Today is election day a the New City Library with residents voting on the library’s proposed 2014 fiscal year budget and three open seats on the library’s Board of Directors.
During the earlier hours of voting, many who came out of the library after voting spoke mostly about voting for trustees. New trustees, specifically.
“I rarely vote in library elections,” said Alan Fleishman, of New City. “The trustees need to be changed, though, so I came out to vote today.”
Similarly, a Congers resident who didn’t want to give his name said he doesn’t normally vote in library elections. He said a friend told him to come out and vote.
“He said there was a lot of infighting on the board this year and advised to come out and vote,” the man said.
A few people who left the library Wednesday morning mentioned the disagreements amongst board members this year as a big reason they wanted to vote, even if they don’t normally vote.
Eileen Caldera, of New City, said she votes every year in library elections, but felt this year’s was especially important.
“I am very disillusioned with the current board,” she said. “I think the board could use some new trustees. I feel like a lot of the current board members have tunnel vision.”
Caldera added that she thinks many board members have personal agendas that influence their decision making, opposed to what might be best for the library and community.
She added another reason she came out to vote was because of how the situation with former Executive Director Charles “Chuck” McMorran, whose contract expired earlier this year. A majority of the board voted against renewing his contract earlier this year and Interim Director Marianne Silver announced this week she will resign her position as of Dec. 21.
“It was very upsetting how that was handled,” Caldera said. “As far as I could see, they gave him a positive review for the job he did, and then didn’t take him back. There was never an explanation as to why, and now we have no director and no business manager.”
Polls are open for the election until 9 p.m. today.
