The Finkelstein Memorial Library Board of Trustees held a contentious special meeting on July 13, approving an interim operating budget designed to keep the library running while a permanent budget is developed following the defeat of this year’s proposed tax levy.
The meeting was marked by a lengthy procedural dispute after trustees voted to adopt an agenda that included the Board’s annual organizational meeting. Some trustees maintained that the library’s bylaws require the organizational meeting to be held at the Board’s first meeting in July, while Trustee Darnett Davis objected, arguing that the meeting had been called solely to address budget matters and Sunday library operations. The meeting proceeded with the inclusion of the annual organizational meeting over Trustee Davis’s objections.
During the reorganization, Esther Waldman was elected Board President, Yossi Rubinstein was elected Vice President, and Mendy Glick was reappointed Treasurer. The Board also voted to retain its current auditing firm.
A major topic of discussion was the library’s recent Sunday closures. Waldman stated that the Board had never voted to eliminate Sunday service or authorized any communication to staff or the public indicating that Sunday service would be discontinued. She reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to restoring Sunday operations and working toward a budget that supports those services.
Library Director Laura Wolven explained that Sunday staffing is voluntary under the union contract and that the Sunday closures resulted from an insufficient number of staff members volunteering to work on Sundays. She expressed hope that approval of the interim budget would help restore staff confidence and allow Sunday service to resume.
Trustees ultimately approved an interim budget that preserves funding for Sunday operations and maintains most library services while temporarily drawing approximately $197,000 from the library’s unrestricted fund balance.
The Board also committed to holding regular Finance Committee meetings with the goal of adopting a permanent balanced budget, which does not rely on the fund balance, by October 1.
Despite the Board’s stated commitment to restoring Sunday service, the library remained closed on Sunday, July 13, and again on Sunday, July 19, citing a lack of staff availability. The library announced it would reopen on Monday, July 20, at 9 a.m.
If the board was so committed to Sunday service, they should have asked for a revote at the 2% tax cap. That would have paid for Sundays without raiding reserves. The board created he problem.
Exactly! Point well made!
As a concerned citizen, I have never heard of a library having unrestricted funds and I don’t see a line on the library budget about these unrestricted funds. Can someone explain where the money is coming from?
After watching the recording of the meeting, even the financial guy said he wasn’t sure where the numbers were coming from.
The recent article and accompanying partial video capture only a narrow portion of what was a significantly more complex and consequential meeting. Relying on brief excerpts—particularly in matters of governance and public funding—risks obscuring the full scope of both the discussion and the decisions being made.
It is important to recognize that, historically, when budget proposals have failed, prior Boards have acted decisively to bring forward revised budgets for re-vote, ensuring the library was not left operating under constrained or stagnant financial conditions. That approach reflected a clear understanding of fiduciary responsibility and the necessity of aligning funding with rising operational costs. By contrast, comparable institutions such as Rockland County Community College have recently approved budget increases that account for inflation and long-term sustainability, demonstrating a proactive and informed approach to fiscal oversight.
Equally concerning is the origin of the interim budget adopted on July 13. Unlike standard practice, this budget was not developed by the library’s administration—those with direct operational knowledge and financial expertise—but instead was introduced from an external source lacking both library-specific experience and a demonstrated background in municipal or institutional budgeting. That departure from established process raises legitimate questions about the rigor, reliability, and long-term viability of the financial plan being put forward.
While the interim budget may provide short-term continuity, continued delays in addressing core financial issues—and the repeated deferral of substantive agenda items—carry real and measurable consequences. These include service instability, erosion of staff confidence, and the potential for avoidable financial strain.
For those seeking a complete and accurate understanding, reviewing the full recordings of Board meetings available on the library’s website is strongly encouraged. A comprehensive view of the proceedings makes clear that the challenges facing the library are not isolated moments of disagreement, but part of a broader pattern that warrants careful attention and accountability.