Phillipsburg makes offer for cash-strapped library to keep $160K
Updated May 07, 1:55 PM;
Posted May 07, 1:55 PM
The Phillipsburg Free Public Library is pictured in this file photo.Express-Times File Photo
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Two days after the Phillipsburg Town Council told the town’s library to fork over $160,000 amid a funding crunch, Mayor Todd Tersigni told library officials they can keep the money.
Calling the offer compassionate and sincere to help cover operating expenses and the salaries of employees facing furlough, Tersigni made the offer during Thursday night’s meeting of the Phillipsburg Free Public Library Board of Trustees.
On Tuesday, the town council passed a resolution demanding the payment, citing a state statute that the library can retain its annual operating expenses plus 20%, with amounts over that returned to the town.
Phillipsburg council OKs riverside site for industrial use; library told to pay $160K
Updated 1:13 PM;
Today 1:12 PM
The Phillipsburg Town Council met virtually Tuesday night and approved measures establishing industrial riverfront zoning and telling the library to pay the town $160,000 from an excess surplus.Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com
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The Phillipsburg Town Council on Tuesday approved a pair of controversial measures rezoning a riverside site for industrial use, and telling the Phillipsburg Free Public Library that it owes the town $160,000.
The council vote was 3-2 on both measures, each time with Councilmembers Frank McVey, Bobby Fulper and Randy Piazza Jr. in favor and Harry Wyant and Danielle DeGerolamo dissenting.
The Phillipsburg library is facing furloughs. And now it may owe the town $160K.
Posted May 04, 2021
A student searches the books at the Phillipsburg Free Public Library in 2013. The library says it is facing furloughs and reduced services due to funding. The town council says the library has a surplus that is legally required to be paid back. Stephen Flood | For lehighvalleylive.com
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Last month, the Phillipsburg Town Council decided to keep its own salaries down to add about $5,000 to the town library, which is in a funding crunch and facing furloughs and other anticipated cuts in service.
Phillipsburg’s 2021 budget holds taxes flat, as library faces funding crunch
Updated Apr 22, 2021;
Phillipsburg Town Council this week introduced a nearly $19 million 2021 budget that keeps municipal taxes flat for a second straight year.
Following pleas to boost spending for the Phillipsburg Free Public Library, council on Tuesday unanimously approved council President Frank McVey’s proposal to forego a pay raise for 2021 for its five members and Mayor Todd Tersigni. The elected officials took a 10% cut in salaries in 2020 versus 2019, and Tuesday’s vote keeps that cut in place.
McVey framed the election year reduction as a response to the continuing coronavirus pandemic: “We’re really not out of it yet,” he said.
A few contested 2021 primary races await Warren County voters (UPDATE)
Updated Apr 15, 2021;
Posted Apr 11, 2021
Paper provisional ballots replaced electronic voting machines in 2020 in Warren County, N.J. Here, a voter sits behind a blind to complete his ballot as voters participate in the 2020 general election at the Early Childhood Learning Center in Phillipsburg on Nov. 3.Tim Wynkoop | lehighvalleylive.com contributor
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Warren County voters will have decisions to make on primary day June 8, but in only a handful of local races.
Most local races are uncontested in the primary, when Republican and Democrat candidates are selected to be on the ballot in the Nov. 2 election.