Mayor: MacDonald Public Library to become independent from city
A March 31 release from the New Baltimore mayor’s office raises questions about operations at the city’s library, which it appears will become an independent operation in the coming months.
The release states City Council and administration will no longer exercise any oversight over the library’s operations beginning July 1.
“The decision of the library to become independent was its sole decision and any issues related to the library should be addressed by the Library Commission,” Mayor Tom Semaan said.
However, when reached by a MediaNews Group reporter Thursday, library board Trustee Bob Weins said the body had no comment as it was still researching the issue.
On Friday, City Council Member Flo Hayman confirmed the release from the mayor came after council authorized the action by a public vote at a recent meeting.
MediaNews Group has made an inquiry with the Michigan Library Association Friday morning but it could not immediately answer what status the MacDonald Public Library operates under. In Michigan, the governing status of libraries falls along a wide range based on their funding and incorporation bylaws.
Semaan in the release argued that for years the library and city administration have had their disagreements and that the city has finally decided to grant the library’s “wish” to be independent of the city.
“After legal opinions from legal counsel from both the library’s independent attorney and the City attorney’s office, it was ultimately concluded that although for years the city has been subsidizing the library and its expenditures per the charter, such is contrary to how the library was originally established,” he said in the release. “For years the library claimed its independence but also demanded contribution under the terms of the charter, often refusing to pay its share of city services provided to it like other departments in the city. Legal counsel for both entities agree that the charter is inapplicable and as such, the library will operate under the City, Villages and Townships Library Act.”
In announcing the action, Semaan explained the procedure as he sees it.
“The library currently operates with an independent millage and substantial budgetary subsidies by way of services and building use from the City. Effective for the 2022-23 fiscal year budget, the city will cut ties with the library which will undertake and operate under its Library Fund, taking full responsibility for all of its operations, employees and programming without contribution from the city.”
Once the library is independent in July, it will be required to lease the property and building from the city in which it currently resides at 36480 Main Street. The library commission will also be required to transition to an elected body subject to periodic elections. The Library Commission will no longer be subject to the appointment process as provided under the City Charter, the release added.
“The Mayor and City Council, exercising their fiduciary duties to oversee the City finances, will ensure that the library pays its fair share for any services or properties it seeks to contract with the City to provide,” Semaan added.
Hayman stated the issue has been the subject of closed-session meetings held at council sessions in the past year. She acknowledged Friday that Weins and other library board members are not happy about the provision calling for the library board to rent the Main Street building the MacDonald Public Library operates out of.
“One of the things I’m sure Bob is not happy about is because the city owns the building, the library will have to rent the building from the city,” she said.
The library was built in the mid 1980s after operating for years out a much smaller facility on Washington Street. Previously it was a storage facility before it was donated to the city by the late Stuart and Velma MacDonald. The library moved into the current building, which has been renovated several times over the years, in 1988.