Another chance for the Town
To the editor:
Now that the attorney firm brought into the matter as consultants to the Town Attorney have conclusively refuted all the allegations of misconduct or worse against the library board, our Town Council and Town Manager have an opportunity to do what they should have done at the outset. Namely, they still have an opportunity to join in our community’s pride in a major infrastructure improvement for our Town, acknowledge the long-term planning effort by the library board and director and embrace the forthcoming opening of a first-class new library.
While the library board and its director deserve apologies for the scurrilous and unwarranted attacks on them, they are probably “big” enough to forego the apologies. For the community at large, however, something more than a token “sorry” is appropriate. Directly due to the persistent and repetitive accusations by a small group, aided and abetted by the actions and non-actions of Town officials, the library district had to spend about $12,000 in legal fees plus an untold amount of board and staff time to answer charges, furnish documents, and explain their completely justified decisions. It is certain that a substantial further sum of taxpayer money was spent by the Town on fruitless legal pursuits of alleged wrongdoing. Not least among the casualties of this conflict was the fact that not even one of the Town officials, though invited, was present at the groundbreaking ceremonies.
It is time and past time for our Town, represented by its officials, to join with most of the larger library district community to celebrate openly the advent of the new Fort Myers Beach Public Library. From its ground-level accessible new entry to the expanded spaces for larger materials collections, new community rooms, larger computer areas and wireless Wi-Fi availability, drive-by book drop-off, self-help check-in and check-out, children’s courtyard, and much more, our new library will be a facility in which our entire community can take great pride. Both residents and visitors will surely appreciate its many uses and for many years to come. They are already telling us they expect to do so.
Pat A. Smith
50 Fairview Boulevard