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Three votes not enough for fast donation
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - August 27, 2008)
:
Three votes not enough for fast donation
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Burton Village Council will have do a "do-over" after learning that a procdural error negated a $10,000 donation to the Burton Public Library.
Council left the proposed $10,000 donation on second reading Monday, two weeks after approving it by a 3-1 vote.
The problem is that council waived the traditional three readings two weeks ago in an attempt to expedite the money to the library. However, the waiver required a minimum of five votes from the six-member board, while council only had three votes in favor of it at the time.
Village Fiscal Officer Christopher Paquette, who was not at the initial meeting on the matter, said he discovered the procedural error when he returned from a professional conference in Michigan.
That put the issue back to square one.
Library Director Holly Manning Lynn said she will take a "wait-and-see" approach and does not anticipate that the delay would hurt.
Ms. Manning Lynn had initially approached council about a month ago with a request for the donation to help with a $23,000 roofing project on the library building that also serves as council's primary meeting place and village offices.
She told council that the library was in the process of the roofing project when it got word from the state that the year's second-half funding would be cut by $33,000 because of the economy. She said the village had helped the library in the past with a paving project. The project was of immediate concern because of leaks that have developed, she said.
Council initially asked for more time to review its finances before taking action.
Two weeks ago, council approved the measure by the 3-1 vote with one member absent.
Councilwoman Sharon Gingerich, who voted against the measure, questioned whether the village's finances could afford the donation. "We're supposed to be concerned with our finances," she said.
Councilwoman Linda Swaney abstained from the vote, because she also is a member of the library board.
Councilman Gerald Rouge argued on behalf of the donation, saying the library is a focal point of Burton and that the village has spent money in the past for projects that were not directly related its operations. He cited money spent for a playground, the annual fireworks show and the annual Easter egg hunt.
Mr. Rouge said the library has done much to preserve the 1885 building that originally served as a school. "They've done more than maintain it; they've improved it," he said.
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