Defining UNTOWARD
To the editor:
For the friends of the library (led by Mr. Melsek and Fort Myers Beach Civic Association) to claim that there was nothing untoward in the way the library director planned and financed the current expansion means that either they have not read the data that has been meticulously and accurately presented by those critical of expansion, or that they do not care how their taxes are spent.
This is especially surprising in a group that vehemently castigates the Town of Fort Myers Beach for its growing workforce, yet supports a $9 million expansion to a library that is already more than large enough for the town it services.
One of the many examples of “untowardness” on the part of the library director and board has been the total lack of competitive elections. I have assiduously read two of the town’s newspapers since 1996 and a third paper since its inception 11 years ago. Never have I seen any mention of a library election. This is particularly troubling in that the Observer gives the director a half page every week, where we are advised of tales for toddlers and upcoming craft classes, etc., but never any mention of an election.
The critics have been consistent in presenting accurate and documented data in a reasonable manner and tone. The library friends have been consistently rancorous in their responses. You don’t believe that? Then sit down with me, and we will go through the letters in the town newspapers. Also, if you were at the Lee County BOCC meeting last Tuesday, you would have heard a library official and a library friend have their comments to the commissioners cut short by the chairman due to personal attacks they contained.
The ire of the friends is well illustrated by a letter attacking Al Durrett and his followers, telling Al to reduce rents at Santini Plaza. Beach residents probably pay $100 to $400 per year to the library, depending on the taxable value of their property. Al has paid an average of $8,600 to the library for each of the past five years, and for what? At least be empathetic if not sympathetic to him and the other sizable businesses on the Beach. My taxes to the Town were only 16 percent more than the library, but what a disproportionate amount of services are provided by those two taxing bodies!
In the future, the electorate of the Town needs to elect library officials with a sense of fiscal responsibility. That assumes, of course, we will learn when such elections should be held.
Peter Reid
Fort Myers Beach