Representatives at the state, local and federal level attended a roundtable at the Poland Library on Monday, looking to ask questions and give comment on their thoughts regarding the relocation of the Poland Library. Michael Neenan has those details.
Local, state, and federal representatives from the Valley met Monday afternoon at the Poland Township Administration Building to discuss the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County’s decision to relocate the Poland Library.
The PLYMC board of trustees voted April 29 to move the branch to a location near Denver Drive despite public comments from public officials and residents who urged the board not to do so.
The event was hosted by Poland Township Trustee Frank DeMain, who says the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the library’s importance to Poland and consider whether its relocation is what is best for the community.
“That was the purpose of this, to say ‘sit with us, let us sit with you, let us work together, and come up with a resolution here,”’ he said.
DeMain claims to have personally reached out to the library board three times, but did not receive a response.
Officials at the meeting also discussed concerns about the cost of the proposed building, such as the price of a sewer extension.
“I don’t know how, and I’m gonna single out anyone on the library board, how they will ever have the gall to go to the people and say that you need another levy after you pull this crap,” said Michael Rulli, Representative for Ohio’s 6th congressional district.
Zak Kozberg, chief stakeholder relations officer for the PLYMC, tells 21 News that the PLYMC represents all of Mahoning County and that anyone who wants to invite a board member to a meeting may do so on the library’s website.
State Senator Al Cutrona claims he is working on a bill that would tie public funds to the way the board members are elected by having an outside official appoint them or make it an elected position.
“There is zero accountability, there is zero transparency, it is a self-perpetuating board that just continues to have no outside say on anything, yet they’re using outside dollars to fund 90%, 95% of all their activities,” he said.
Cutrona also introduced a bill that would require county commissioners to approve public library closures, and forfeit public funds if they do so against the wishes of the county.
The bill sits in the Senate Local Government Committee as of Monday, July 6.
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