Saratoga News

City manager Proposes to phase out commission

By Michelle Alaimo

Saratoga Library Commissioners said they are shocked by a proposal by Interim City Manager Larry Perlin to phase out their commission. Perlin placed the item on the commission's July 23 agenda for discussion.

"This recommendation really could not come at a worse time because this is the climax of what any library commission in any city would do, which is to expand the library," Irene Jacobs, city staff liaison to the commission, said.

Jacobs said she believes the whole idea is just a "misunderstanding." She added that because Perlin has not had direct dealings with the Library Commission, he does not realize its importance. The committee focuses on any library-related issues and what commissioners can do to make the library better, while the Saratoga Library Expansion Committee focuses only on expansion-related issues.

The Library Commission, founded on June 17, 1959, is one of seven commissions in Saratoga, each receiving staff support. Only $100 per year is allocated to the Library Commission in the city budget.

"It's absolutely ludicrous to be thinking of abolishing seven volunteers," library commissioner David McLaughlin said.

Vice Mayor Don Wolfe stressed that the phase-out is only in the discussion phase, and no date has been set to vote on the issue.

"We have the fullest confidence in the people who are on the Library Commission," Wolfe said, adding that the City Council is looking at the phase-out as a matter of using time to the best advantage. Currently, he said, many members of the commission are also on the expansion committee and Joint Powers Authority. Eliminating the commission would allow the members to function better by not duplicating efforts.

Commission members said they plan to send a letter to Mayor Gillian Moran asking for a vote of confidence in the committee.

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