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OCTOBER 2003 On lune 29, l998, Whitchurch-Stouffville Town Council approved in principal a Library Board 'Memorandum of Understanding'. In it. the Library Board indicated that it wished 'to make the Library a department of the Town'. The Library Board was to investigate the assumption by the Town of 'financial and responsibilities of the Libiary Board'. There VIE no indication in the memorandum or To the Editor: Is the Whitchurch- Stouffville Public Library Board a department of the Town of Whitchurch- Stouffville? Does it operate under the Municipal Act. which is administered by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing or is the Library Board a separate corporation from the Town? Does it operate under the Public Libraries Act, which is administered by the Minister of Culture, or is it a little bit of both? Are the Town of Whitehurch-Stouffville and the Library Board on the same page? CM is the leadhg agency in the prevention and cure of blindness, assisting disabled men. women and children in more than I00 developing countries around the world. The organization is involved In over 1,000 mafia! md [chm pmieas and 'We are looking forward to seeing manyofthecommunityattendtheC-ala provides assistance to more mm H miflionpeopleeveryyear. This year, the head office of Christian Blind Mission International Canada maths its 25th annivetsaty in Stouffville. BBMI celebrates 25 years in Stouffville A review of the Library Board's agendas and monthly meeting minutes over the past five years may be worthwhile to anyone interested in Library service to Whitchurch- Stouffville residents. The Library Board has had monthly operating deficits on a frequent basis over the years. These are well documented in its official monthly financial statements. which should Earlier, on June 3. I998, the Library Board's financial statements were removed from the Board's monthly agenda. It was the Board's wish at that time 'to become less operational and more policyâ€"makers and visionaries... and to ensure that policies and practices are similar to Town policies and practices'. council minutes that their respective ministries had been asked to authorize the transfer of Library Board responsibilities to the Town. Who now has the cheque-signing authority? Tickets for the Gala Dinner are $75 per pemn. For more Information call l-800- 567-2264 ext. 242 or visit msbmleventsmm. The event will feature entertainment from vocalist Liza May from Albena and York Radon recording artist Errol Lee. and the keynote speaker for the evening will be Dave Dnvecky. former pitcher for the San Francisco Giants Dinner to be held at the Markham Suites Hotel and Conference Centre on Nov. 6. 2003.‘ said CBMI publlc relations W Lindsay O'Connor. In 2002 the Town grant to the Library Board was $504,950 from taxation. The Ministry of Culture provided $5l.588 for pay equity and its regular grant. As for the Library. in 2002 there were only a few main items. Fines totalled $9,243.59 and donations totalled $5.98l.95. Net revenue from library programs was $1.6I3‘I3‘ Money from book sale BDO Dunwoody. the new Town auditors, reports that the Library Board has owed the Town money at the end of the past three years: $70,625 in 2000. $26l.283 in 200l, and $16,840 at the end of 2002. The’financial accountability of the Library Board-has been taken over by the Town and administered by the Treasury Department. Full details are not available at this time. There are still monthly operating deficits. but is this caused partly because there is not sufficient library-generated revenue? be available at the Library‘ The questions about the administration and operations of the Library Board may deserve the attention of the new Town Council and the new Library Board. Is there merit in fundraising over the years has been transferred into reserves and not used for current expenditures. Bank interest and investment income totalled $5,987lIO. It is not known how library investments are handled since. according to the best information available. the Library :Board has not authorized anyone to handle investments. Remember: We need a stronger industrial base to help ease the tax burden on the residential taxpayer. We need it now. Let's put out the welcome mat to encourage light and clean industry to come to Whitchurchâ€"Stoufiville. Remember: We have 500 acres of vacant employment lands available for development. In keeping with smart business. let's diversify. diversify and diversify some more. We don't want Whitchurchâ€"Stoufiville to become a one-horse town. ~ “ Remember: Whitchiirch-Stouf’fville is within a stone's throw of one of the world’s mosr cosmopolitan cities. A prosperous and dynamic future is within our reach. providing we have decisive leadership. ‘ Remember: Whitchurch-StouFfville needs a mayor who knows how to manage money, including the town’s 13 million that’s being held in reserve With that kind of money in the bank. we need a mayor who knows how to protect it and how to invest it. On November 10th. elect Steve l’liakes as Mayor of Whitchurch-Stouffville. If you've never met a payroll. balanced the book; and dealt with the daily challenges of business. how can you run a municipality? With a mayor lacking in_ bueiness experience. this town will be led by bureaucrats: l have owned and leased industrial properties for the past 20 years. As well. because of retail business experience. I know who’s minding the store. Either one of my competitors would be forced to learn as he or she goes. How can you collect and manage $7 million for the municipality, collect and manage $l4 million for the regional level and collect $13 million for the province for education and be a mayor-in-training? As mayor of Whitchurch-Stoufl‘ville, I will bring more than 30 years of business experience to the position. and six years on council. Neither of my competitors has the business experience needed to carry out the duties required for the position of mayor. If ever we needed a leader with business know-how. it's now. l come to this campaign with both the willingness and the knowâ€"how needed to manage a corporation that collects, on average, $34 million a year from it’s tax payers. Why Elect a Novice Mayor? having a chief executive officer/chief librarian with a Master's degree in library science and a number of years 'of administrative experience as chief librarian? Should service Continued from page 6 Looks like Stouffville needs a teen-size daycare. What would be easier would be to listen to what teens want and give it to them. The fact is. if you're a teen and you don't skateboard, you have to go to Markham, Newmarket or even Toronto to find anything remotely entertaining. Listen to what teens want ' "WHITCHURCH-STOUFFVILLE THIS MONTH” - on the Library Board be limited to nine'years (three terms) so that more residents have a chance to be involved?» Margaret L. May Stouffville Lewis Lott Stouffville