Saugus library hours increased, money a problem

SAUGUS – As promised, the library has extended its hours effective Sept. 4 to remain open 50.5 hours per week.But that’s not all good news n with those hours, the library will likely run out of money by March and will have to seek additional town funding or face closure for the second time in less than one year.The new hours and the almost guaranteed fiscal problems raise one nagging question for Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian – does the library need to be open 50.4 hours?The concern is that if the library is not open a specified number of hours the state would once again seek return of the $1 million-plus grant used to build the library.Manoogian, who attended the state’s Board of Library Commissioners July 12 meeting, said according to the meeting’s minutes there is nothing that stipulates the number of hours the library must remain open.He is right in that, according to the meeting minutes, Commissioner George Comeau made a motion to rescind the portion of the June 7 vote directing the commissioners to take administrative action to reclaim the grant money and the board approved.But the minutes also reflect that commissioners stressed the importance of “attaining the Board’s accommodated minimum of 50.4 hours per week by September as that is one of the standards that Saugus will need to meet in order to regain certification in the State Aid to Public Libraries program in the future.”While the Board of Library Trustees Chairman Jean Bartolo declined to comment on the issue, the board decided during a meeting earlier this month to set the post-Labor Day hours based on a letter from Dr. Em Claire Knowles, chairman of the library commissioners.In the letter, Knowles not only said the library needed to be open 50.4 hours to qualify for state aid, but it was on the basis that the library would reopen the requisite number of hours that the board voted to rescind it’s claim on the grant.Rep. Mark Falzone said despite which you believe – Manoogian’s interpretation of the minutes or Knowles’ letter – the ball is clearly in the commissioners’ court.”The Board of Library Commissioners can do whatever it wants is the truth of the matter,” he said.Falzone said the contract concerning the grant money was breached in June when the library was shut down do to a lack of funding.”So the power lies with the Board of Library Commissioners, not the town.”The library hoursare as follows:Monday 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.Tuesday 12 p.m. n 8:30 p.m.Wednesday 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.Thursday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.Saturday 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (effective Sept. 15)