THIS OPEN COMMUNICATION WILL ALSO GIVE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR AND INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF THE LIBRARY'S PERFORMANCE OF THEIR SERVICES OVERSIGHT OF IMPLEMENTING ANY RECOMMENDED CORRECTIVE ACTIONS OR AWARENESS OF POTENTIAL COST TO SAVINGS FOR THE PUBLIC.
SO, SUMMARIZING ALL OF THIS IS THAT I UNDERSTAND CHANGES UNCOMFORTABLE FOR SOME, BUT IN MY EXPERIENCE, CHANGE HAS ALSO BEEN GOOD.
I BELIEVE THIS ORDINANCE IS A GOOD STEP FORWARD FOR, UH, PROVIDING TRANSPARENT AND EFFICIENT COUNTY LIBRARY SERVICES FOR ALL OF THE WARREN COUNTY CITIZENS.
AND, AND YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THIS IS HOW I I LOOK AT THINGS IS THAT JUST BECAUSE WE'VE DONE THIS FOR YEARS DOES NOT MEAN THERE'S NO ROOM FOR NEW IDEAS OR IMPROVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
SO WITH ALL THIS BEING SAID, AND TO ADD TO MR. BUTLER'S THIS, THIS BOARD IS NOT GOING TO TAKE OVER THE OPERATIONS OF SAMUEL'S LIBRARY.
AND AS MUCH AS EVERYONE WANTS TO GIGGLE OR DOESN'T WANNA BELIEVE, I MEAN, I'VE ALREADY BEEN CALLED A LIAR, SO, YOU KNOW, THERE IT IS.
BUT WITH ME, IT IS GOING TO PROVIDE THE OVERSIGHT AND PROVIDE THE POLICIES FOR THE MILLION, THE MILLION DOLLARS PLUS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE LOOKING AT TAKING THE DONATIONS OR, OR ANY OF THAT.
IT'S ONLY THE TAX DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING APPROPRIATED TO THE, TO THE LIBRARY.
SO WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS SOME SUPPORTING THIS ORDINANCE, MR. STANMORE.
UM, FIRST I JUST WANT TO, UM, PUT OUT THERE THAT I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE LIBRARY FORUM LAST WEEK, UH, IN PERSON.
I DID WATCH THE FULL RECORDING OF THE WEDNESDAY SESSION, UM, AND I REVIEWED THE ACCOMPANYING PRESENTATIONS, WHICH SAMUEL'S KINDLY MADE AVAILABLE ON THEIR WEBSITE.
UM, I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THOSE SESSIONS AND INTRODUCING THE TRUSTEES.
THIS OUGHT TO BE A ROTE ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER AND NOT PRIMETIME NEWS.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ALREADY HAS THE POWERS IN QUESTION.
THIS IS A PROCEDURAL CHANGE TO DELEGATE THEM TO A COMMITTEE THAT STILL MUST MAKE A BUDGET REQUEST TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
AND AS SUPERVISOR COOK MENTIONED, COULD ENHANCE COMMUNICATION, UM, PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT AND OVERALL ACCOUNTABILITY.
BUT FURTHERMORE, A LIBRARY BOARD IS THE STANDARD IN 95% OF VIRGINIA IT'S PROVIDED FOR IN THE STATE CODE CREATES CLEAR LINES OF TAXPAYER REPRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
95% OF VIRGINIA, WE DO HAVE BOARDS OR COMMITTEES CHARGED WITH OVERSEEING OTHER PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
AND EVEN WITH THE VOLUNTEER FIRE AND RESCUE, WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A FISCAL POLICY FOR THEM.
WE HAVE BOARDS OVERSEEING SANITARY DISTRICTS.
WE HAVE AN AIRPORT BOARD, A SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD.
THESE ARE FORCE MULTIPLIERS THAT HELP THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DO OUR JOB.
AS IT'S BEEN POINTED OUT, IT'S A BIG BUDGET.
THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.
WE NEED HELP FOR THE LARGEST SANITARY DISTRICT, WHICH IS IN MY DISTRICT.
IT HAS A BUDGET APPROACHING THE SIZE OF THE LIBRARIES.
AND WE RECENTLY RELAUNCHED A BOARD WITH SIMILAR GOALS TO MAKE SURE THAT A WELL-DEFINED SCOPE OF WORK IS BEING DONE AT THE RIGHT PRICE, WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT WITH THE RIGHT GUARDRAILS AND WITH SUFFICIENT TRANSPARENCY TO PROTECT EVERYONE'S INTERESTS.
AND FRANKLY, THAT BOARD HAS BEEN ABLE IN A SHORT TIME TO TAKE A CONTENTIOUS SITUATION AND BEGIN TO HEAL IT, UH, WITH A NEW SPIRIT OF COOPERATION, TRANSPARENCY, AND EFFECTIVENESS.
I AM HOPEFUL WE CAN DO THE SAME THING HERE IN THIS COUNTY'S PARTICULAR SITUATION WHERE A VERY LARGE PRIVATE PARDON VERY LARGE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WENT COMPLETELY OFF THE RAILS SOME YEARS AGO.
SOMETHING WHICH SEVERAL COMMENTERS HAVE NOTED TONIGHT.
THE CASE FOR A BOARD TO OVERSEE A SEVEN FIGURE SUM IS THAT MUCH STRONGER.
IN FACT, AS I STATED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND A COUPLE COMMENTERS SAID, IS THIS WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO NEXT? YES, MAYBE WE SHOULD CONSIDER BOARDS THAT OVERSEE ANY PUBLIC PRIVATE
[05:35:01]
PARTNERSHIP IN THE SIX, IN THE SIX FIGURE RANGE.THAT COULD MEAN THE HUMANE SOCIETY.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO LOOKING INTO THAT.
I DO THINK THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.
UM, LIKE SUPERVISOR COOK SAID, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T IMPROVE.
SO I'M NOT SINGLING OUT ANYBODY HERE.
I THINK THERE ARE BEST PRACTICES THAT WE CAN EXTEND.
THIS BOARD CAN MAKE SURE THAT SUBCONTRACTS AND SERVICES ARE COM COMPETITIVELY SOURCED AND AT AN ARM'S LENGTH THAT FOIA IS HERE TO WHEN APPLICABLE AND OVERALL MONEY IS SPENT WISELY.
AND IN LINE WITH THE SCOPE OF SERVICES PROCURED.
I HEAR LOUD AND CLEAR THAT CITIZENS WANT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOCUSING ON RUNNING THE COUNTY, PROVIDING OTHER SERVICES, POVERTY ALLEVIATION, NOT TO SPEND DISPROPORTIONATE TIME ON THE LIBRARY.
THIS LIBRARY BOARD COULD HELP ACCOMPLISH PRECISELY THAT.
A LIBRARY BOARD WITH DELEGATED AUTHORITY WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE ROUTINE THINGS SUCH AS MAINTENANCE REQUESTS, THINGS WHICH HAVE RECENTLY BECOME EXPLOSIVE ALONG WITH BIGGER ISSUES SUCH AS MOA RENEWALS AND SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET REQUESTS, ALLOWING US TO FOCUS ON THE BIGGER ISSUES, THE BIGGER FISH TO FRY, SUCH AS ROADS, DEBT REDUCTION, FIRE AND RESCUE, EFFICIENT SERVICES, ECONOMIC GROWTH, INCREASED TOURISM, WATER ISSUES, BETTER HEALTHCARE, ET CETERA.
AND INDEED, THESE ARE MY PREFERRED AREAS OF FOCUS.
TO DISPEL SOME FEARS, CREATING A LIBRARY BOARD DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY, IMMEDIATELY, OR NECESSARILY EVER CHANGE THE STATUS QUO.
SAMUELS WILL STILL EXIST AS A PRIVATE NONPROFIT.
THE CURRENT MOA WILL REMAIN ACTIVE.
THE SAMUEL'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS NOT BEING REPLACED NOR DISBANDED.
NOBODY ADDED OR REMOVED TO THAT BOARD.
THE SAMUEL'S ENDOWMENT WILL NOT BE TOUCHED.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT WILL CONTINUE TO BE UPHELD.
NO PARTICULAR COUNTY SUPERVISOR WILL BE HANDPICKING THE LIBRARY BOARD.
THAT IS A JOINT RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE WILL ALL HAVE AND VOTE AT LEAST A QUORUM OF US WILL VOTE ON EACH APPOINTEE.
WE ARE NOT CREATING A LOOPHOLE OR NOR IS THERE ANY PLAN TO STACK OR EXPAND THE LIBRARY BOARD.
AND SOME LEGITIMATE ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED ABOUT THE LANGUAGE HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED UP AND ADDRESSED TO CLOSE THOSE CONCERNS.
THE BOARD, THE LIBRARY BOARD WILL NOT NECESSARILY RECOMPETE THE EXISTING CONTRACT.
BUT IF THAT DOES HAPPEN, SAMUEL'S I BELIEVE CAN COM COMPETE WITH CONFIDENCE.
IN MY VIEW, SAMUEL'S WOULD BE THE ODDS ON FAVORITE.
BUT EVEN IF ANOTHER VENDOR WERE TO PUT FORTH A MORE COMPELLING VALUE PROPOSITION.
AND REMEMBER THAT VALUE PROPOSITION IS NOT JUST PRICE.
IT'S PRICE AND SERVICES AND THE TRADE OFF BETWEEN THOSE TWO THINGS.
NOTHING WOULD BE STOPPING SAMUEL'S AS A NONPROFIT ENTITY FROM CONTINUING ITS VENERABLE PHILANTHROPIC TRADITION OF BRINGING EXCITING NEW EXPERIENCES TO THE LIBRARY.
I HOPE THAT WILL ALWAYS CONTINUE.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY TONIGHT FOR THEIR THOUGHTFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PUBLIC DIALOGUE FOR COMING TONIGHT TO SPEAK, TO WAIT IN LINE, TO SIT HERE FOR HOURS INTO THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY.
WHATEVER SIDE YOU'RE ON HERE, THE FACT THAT YOU ARE HERE MAKING CIVIC PARTICIPATION A PRIORITY IN YOUR BUSY LIFE AND FOLLOWING YOUR PRINCIPLES IS COMMENDABLE.
CONSIDERING ALL THE ARGUMENTS I HAVE HEARD THE REPORT OF THE LIBRARY SUBCOMMITTEE, THE INFORMATION PRESENTED AT THE SAMUELS FORUM AND ONLINE HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS ON ALL SIDES.
AND IN KEEPING WITH THE PRINCIPLES I CAMPAIGNED ON OF GOOD GOVERNANCE AND OVERSIGHT, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE ORDINANCE TONIGHT FOR THE CREATION OF THIS LIBRARY BOARD.
SOMETHING THAT IS THE NORM IN 95% OF VIRGINIA.
WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A VIRGINIA STATUTE INTO THE WARREN COUNTY CODE.
A PROVISION TO HAVE A PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD.
WHAT IS ABSOLUTELY NORMAL IN VIRTUE OF EVERY OTHER COUNTY IN VIRGINIA IS BEING REPRESENTED BY MANY HERE TONIGHT AS AN ABERRATION AND A HORRIBLE IDEA WITH NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES.
THIS DEPOSITION WAS NOT UNANTICIPATED.
HOW COULD IT BE? AS WE ACKNOWLEDGED IN OUR REPORT THAT
[05:40:01]
CONCLUDED WITH THE RECOMMENDATION TO ESTABLISH A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD.SAMUELS LIBRARY IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS A LIBRARY THAT PROVIDES QUALITY SERVICES TO ITS PATRONS, HAS A FRIENDLY AND WELCOMING STAFF.
THE REPORT WAS NOT AN EVALUATION OF THE SERVICE LEVELS PROVIDED BY SAMUELS LIBRARY ON BEHALF OF WARREN COUNTY.
AND OF COURSE, THAT IS THE VISIBLE PART OF SAMUEL'S THAT PEOPLE EXPERIENCE AND ARE MOST FAMILIAR WITH.
RATHER, THE REPORT ADDRESSES LESS VISIBLE AND MUCH MORE NUANCED MATTERS RELATING TO TAXPAYER REPRESENTATION AND DECISION MAKING REGARDING THE FUNDING AND POLICY MAKING ASSOCIATED WITH PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES.
SO I WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND DESCRIBE TO THOSE WHO DO NOT ALREADY HAVE THEIR MIND MADE UP AND THOSE WHO COME ALONG LATER IN SEARCH OF WHY THIS WAS PROPOSED.
THE PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD CAN BE SEALED INTO TWO BASIC SUPPORTING PILLARS.
THE FIRST PILLAR IS THE ESSENCE OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNANCE TAXPAYERS FUND PUBLIC SERVICES AND TAXPAYERS WHO VOTE IN ELECTIONS TO CHOOSE REPRESENTATIVES TO WHOM THEY DELEGATE THE TASK OF OVERSEEING PUBLIC FUNDS, PUBLIC POLICY, AND THE BUDGETS TO CARRY THEM OUT.
THE SECOND PILLAR IS ECONOMICS.
IN MANY INSTANCES, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS ENABLE GOVERNMENTS TO PROVIDE SERVICES MORE ECONOMICALLY THAN THEY COULD PROVIDE THEM, OR IN SOME CASES THAT THEY HAVE NO CAPABILITY TO PROVIDE.
SUCH WAS THE CASE IN 1952 WHEN DR.
SAMUELS DONATED HIS PROPERTY AND NO DOUBT, CONSIDERABLE MONEY TO THE CAUSE OF PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES.
AS WE DETAILED IN OUR REPORT, THERE'S A LONG AND SUCCESSFUL HISTORY WITH SAMUELS.
HOWEVER, IT IS ALSO INDISPUTABLE THAT THINGS HAVE EVOLVED A GREAT DEAL IN THE PAST 15 YEARS.
THE PARTNERSHIP ASPECT OF THE SAMUEL'S RELATIONSHIP WITH WARREN COUNTY HAS BASICALLY EVOLVED INTO A CONTRACTOR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF ASSETS AND ANNUAL FUNDING BEING PROVIDED BY TAXPAYERS.
WHEN GOVERNMENTS USE CONTRACTORS TO PROVIDE SERVICES, THEY DO NOT RELINQUISH BUDGET AND POLICY AUTHORITY TO THEIR CONTRACTORS, AND THEY HAVE A FIDUCIARY APPLICATION TO PERIODICALLY ASSESS THAT THEIR SERVICES ARE COMPETITIVELY PRICED.
IT IS COMPLETELY UNIVERSAL AND UNCONTROVERSIAL THAT PUBLIC SECTOR SERVICES SECURED ON A CONTRACTED BASIS ARE TO BE COMPETITIVELY PROCURED.
AND SLIDE TWO IN THIS CONTEXT, AS WE LOOK AT THE TWO PIE CHARTS FROM THE REPORT, WE CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT PRIVATE DONATIONS HAVE MADE UP ABOUT 6.7% OF THE TOTAL INCOME OVER THE PAST 17 YEARS, INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF ER ROAD LIBRARY, WHILE TAXPAYERS, TOWN, COUNTY, AND STATE HAVE PROVIDED 88% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS OVER THAT TIME, I KNOW THAT THERE'S JUST THIS BACK AND FORTH ABOUT IS IT 69% OR IS IT 83% OR IS IT 88%? ALL OF THE DATA BEHIND THESE CHARTS IS IN AN APPENDIX TO THE REPORT, AND IT'S ALL COMPILED FROM THE SAMUELS FINANCIAL REPORTS.
SO IF YOU WANT TO GO WITH THE 69, GO WITH THE 69, UM, I MADE IT VERY CLEAR AND I DOCUMENTED WHAT'S INCLUDED, AND THAT SHOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE.
WHEN WE SEE THE TAXPAYER REPRESENTATION ON THE RIGHT CHART, IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT THIS RELATIONSHIP REPRESENTS AN INVERSION.
THAT IS TAXPAYERS HAVE PROVIDED 88% OF THE FUNDS, BUT HAVE ONE SAMUEL'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES ON A SEAT OF SIX, UH, SEAT ON A 16 TOTAL, WHICH CORRESPONDS TO 6%.
THIS OUT OF BALANCE RELATIONSHIP IS MORE OBVIOUS.
IF WE USE THE SCALE TO SHOW HOW SAMUELS IS DOMINANT IN GOVERNANCE OF THE LIBRARY, WHILE A TAXPAYER IS DOMINANT IN FUNDING THE LIBRARY.
NOW TO TURN TO THE ECONOMICS QUESTION, THERE'S PUBLIC DATA THAT SAMUELS HAS OFFERED THAT SHOWS STAFF EXPENDITURES PER CAPITA.
WE HAVE USED THIS DATA IN OUR REPORT AS A STRONG INDICATOR THAT INCREASED ECONOMIC EFFICIENCIES ARE PLAUSIBLE IN A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT SITUATION.
THIS HAS RUN INTO OBJECTIONS ABOUT CHERRY PICKING DATA OR USING DATA OR COMPARISONS TO BIGGER POPULATION AREAS.
THIS COMPARISON DATA WAS PROVIDED BY SAMUELS, AND THE FIRST RESPONSE TO THE ACCUSATION OF CHERRY PICKING IS IF, IF HANLEY ISN'T COMPARABLE, THEN IT SHOULDN'T BE ON THE COMPARISON CHART.
[05:45:02]
WHO POINTED OUT, SEE, THE BLACK COLUMNS ON THE CHART ARE SINGLE BUILDING LIBRARIES, AND THEY, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY SERVE DIFFERENT POPULATIONS AND HAND LEAVE SERVES A BIG POPULATION.SO THE OBJECTION, WHAT IT WAS, YOU CAN'T USE PER CAPITA 'CAUSE THAT'S APPLES AND ORANGES.
WELL, PER CAPITA IS PER PERSON.
THAT'S WHAT'S PER CAPITA STATISTICS ARE FOR.
IT'S WHAT THEY'RE DESIGNED FOR.
IF YOU OBJECT AND YOU KNOW, THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, SOME FURTHER ANALYSIS COULD BE DONE, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE TOO GEEKY HERE, BUT IF THERE'S A, A NONLINEAR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POPULATION AND SERVICES, THEN IT COULD BE WELL BE THAT, THAT WOULD BE DISPROVEN AND, AND THROWN OUT AS A, AS A LEGITIMATE PER CAPITA STATISTIC.
BUT NONE OF THAT'S BEEN OFFERED.
IT'S JUST BEEN, WELL, THEY SERVE MORE PEOPLE, SO WE CAN'T COMPARE TO THEM.
BUT, YOU KNOW, UH, ONE OF MY CRITICS USED THE, THE TWO COLUMNS AT THE VERY FAR LEFT OF THIS, AND HE POINTED OUT THAT THOSE TWO LIBRARIES ARE SINGLE BUILDING LIBRARIES AND THEY HAVE MUCH HIGHER PER CAPITA COST THAN SAMUEL'S.
BUT HE, HE DIDN'T, HE HE DID NOT MENTION THE, THE FAR RIGHT OF THE CHART, WHICH IS COAL PEPPER, WHICH IS A 50,000 PERSON, 52,000, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
APPARENTLY I SPELLED IT WRONG.
UH, AND IT HAS A PER CAPITA COST, EVEN LOWER THAN HANDLING, BUT ABOUT THE SAME.
SO THE, THE, THE POINT REALLY IS, IS JUST THAT IT'S NOT CHERRY PICKING DATA.
IT'S FOCUSING ON THE MOST RELEVANT ECONOMIC DATA.
THAT, THAT'S MY RESPONSE TO THAT NEXT SLIDE.
IF WE WANNA KNOW WHAT THE POTENTIAL COST EFFECTIVENESS IS FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY OPERATIONS, DOES IT MAKE SENSE THAT WE WOULD FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON THE MOST COST EFFICIENT PUBLIC LIBRARIES CAN ACCOMPLISH? NOT SO MUCH WHAT THE LEAST COST EFFICIENT ARE DOING.
THIS ISN'T, THIS ISN'T, YOU KNOW, I I USE WORDS LIKE PLAUSIBLE INDICATOR IN THE REPORT.
I, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T ATTEMPT TO COME UP WITH A CALCULATION THAT WOULD SAY, THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THAT WOULD BE SAVED.
THAT IN FACT IS THE DUTY OF, OF A LIBRARY OF A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD TO UNDERTAKE THAT ANALYSIS, TAKE, UNDERTAKE A SURVEY OF SERVICES AND DO THAT RESEARCH.
SO THAT'S NOT THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT THEIR JOB IS GONNA BE.
IT'S NOT WHAT, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO, TO DO AS, AS A BOARD.
THERE ARE REASONABLE INDICATIONS THAT SAVINGS IN, IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ARE PLAUSIBLE.
IF THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD WENT INTO A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S JUST TAKING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE TWO NUMBERS, WHICH IS $8 AND, AND MULTIPLYING IT BY THE PER THE CAPITA OF THE, OF THE COUNTY, WHICH IS 40,000, AND THAT'S $300,000.
IT'S NOT A, IT'S NOT A GUARANTEE.
IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT SAMUELS DOES NOT WANT TO FIND THEMSELVES IN THAT SITUATION.
AFTER ALL, IT'S NEVER BEEN IN A COMPETITIVE PROCESS.
THEY HAVE GIVEN US A LOT OF INFORMATION, A LOT OF SLIDES THAT ESSENTIALLY IF YOU LOOK AT ALL 10 OR 15 OF 'EM HAVE SHOWED THEM KIND OF IN, IN THE MIDDLE RANGE.
YOU KNOW, NOT BAD, NOT THE WORST, NOT THE BEST, IS KIND OF PRETTY GOOD.
UM, FINALLY THE LAST SLIDE, UH, THIS IS WHAT A NORMAL PUBLIC LIBRARY GOVERNANCE SUPPORT STRUCTURE LOOKS LIKE.
THIS IS DEPLOYED IN MORE THAN 96% OF THE COUNTIES IN VIRGINIA, AND IT IS SIMPLY NOT CONTROVERSIAL.
IT'S JUST NORMAL PEOPLE ARE ELECTED TO BE REPRESENTATIVES.
THAT'S THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
THEY APPOINT BOARDS, WHICH IS WHAT THEY DO FOR ALL THE OTHER BOARDS IN THE COUNTY.
AND THEN THEY PROCURE OR ARRANGE FOR PROFESSIONAL LIBRARY SERVICES.
NONE OF THIS INVOLVES TAKING OVER SAMUELS OR BOOTING OUT SAMUEL'S TRUSTEES OR ANY, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THEY'RE AN INDEPENDENT, INDEPENDENT COMPANY.
THEY EXIST ON THEIR OWN MERITS.
SO THEY PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL LIBRARY SERVICES PRESENTLY, BUT THEY ALSO PROVIDE POLICY AND, AND BUDGETARY CONTROL.
THE NORMAL WAY THIS IS OPERATED THROUGHOUT THE STATE IS THAT GOVERNANCE IS SEPARATED FROM SERVICES.
SO ALL OF THE ELEMENTS, THE PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, FRIENDS GROUPS, ENDOWMENTS, CHARITABLE SUPPORT, UH, GRANT ORGANIZATIONS, ALL THAT CURRENTLY GOES ON, GOES ON AT LEY ENDOWMENT, GOES ON AT
[05:50:01]
LEY TRUST.IT GOES ON AT ALL PUBLIC LIBRARIES WHO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING TO DO THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
SO THIS DOESN'T PUT ANYTHING GOOD IN THE CHARITABLE CATEGORY THAT SAMUELS DOES AT RISK.
AND IT ALSO, AS MR. STEINMEYER MENTIONED, IN NO WAY, UH, BLOCKS OUT SAMUELS FROM BEING THE PROFESSIONAL LIBRARY SERVICES COMPANY.
SO THERE'S A, I THINK, YOU KNOW, I, I LOST TO A HUNDRED PLUS PEOPLE TALK, AND I, I TRIED TO TAKE NOTES.
UM, THERE'S NO POSSIBILITY OF ME GOING THROUGH THIS LIST OF NOTES AND TRYING TO ADDRESS ALL OF WHAT I BELIEVE ARE MISUNDERSTANDINGS OR FEARS OR, UH, JUST, JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DEFINITELY A LACK OF TRUST AND, AND I, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SPEAK TO THAT.
I, I THINK THAT, UH, THERE'S NO WAY I CAN CHANGE YOUR MIND IF, IF YOU, IF YOU FEEL THAT WAY.
UH, I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE OVERWHELMING MANDATE OF CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE AGAINST THIS BOARD, BUT FRANKLY, I DON'T THINK THE A HUNDRED PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM REPRESENT THE 30,000 TAX PAYING CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY.
I, I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS A, UH, UH, ACCURATE ASSESSMENT.
UM, SO IT'S DEFINITELY TRUE THAT THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT SPOKE TONIGHT SPOKE AGAINST THE LIBRARY BOARD.
I DO NOT BELIEVE, AND THAT'S MY JUDGMENT.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS A REFLECTION OF CONSTITUENCY IN THE COUNTY AMONGST THE TAXPAYERS.
TO CONCLUDE, I BELIEVE THAT A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD WILL ACCOMPLISH A REALIGNMENT BETWEEN PUBLIC GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC FUNDING THAT PUTS REPRESENTATION BACK WITH TAXPAYERS WHO PAY FOR THE SERVICES.
AND THAT IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, THERE WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT REBASE LINING OF PUBLIC LIBRARY BUDGET THAT WILL SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY.
HOWEVER, IF A LIBRARY BOARD GOES THROUGH AN EVALUATION OF SERVICE LEVELS, THEY CERTAINLY COULD CONCLUDE THAT SAMUELS IS THE BEST THAT CAN BE DONE.
AND THEY, NOT US, NOT ME, NOT THIS BOARD, THAT WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD CAN MAKE THAT DECISION AND CHOOSE THE BEST SOLUTION.
IN THE MEANTIME, I BELIEVE CERTAINLY THAT MAINTAINING A HEALTHY ARRAY OF SERVICES FOR THE CITIZENS OF WARREN COUNTY WILL DEFINITELY BE IN THE FUTURE OF WARREN COUNTY'S LIBRARY.
AND I, AND FINALLY, I, I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S HONESTLY NO VALID REASON TO SUPPOSE THE WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD WOULD NOT ACT CONSTITUTIONALLY.
THERE'S A LOT OF FEAR ABOUT THAT TONIGHT, AND I, I JUST, I DON'T THINK IT'S WARRANTED.
I, OKAY, HOPEFULLY, PARDON MY OTHER WAY.
SO HOPEFULLY IT'LL HOLD OUT FOR ME HERE.
UM, IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP TONIGHT.
MY, UM, DOGGEDNESS ABOUT CATCHING THINGS IN, UM, IN THE BUDGET PROCESSES OR, YOU KNOW, APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FOR THE DIFFERENT, UM, ENTITIES THAT WE DO THAT FOR, WAS SPECIFICALLY BROUGHT UP ABOUT MY CONFRONTATION WITH SCHOOL BOARD.
AND, YOU KNOW, SO FAR I'M THE LONGEST ONE ON THE BOARD, AND IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS, SO MY TENURE IS NOT ALL THAT LONG.
I CERTAINLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GETTING.
WELL, I DID KNOW I WAS GETTING INTO, BECAUSE I DID MY DUE DILIGENCE.
UM, THE YEAR I RAN FOR THIS POSITION, I KNEW I DIDN'T KNOW ENOUGH.
SO I TOOK THE CERTIFIED SUPERVISOR COURSE, AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT TO ANYONE, UM, TEACHES YOU WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW THAT YOU THINK YOU DO KNOW.
AND, UM, WHEN I TOOK ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, IT'S BECAUSE I SET IN, EXCUSE ME, THE YEAR BEFORE'S BUDGET PROCESS.
AND WHEN WE SAT THROUGH THE FIRST YEAR AND WAS GOING THROUGH IT, I WAS LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE.
THIS IS NOT WHAT WAS DONE LAST YEAR.
AND I CHALLENGED IT, AND I DON'T NEED TO BE RIGHT, BUT I WAS RIGHT.
UM, THERE WERE ITEMS IN THE BUDGET LAST YEAR THAT I DIDN'T, I COULDN'T GET AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT $24,000 WAS IN THE SHARE'S, UM, BUDGET.
AND 24,000 IN $97 MILLION BUDGET IS A DROP.
IT'S LIKE SPITTING IN THE OCEAN TO SEE IF THE TIDE WILL RISE.
BUT IT'S OVERSIGHT THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
SO I'M NOT SELECTIVE ON, I, I LOOK AT EVERYTHING.
I DIDN'T VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS FOR A YEAR, WHICH IRKED SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING SOLD.
BUT THERE WERE THINGS THAT, NO, IT WAS NOT ILLEGAL.
[05:55:01]
UM, ANYTHING ANYBODY WAS DOING WRONG.IT WAS JUST USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON THINGS THAT I FELT PERSONALLY I DIDN'T THINK SHOULD BE DONE.
I ASKED FOR THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO BE LOOKED AT.
I'VE BEEN INFORMED SINCE THAT THOSE THINGS ARE CHECKED AND DOUBLE CHECKED.
STILL HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH SOME OF THEM, BUT AGAIN, NOTHING ILLEGAL DONE.
WHEN I CAME ON THE BOARD, THERE WAS AN EXPENDITURE OF AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT COULD BE SPENT WITHOUT COMING TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR FOR APPROVAL.
IT WAS DECIDED TO INCREASE THAT TO 50,000, WHICH I HAD HEARTBURN ON COMING OUT OF WHEN WE'RE STILL COMING OUT OF A EDA EMBEZZLEMENT.
AND I JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THE COMMUNITY WAS READY FOR THAT ADVANCE IN SPENDING WITHOUT BOARD APPROVAL.
BUT I WAS TOLD I NEED TO TRUST.
AND IT, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO INCREASE THAT AMOUNT.
AND I DO WANNA TRUST OUR STAFF AND I, YOU KNOW, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T STEAL QUESTION.
I THINK WE ALL NEED TO QUESTION.
AND THAT'S ONE THING I CAN AGREE WITH EVERYONE ON THIS BOARD IS OVERSIGHT IS NEEDED.
WE NEED TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE, UM, ASK THE QUESTIONS, EVEN THOUGH BY ASKING THEM, SOMETIMES WE, YOU KNOW, AREN'T APPRECIATED FOR ASKING THAT.
THAT'S THE ONE THING I FOUND OUT REALLY QUICK.
NOBODY LIKES TO BE QUESTIONED IN GOVERNMENT, BUT QUESTIONS ARE THERE TO BE ASKED.
UM, THE ONLY THING I MADE PROMISES WHEN I RAN FOR THIS OFFICE WAS TO WORK HARD, TREAT PEOPLE AND DO THE FAIR THING AND TO DO MY BEST.
AND I'VE TRIED TO STRIVE TO DO THAT.
I HAVE ISSUES WITH THIS BECAUSE I FEEL TOO, IT'S BEING RUSHED THROUGH.
I THINK THERE'S TOO MANY QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVEN'T ANSWERED.
I I WANNA MAKE SURE BEFORE WE DO SOMETHING THAT WE, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOT ALL THE ANSWERS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT DECISION AT THIS POINT.
SOMEONE SENT ME AN EMAIL AND IT WAS, UM, A QUOTE IN IT THAT I ASKED IF I COULD USE TONIGHT.
AND IT'S A QUOTE FROM MICHAEL, I WILL SAY, AND THE LAST NAME, OAK SHOT.
TO BE CONSERVATIVE, TO BE CONSERVATIVE IS TO PER PREFER THE FAMILIAR TO THE UNKNOWN.
TO PREFER THE TRIED TO, THE UNTRIED FACT TO MYSTERY THE ACTUAL, TO THE POSSIBLE TO ACQUIRE AND TO ENLARGE WILL BE LESS IMPORTANT THAN TO KEEP, CULTIVATE, AND TO ENJOY.
THE GRIEF OF LOSS WILL BE MORE ACUTE THAN THE EXCITEMENT OF NOVELTY OR PROMISE AT THIS POINT, FOR ME PERSONALLY, I PREFER TO KEEP, TO CULTIVATE AND TO ENJOY.
I BELIEVE WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER FOR CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT OF OVERSIGHT, ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
AND BEING ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WITH THE LIBRARY FOR THE BOARD REPRESENTATIVE, I'VE NOT BEEN MADE TO FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T AGREE WITH THAT 100%.
THEY'VE BEEN VERY GRACIOUS IN WELCOMING ME, IN SHOWING ME EVERYTHING, UM, INCLUDING ME ON EVERYTHING.
AND I JUST DON'T SEE AT THIS POINT WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE AND THE UNKNOWNS THAT I COULD VOTE FOR THIS AND SAY THAT I THINK THIS IS A STEP IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE TABLE THIS AND INVESTIGATE THIS, COME UP WITH THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN AND PRESENT THIS AGAIN AT A LATER DATE AFTER WE HAVE EDUCATED AND WORKED TOGETHER WITH THE SAMUELS LAW BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING THE BEST THING IN THE INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'VE GOT TO SAY AT THIS POINT.
AND I HAVE LAID THAT MOTION OUT.
SO IF I HAVE A SECOND OR NOT, AND I GUESS HEARING A SECOND, MY MOTION FAILS.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ADOPT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO ADDING CHAPTER SEVEN FOR THE FORMATION OF A WARREN COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD.
AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S AS REVISED AS, OH, I'M SORRY.
MADAM CHAIR? ABSOLUTELY NO, MR. BUTLER.
IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL NEW BUSINESS?
[06:00:06]
HEARING NONE.IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? DID WE DO THE CONSENT AGENDA? EXCUSE ME? DID WE VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? IT'S BEEN A LONG NIGHT.
SO IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AS MUCH AS IT CAN BE.