Feb 15, 2017 3 min read

After East Washington council cut funding to Citizens Library, a group of borough residents took it upon themselves to come up with a contribution.

Residents of the borough collected $3,000 to be given to the library as East Washington’s yearly endowment. Council held a meeting Monday during which it approved the donation.

“It’s a shame we had to go through all this turmoil to make it happen when I think we could have made it happen at the get-go,” said Councilman Matt Boice. “I was dismayed that we had to waste time on what ending up being a small contribution.”

The borough was on the cusp of losing representation on the library board of directors after twice voting to defund. In order to retain their representation, municipalities must give three percent of the prior year’s total contributions from all supporters, which in this case equals $3,000.

When preparing the 2017 budget, East Washington council did not account for a donation, citing the need to pay for costly improvements to roads and the municipal building.

Boice, one of three members who voted to contribute during a Feb. 6 meeting, said several residents inquired about making personal donations. The borough will establish a special fund into which donations can be placed, said Boice, then make the contribution.

Citizens’ revenue is composed of state and county aid, municipal support and other sources, including funds raised by Friends of Citizens Library. Several municipalities have cut contributions in recent years.

Library Director Diane Ambrose received a letter dated Feb. 13 informing her East Washington would reinstate its contribution.

“Please note that the Borough of East Washington has reconsidered its position in making a contribution to the Citizens Library for the year 2017,” reads the letter, signed by Jerad Cypher, president of council, and Mayor Michael Gomber. “After careful consideration and with the charitable desires and donations from various borough individuals, the borough will be making a $3,000 donation to Citizens Library.”

The letter goes on to say that council will select a new representative to the library board.

Contributing municipalities appoint their library representative and can remove them at will.

An addition made to the library board bylaws in November 2015 includes a mechanism to recommend new members.

A governance committee, made up of three library board members, suggests new members for the board based on certain skill sets, including experience with nonprofits and fundraising.

Ambrose said representatives retain their posts until someone else is appointed.

East Washington’s representative, Susan Martinelli, is not sure if she’ll attend next week’s library board meeting on behalf of the borough or as a resident.

“It’s not clear at this point,” she said.

The borough president and vice president are collecting names of interested candidates and will conduct interviews, said Boice.

East Washington was one of the founding municipalities of the library, said Ambrose, and their representatives have been avid library users who support the library in service and through donations.

“Susan (Martinelli) is very supportive of the staff,” Ambrose said. “You couldn’t ask for a better representative, both as a board member and a very generous financial supporter.”

The library board of directors meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Citizens Library.