No Action On Library Boiler Repair Or Replacement

One of the New City Library’s boilers stopped working quite a while ago and although trustees held a special meeting to discuss it, they took no action. Board of Trustees President Tom Ninan called a special meeting on three issues for last Wednesday. The meeting dealt with approving the board president’s attendance at library staff meetings, the boiler situation and preparation of the annual report. 

The four trustees agreed to postpone any action on repairing or replacing the non-working boiler until their next meeting.  Board member Anthony Feliciano told them he contacted six contractors and three inspected the boiler and provided estimates to install a new unit for approximately $22,000. However, one of the companies does not hold a valid Rockland County contractor license according to Feliciano.

Trustees agreed they would prefer to have three estimates to consider and also wanted more information on the possibility of installing a geo thermal unit.  Feliciano said the library might be qualified for a grant that would help offset the cost of a geo thermal unit. 

“I’d rather table this,” he said. “We’re almost at the end of the season.”

Ninan said the library’s annual report is due to the Ramapo-Catskill Library System (RCLS) in March.  He asked Marianne Silver, who stepped down as interim library director in December, to compile the data needed for the report.  He noted the board needs to meet by March 1 to approve the report and requested an update on it status for the next board meeting on Thursday, Feb. 21.

Silver served as interim director from May through December following the departure of Chuck McMorran.  The board’s Ad Hoc Executive Director Search Committee had selected two finalists to interview, one from New York and the other from Texas. Ninan said the board approved $1,500 for expenses to bring the out of state candidate in for an interview but the committee has not yet to discuss arrangements and may not meet until March.

Three staff positions are vacant: business manager, accounts clerk and community relations coordinator.  Ninan said the accounts clerk’s job is a union position and was posted internally before being added to the RCLS website. The business manager opening was posted on January 31, community relations coordinator was listed on January 30 and accounts clerk was added on February 7, all with an application due date of last Friday, Feb. 15.