The Board of Trustees of the Frank J. Basloe Library has released a statement about its legal action against the Village of Herkimer. It states:
To protect the Library and end an ongoing dispute about its right to operate from its long-standing location at 245 North Main Street, the Frank J. Basloe Library has made the difficult decision to bring a legal action against the Village of Herkimer. The action names the Village, the Village Board, and the Mayor.
“The Library is grateful for the support of the Village Board over the years,” says Library Board President Kathleen Coye in her affidavit supporting the action. “Naming the Village Board in this action is not saying any particular Village Board member did anything wrong. Instead, the Village Board is named because it is the ONLY authority who may authorize the acquisition, lease, sale, or other action regarding Village-owned real property such as the Library Building. We want to work with them to solve this issue once and for all.”
The Library Board of Trustees decided to bring the action after various statements and actions by Village officials caused the Library to be concerned that the Village was taking affirmative steps to force the Library out of its current location. The action points out that the building was purchased by the Village for its library, that the current library paid for much of its recent renovation, and that the library is required by bond requirements to operate in the building for another ten years after the work is completed.
“This matter has a complex history, but at the end of the day, the grants, conditional gifts, and construction bonds used to acquire and improve the property require the Library to occupy it,” says Coye.
The board decided that after over a year of controversy, bringing legal action was the most efficient way to resolve the dispute. “The Library Board is aware that litigation is costly,” says Coye, “but it is not as costly as being forced to move or accepting a sudden 875% increase in annual rent! We also put in our papers that we continue to be willing to mediate this issue with the Village, to reduce expenses for both the Library and the Village.”
“Public libraries are not meant to be revenue-generating bodies,” continues Coye. “Many municipalities allow the operation of a public library on municipal property for nominal or no rent, even when there aren’t gifts and grant conditions requiring library occupy the property. All the Library is seeking in this action is what, considering the complete information, is fair.”
The Library President adds: “The Frank J. Basloe Library has provided many years of reading enjoyment and learning opportunities for the people of Herkimer. For questions regarding everything from books, DVDs, and audiobooks to computers, e-readers, and cell phones, our staff is always willing to be of assistance. Our Librarian, Christine Fleischer, is willing to discuss and host special trainings and programs that people are interested in. Our library is conveniently located and easily accessible to the community we serve. We are a busy library and an important resource to the community.”
In response, Village Mayor Dana Sherry posted on social media the following:
ROUND 3 More Propaganda/Fake News
“The library director and her board continue to try to bully and shame the Village for trying to increase their rent from $400 a month to an amount closer to fair market value. The Village cannot continue to lose money on this lease. Nor sign another 10 year lease for $400 /month. This is one of the main reasons the Village has struggled financially for years! Poor business decisions like this! The building belongs to us and is one of the few assets we have to bring in revenue for the Village. Their lease has been up since December and they continue to use stall tactics. Now they are suing us, which will be very costly. It’s as simple as that. This post is another attempt to spin the narrative and garner public outrage and support. They should be ashamed of themselves. It’s a business decision and they are fighting it.”
“These tactics are nothing new, but this IS getting old.”
Libraries are not meant to be revenue generated institutions. By design, their mission is to serve the constituents of their respective communities. Of course there are expenses to run and maintain them, but that’s the deal with all entities that serve the public. In all fairness to the Herkimer populace, the Library Board of Trustees and Mayor should stand down and abandon this penny-wise attempt at ousting the library from it’s longtime home
Excellent and timely response. It can be very difficult to get some folks to think. It’s also sad that some will never understand.
So if the village succeeds in forcing the Library out of the building, WHOM does the village think would be willing to pay the proposed $ 4,000 monthly rent ??? There are so many empty store fronts on Main street that the village can’t find any businesses to go in as it is ???
I no longer live in Herkimer and haven’t for close to 30 yrs now. However, if I read there articles correctly I see current rent @ $400. and proposed at $4,000. If this is correct the Village has lost it’s mind. Libraries certainly have evolved since my days as a student and using it as a resource. But their main purpose never changes and that is to serve the community and it’s needs. Often it is a free or inexpensive resource that has never been envisioned, I would offer, in any community as a MONEY MAKER, it is an intricate part of the community for learning. Andrew Carnegie gave almost all of his vast wealth to building Libraries because they were where he acquired his knowledge and his fortune .If the rent is $400. how much more can the Library afford w/out reducing staff and services? Village let’s say they can give you a bit more, a bit more is not $100’s. How how much will it cost to move the Library – if a place can be found and keeping in any and all legal paper work? If the Library moves out can/ will the Library be rented? By who and for what? Last time I was in town there were enough empty building, and sadly oh so sadly main street looked a bit above a Western Ghost town so before you loose paying tenants best think about whose going to give you any $$.
Again I’m not there anymore but there is a word called COMPROMISE not always pleasant nobody gets all they want but no body looses everything either. However in this case you loose the Library you loose a resource that you cannot replace. Do you think an industry, or ordinary folks want to move into a community that doesn’t have a Library?
The college has big plans for that building, including job training if anyone actually looked at Herkimer’s DRI, but why would anyone do that?
Bottom line, if you’re only leasing a building, you have no right to tell the owner what to do with it.