Library expansion needs referendum
No good deed goes unpunished. On Jan. 18, 2011, the pleasant, soft-spoken, long-time beach resident and hardware store employee Cindy Hoover decided to make her debut in local government as a concerned citizen. She learned that the $9 million Beach Library expansion was to proceed without voter approval. In touch with the pulse of the island, in just a few days she talked with her friends and neighbors collecting 300 signatures that called for voter approval through referendum and presented it to Town Hall. Council graciously accepted the petition, but explained they had limited authority. They would forward it to the FMB Library Board, which is a separate taxing district.
One week later, Cindy attended the Jan. 25, Library Board meeting, where during her public comment she presented the same petition, now with more than 600 signatures. A few seconds into her presentation, Cindy was interrupted, the first sentence of the petition was recited by a board member, then Library Board President Katie Corning declared the wording addressed to the Town of Fort Myers Beach and did not include the words “Library Board”. Library Board attorney Anne Dalton nodded and the petition was to be sent back to the Town. For all her hard work and passion, Cindy was publicly humiliated and the petition was rudely dismissed as irrelevant. This is just one example of an arrogant and obtuse Library Board.
I should know. Since my first Library Board meeting in November 2010, I spoke at all the FMB Town Council and Library Board meetings, sending dozens of emails to board members suggesting the needed for a voter referendum. All seven Library Board members have rejected the concept of public approval. I question their true agenda. Special interest seems to trump voter, taxpayer and public sentiment.
Cost per voter is 6 times more than the new RED SOX stadium. It has no potential additional revenue, only a long-term annual tax burden. Library Board officials proclaim that doubling the building square footage will only increase operating costs by 6 to 11 percent. To me these figures seem unbelievable.
Apparently, 600 signatures (about 10 percent of the district voter population) are just not enough. Fort Myers Beach library taxing district (FMB, San Carlos Island and San Carlos Blvd. to Pine Ridge) voters, taxpayers and residents now have an outlet to express their opinions directly to Library Board members and read the facts about opposition. The website www.BeachLibrary.com has been established to present both opposition information and the Library Board Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
At www.BeachLibrary.com, visitors can email the Library Board members. Website visitors can calculate the amount of refund if the proposed expansion is rejected. This $9 million expansion has some serious faults and warrants taxpayer and voter attention.
DEMAND A REFERENDUM with full disclosure, public debate and voter participation. We deserve no less. Be sure to exercise your “public comment” right at the next Library Board meeting on Feb. 22, 2011, at 6:30 p.m. at the Library.
Go to www.BeachLibrary.com, calculate your refund, read the proposed referendum, the opposition facts and the Library Board FAQ. Form an opinion and email the Library Board members. It’s our $9 million.
Sam Lurie is a resident of Fort Myers Beach, which is in the Fort Myers Beach Library Taxing District