On Jan. 11, South Hadley Town Meeting members will be asked to vote on Article 22 which is asking the town to endorse the Gaylord Library Memorandum of Understanding.
This document, if approved, would merge the “public” South Hadley Library with the “private” Gaylord Library. This would require the town to pick up the salary and benefits of three part-time employees at a cost of $48,636 not including benefits (which could add another 30 percent to the cost) along with $30,225 in operating expenses (fuel, utilities, sewer, phone, internet, etc.) for a total of $78,861.
Right now the town provides $35,000 per year to fund operations at the Gaylord Library, which is only open 16 hours per week, leaving a net annual cost to the town of $43,861 plus employee benefits.
Additionally, the town maintains the grounds around the library since the town purportedly owns this property. Since the current South Hadley public library director will have to run two libraries, it would be well within his right to ask for a raise in salary. The unknown is how much of his time will be diverted to the Gaylord Library and what effect that will have on the main library operations.
It is puzzling to say the least why the town has been using taxpayer money to fund a private enterprise in the first place. It’s time to “cut the cord” completely from the town to the Gaylord Library.
Article 22 is bad for the taxpayers of South Hadley as it uses public funds for private use. Why take on the additional burden of more employees with associated benefits when we are trying to eliminate positions in town?
What the Gaylord Memorial Library Trustees should do is walk across the street and approach Mount Holyoke College and have them take over the library.
If the Gaylord Library were to be “shuttered with plywood” I’m sure someone or some entity other than the town of South Hadley would step up to the plate to keep it operational. I ask you to vote “no” on Article 22.
Michael Wozniak
South Hadley
The writer is a Town Meeting member.