eastwickpress

by David Flint
The second public hearing on the Stephentown Library’s proposal to become a Special Legislative District public library with taxing authority did not draw many more of Stephentown’s voters than the first one. This hearing was held at the Town Hall, but still only 34 members of the public attended. Library Board President Sue Brisette Cass gave a detailed presentation on the reasons and needs for opting for a more stable and sustainable funding structure and then the hearing was turned over to questions and answers.
Most of the concerns expressed had to do with taking on an additional tax burden when it seems it’s becoming more and more costly to live in Stephentown. Others wanted to know why the vote couldn’t be held in the general election in November and why in the Library. The answer from Cass and other Board Members was that the vote needs to take place before the legislative authority runs out, and the Board felt that holding it in the Library would give voters an opportunity to see what they are voting for.
Are other libraries this size going this route? A: Only East Greenbush, North Greenbush and Troy in Rensselaer County, but the Association Library funding model is peculiar to New York and New England; the national norm is to fund libraries from the tax base.
Why not consolidate or centralize with other towns? A: Transportation would be a burden for many of our customers who are the poorest among us. The Upper Hudson Library System does provide a centralization that reduces costs to individual libraries.
I don’t use the Library. Why should I subsidize those who do? Charge a user fee. A:  Improving the Library enhances the entire community, and State Education law prohibits libraries from charging for services.
What starts out as costing a cup of coffee a week could become over time a turkey dinner? A: Not likely but any increase in the initial budget will require a Town-wide vote on the budget. Taxpayers get to decide.
Library staff will become Civil Service employees. Does this mean benefits and retirement contributions? A: Employees will receive some benefits that are already included in the proposed initial budget. The elected Board of Trustees decides whether they become members of the State Retirement System.
Why does the Director need a Masters Degree? A: The Board decided long ago that the Director in this small community library with an all volunteer Board had better know what he/she is doing, someone who understands the structures and regulations of the State library system. We think the Town deserves this level of expertise.
Why does the Library need to tax residents for three times what it currently receives from the Town? A: The Library has expanded and card holders and circulation are up 30%. Town funding was adequate for the old library. As a proportion of the Library’s expanded budget, that funding has shrunk. The Library cannot sustain funding 39% of the budget on the backs of volunteer fundraisers.
One of those speaking up in favor of the restructuring was Tony Beverly. Cass had acknowledged his presence saying that he had championed making the huge effort to expand the Library. Beverly also subsequently led that endeavor and actually did a large part of the planning, the design and the work himself.
Beverly recalled the Board initiating the expansion project eight years ago and recognized the effort put forth by the current Board to improve the Library and arrange for the voters to decide on a better way to fund the expansion. “I know the arduous work you have done with many setbacks. And I know when I was in your position every now and then you would get a pat on the back, but not very often, so Thanks a lot!”

by David Flint
Seven candidates have submitted the necessary petitions and been certified to run for the seven seats on the Board of Trustees for the proposed Stephentown Memorial Public Library. This Board will replace the current Library Board should the Special Legislative District be approved by Stephentown voters on March 19. Election of the new Board of Trustees is Proposition #2 on the same ballot. The candidates were asked to share information about their work, education, family, length of time in Stephentown and also to indicate why they want to be a Board member and why they believe the Stephentown Memorial Library is important to this community.
Sue Brissette (Cass), Dave, Libby and Annie have lived in Stephentown for 16 years. Sue has been Library Board President for this past six years of intense renovation and program building. Her grant writing has yielded over $120,000 in additional funds for the Library and community during this time. Sue has worked in healthcare for over 30 years. She operates a Stephentown-based business consulting company that helps businesses and government agencies manage their healthcare programs.  She is also a local Girl Scout leader and enjoys family time, movie going and gardening.  She holds a Bachelor’s in biology and chemistry from Northeastern University and a Master’s in health policy/management from the Harvard School of Public Health.
Sue wants to remain on the Library Board to continue offering the community cultural and economic growth through library resources. She sees the Library as an important part of Stephentown community life and is committed to keeping it strong.
Kristin Crouch has been a Stephentown resident for eleven years. She and her husband, a lifelong resident, have two teenage daughters.
Kristin graduated from Russell Sage College with a degree in Elementary Education and went on to obtain her Master’s Degree in Literacy from SUNY Albany. While in the Master’s program, Kristin was awarded the Stella R. Pietryzk Scholarship in recognition of her knowledge of and appreciation for children’s literature. Kristin has been teaching in the Rensselaer City School District for over eight years.
Kristin is running for the Stephentown Memorial Library Board because she is eager to serve her community, hopes to introduce more Stephentown residents to the Library and believes that a library is a community treasure. If elected, she promises to support the wonderful programs the Library currently offers, work collaboratively to anticipate and address future needs and ensure that funding is utilized efficiently.
Janet Ivory entered rural life in 1982 as a partner on a Delaware County dairy farm. In 2001 she and Frank May married and moved to Stephentown. Janet has served on the Stephentown Memorial Library (SML) Board of Trustees and the Upper Hudson Library Board since 2008. She earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration at SAGE Graduate School. Janet’s career, volunteer and Board service has focused on program development and advocacy in occupational health and safety for rural populations, locally, statewide and nationally.
Janet Ivory views SML as an example of a successful community-based initiative of which she is a strong proponent. She is concerned about the quality of life and the property values in this town. She feels a responsibility to assure that SML continues to contribute to that end. Janet Ivory believes she can contribute her expertise and commitment to rural communities as a Board Trustee of the new Stephentown Memorial District Library.
Pam Kueppers moved to Stephentown in 2001 from Houston, Texas, where she owned her own business for over 20 years. She has been a Board member of the Stephentown Memorial Library for six years and is currently the Treasurer. Pam graduated from Louisiana State University in 1968. She has two grown children, one son-in-law and one soon to be daughter-in-law and one perfect grandson. Pam feels that serving on the Library Board has been very rewarding over the years and that many positive things have been accomplished during her tenure such as helping the Town of Stephentown purchase the property directly behind the Library and expanding the annual book sale. She believes that the Library has brought many wonderful opportunities to the community through employment, learning and entertainment – DVDs, musical CDs as well as live music – to name a few.
Thom Pecoraro has been a full time Stephentown resident since 2003. He graduated from Queens College of the City University of New York with a BA in accounting and was awarded his CPA license in 1991. In 2008, he founded a community garden in Pittsfield, MA, and then, in 2010, the Wyomanock Center for Sustainable Living (WyoCenter.org), an educational non profit based in Stephentown.  He lives on Wyomanock Road where he is also developing the Wyomanock Farm CSA.
Thom’s concerns are focused on the creation and implementation of measures to build on the long term viability of our town. Many services and conveniences of small town living have disappeared over the past decades – except our library. In the face of this attrition, the Stephentown Memorial Library has grown due to the needs of the Town and the dedication of volunteers. With the Library’s recent purchase acquisition of adjacent property, Thom would like to contribute his expertise in the site development.
From the age of three, when Judith Pierson was first permitted to select her own books, libraries have been an essential part of her life.  Since that time, she has never been without a very active library card.  When she moved to Stephentown in 2000, she became a member of the Library and joined the monthly book group that meets there.  Each month that group suggests other good reads which she forwards to the librarian who secures enough copies for the members.
Since the Friends of the Library formed, Judith has participated in their various activities to raise money to support the Library. These funds have been essential in funding new and continuing programs. She would like to take part in the development of a special legislative district library which would be funded by tax dollars, have elected trustees, allow library employees to become civil servants and keep the library open more hours for the service and benefit of our community.
Tom Quimby moved to Stephentown in 2010 after retiring from Cornell University and starting Strategies Unlocked, a consulting company. He and Anita were attracted by the well kept homes, the good Town roads and the beautiful scenery. As a resident, Tom realized the Library‘s importance as a service provider, gathering place and focal point. Tom believes a robust library will attract new residents and businesses to Stephentown and create a thriving community and a broader tax base. As a Library Trustee, Tom will use his experience as a mediator, negotiator and consultant to help the Library attract new residents and businesses to the Town and to serve as many residents as possible. Tom has a bachelors degree in economics and a masters degree in industrial and labor relations. He is also an associate member of the New York State Economic Development Council and a Community Stephentown member.