Thursday, 18 June 2009, 12:51 pm:
copy recieved from a Fallston resident's email:
Thanks for your office's support. We understand that it's a local issue, but we know Sen. Glassman has an interest and are sure that he will do what he can to right this wrong on the state and local level.
Sincerely, Senator Barry Glassman, District 35
copy recieved from a Fallston resident's email:
Thanks for your office's support. We understand that it's a local issue, but we know Sen. Glassman has an interest and are sure that he will do what he can to right this wrong on the state and local level.
Sincerely, Senator Barry Glassman, District 35
Thursday, 18 June 2009, 12:32 pm:
"Hi Karl... The council recently approved a resolution saying all branches of the library system should remain open. We believe there alternative ways to trim the budget so all branches can remain open. The Library board makes these closing decisions with the Administration I am sure. In my personal opinion Fallston was made a sacrificial (political) lamb. Not necessary. Trim a little from every where. Thank you for your letter. I trust you sent it to the Library Board of Trustees the folks who make the decision.
- Capt'n Jim Dist C"
"Hi Karl... The council recently approved a resolution saying all branches of the library system should remain open. We believe there alternative ways to trim the budget so all branches can remain open. The Library board makes these closing decisions with the Administration I am sure. In my personal opinion Fallston was made a sacrificial (political) lamb. Not necessary. Trim a little from every where. Thank you for your letter. I trust you sent it to the Library Board of Trustees the folks who make the decision.
- Capt'n Jim Dist C"
Thursday, 18 June 2009, morning:
Karl Houser asks us to remember to thank and support the 7-11, the Fallston Club, Savory Deli, Basta Pasta, Rite-Aid, and Hearth & Home Hardware. Over 1,100 hand written signatures where received. In addition, we have over 1,200 on-line signatures. Please bring any additional petitions to the Public Hearing tonight, Thursday, June 18.
Karl Houser asks us to remember to thank and support the 7-11, the Fallston Club, Savory Deli, Basta Pasta, Rite-Aid, and Hearth & Home Hardware. Over 1,100 hand written signatures where received. In addition, we have over 1,200 on-line signatures. Please bring any additional petitions to the Public Hearing tonight, Thursday, June 18.
Wednesday's Aegis artical, 17 June 2009:
Greg Seltzer, who represents the Fallston area on the Harford County Public Library Board of Trustees, is also upset about the decision.
“Put some other library projects on hold and perhaps we can save money in those areas,” Seltzer said. “I think in this day and time we need our libraries more than ever.”
Greg Seltzer, who represents the Fallston area on the Harford County Public Library Board of Trustees, is also upset about the decision.
“Put some other library projects on hold and perhaps we can save money in those areas,” Seltzer said. “I think in this day and time we need our libraries more than ever.”
Wednesday, 17 June 2009, 10:25 am:
We have just spoken to Louise Armstrong in Audra Caplan's Office (Director Harford County Public Library). She is in meetings and was not able to speak to us personaly, but we where told that the public meeting is still scheduled.
We have just spoken to Louise Armstrong in Audra Caplan's Office (Director Harford County Public Library). She is in meetings and was not able to speak to us personaly, but we where told that the public meeting is still scheduled.
Tuesday, 16 June 2009:
We have news of a resolution which was adopted by the Harford County Council today. However, are are awaiting official news of how it will affect our library.
We have news of a resolution which was adopted by the Harford County Council today. However, are are awaiting official news of how it will affect our library.
On Tuesday, 16 June 2009 we received this from Mrs Lynn:
"I also called about the Churchville Library plans and spoke with Mary Hashell again. She said they will finish the design as that money has already been assigned for that purpose. Then the project will be "shovel ready." Whether it actually will get built she doesn't know as the county will need to float bonds in order to continue. Also this is a capital project not part of the operating budget."
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"I also called about the Churchville Library plans and spoke with Mary Hashell again. She said they will finish the design as that money has already been assigned for that purpose. Then the project will be "shovel ready." Whether it actually will get built she doesn't know as the county will need to float bonds in order to continue. Also this is a capital project not part of the operating budget."
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On Tuesday, June 16, 2009 1:12:09 PM we recieved this email from Joseph M. Woods, our New Fallston Counsil Member and Chief of Fallston Fire and Ambulance Company:
Mr. Trexler,
I would like to thank you for contacting me about the Fallston Library issue. It is true that the County Council approved an additional 5% cut in to the 2010 budget with the exception of emergency services. This was an effort to lower County taxes and slow down county spending. Once the County Council approves the budget the County Executive’s Office makes the decision of what to do with the approved funds and may make adjustments as needed with the total amount given.
I believe it is very important for the community to understand that a decision to close the Fallston Branch is being made by the Executive Committee of the Harford County Library Board. It is not the authority or decision of the County Council to close or stop any county services. The Executive Committee of the Harford County Library Board feels that closing a branch is the only way to balance their budget. I do not know when they made this decision or when they selected the Fallston Branch to close. As of the morning of Friday, June 12th, the County Council was not aware that the Fallston Branch or any other Branch was being considered to be shut down. I was as surprised as everyone else to find this was happening. As soon as I received this information in an email from the Director of the Executive Committee of the Harford County Library Board I started contacting other Council Members to help us with this problem. Council Members Mary Ann Lisanti, Chad Shrodes and I met with Audra Caplan (Director) and Lucie Snodgrass (in-coming Director) of the Harford County Public Library on Friday to discuss the Fallston Branch issue. We asked them many of the same questions that I have been asked, such as how much money does the Harford County Library board need to keep Fallston open? The answer was $400,000.00. Out of a $15,000,000.00 plus budget for 11 branches and 1 administrative office they need $400,000.00 to keep Fallston open. We also asked why the Executive Committee of the Harford County Library board selected the Fallston Branch. The answer:
*Age of Building
*Branch is not easily accessible on foot
*Low walk-in traffic
*Cost savings
*Poor location and dangerous vehicle access in and out of the property
*Close proximity to newest branches, Bel Air (7 miles), Jarrettsville (8 miles) and Abingdon (9miles),
*Low percentage of computer usage compared to other branch locations
The Harford County Library board will hold a Public Hearing on the Fallston Branch closing before their board meeting at 6:00 pm on June 18, 2009 at the Bel Air Branch, 3rd floor meeting room. I urge every citizen to attend this hearing and ask questions and express your concerns to the Library Board Members. Tell them not to close our Library and don’t close any others.
Some of the questions that I have received that the citizens attending the public hearing should ask are
Why are they continuing to build the new library in Churchville if there isn’t enough money to keep the ones we already have opened?
What is the benefit of closing this library if they are going to be re-locating the existing employees and just closing the building?
Why didn’t they base the closure of this library on usage vs. the assumption that the Fallston Community can afford to drive further.
Did they consider alternating the days a library is open throughout the county or reducing hours?
What will happen to the vacant unmaintained building?
What other political reasons are there for closing the Fallston Branch?
Are they closing the Fallston Branch because they think the community will bail it out?
Thank you for taking the time to share how important the library is to all of us. I agree that this is an important issue and that no community should have to worry about losing their library. If the Library Board decides to close the Fallston Branch, the Council and I will do everything we can to get it re-opened.
I also recommend that all members of our Community attend the regular Fallston Community Council Meetings. This group is made up of members of our community and meets regularly at the Fallston Volunteer Fire Company on Carrs Mill Road. They discuss issues like this and work on solutions to propose to the County Executive. The next Fallston Community Council Meeting is June 23, 2009 at 6:30 pm 2201 Carrs Mill Road.
Joseph M. Wood s
Mr. Trexler,
I would like to thank you for contacting me about the Fallston Library issue. It is true that the County Council approved an additional 5% cut in to the 2010 budget with the exception of emergency services. This was an effort to lower County taxes and slow down county spending. Once the County Council approves the budget the County Executive’s Office makes the decision of what to do with the approved funds and may make adjustments as needed with the total amount given.
I believe it is very important for the community to understand that a decision to close the Fallston Branch is being made by the Executive Committee of the Harford County Library Board. It is not the authority or decision of the County Council to close or stop any county services. The Executive Committee of the Harford County Library Board feels that closing a branch is the only way to balance their budget. I do not know when they made this decision or when they selected the Fallston Branch to close. As of the morning of Friday, June 12th, the County Council was not aware that the Fallston Branch or any other Branch was being considered to be shut down. I was as surprised as everyone else to find this was happening. As soon as I received this information in an email from the Director of the Executive Committee of the Harford County Library Board I started contacting other Council Members to help us with this problem. Council Members Mary Ann Lisanti, Chad Shrodes and I met with Audra Caplan (Director) and Lucie Snodgrass (in-coming Director) of the Harford County Public Library on Friday to discuss the Fallston Branch issue. We asked them many of the same questions that I have been asked, such as how much money does the Harford County Library board need to keep Fallston open? The answer was $400,000.00. Out of a $15,000,000.00 plus budget for 11 branches and 1 administrative office they need $400,000.00 to keep Fallston open. We also asked why the Executive Committee of the Harford County Library board selected the Fallston Branch. The answer:
*Age of Building
*Branch is not easily accessible on foot
*Low walk-in traffic
*Cost savings
*Poor location and dangerous vehicle access in and out of the property
*Close proximity to newest branches, Bel Air (7 miles), Jarrettsville (8 miles) and Abingdon (9miles),
*Low percentage of computer usage compared to other branch locations
The Harford County Library board will hold a Public Hearing on the Fallston Branch closing before their board meeting at 6:00 pm on June 18, 2009 at the Bel Air Branch, 3rd floor meeting room. I urge every citizen to attend this hearing and ask questions and express your concerns to the Library Board Members. Tell them not to close our Library and don’t close any others.
Some of the questions that I have received that the citizens attending the public hearing should ask are
Why are they continuing to build the new library in Churchville if there isn’t enough money to keep the ones we already have opened?
What is the benefit of closing this library if they are going to be re-locating the existing employees and just closing the building?
Why didn’t they base the closure of this library on usage vs. the assumption that the Fallston Community can afford to drive further.
Did they consider alternating the days a library is open throughout the county or reducing hours?
What will happen to the vacant unmaintained building?
What other political reasons are there for closing the Fallston Branch?
Are they closing the Fallston Branch because they think the community will bail it out?
Thank you for taking the time to share how important the library is to all of us. I agree that this is an important issue and that no community should have to worry about losing their library. If the Library Board decides to close the Fallston Branch, the Council and I will do everything we can to get it re-opened.
I also recommend that all members of our Community attend the regular Fallston Community Council Meetings. This group is made up of members of our community and meets regularly at the Fallston Volunteer Fire Company on Carrs Mill Road. They discuss issues like this and work on solutions to propose to the County Executive. The next Fallston Community Council Meeting is June 23, 2009 at 6:30 pm 2201 Carrs Mill Road.
Joseph M. Wood s