In the June 1 issue Newsday reported that the Great Neck Library is to be a teen center. At the north end of town it is not easily accessible for the New Hyde Park patrons and will have fewer parking spaces than they now have. Some teens can have licenses in Nassau at age 17.
Now that the measurements are in – a 9,000 square foot addition for $22 million plus a 40 percent overrun (like that experienced at Station) at $8 million . The yearly cost of money at $1.2 million for 10 years is another $12 million; adding up to $42,000,000 for 9,000 square feet. THAT IS $4,600 a square foot. A Manhattan town house may go for that much.
There are still mysteries at the Great Neck Library. We have been misled, misdirected and misinformed. No budget included the amount spent so far for this project under $1 million. Then there is the $75,000 annual increase in rent for the move upstairs for the Station branch.
From GNLWatchDog@aol.com: Director Marino answers : Travel line also includes a variety of expenses including $129/month for bagels and I am not giving up the bagels – “it’s for the staff…they deserve bagels.”
Unfilled positions-these positions were vacant for the years 2008, 2009, 2010 total $76,069. If you include benefits then the amount is close to $100,000. This approximately $100,000 is unallocated monies that keeps rolling over into the annual budget.
Director’s Report: Usage/ Circulation for Adults down 38 percent at Station and very low usage of automatic checkout (cost $10,000). Still no handicap entrance doors (a federal requirement). All from the Watchdog.
Missing from the current budget is the amount for the projected potentially illegal PR program to support the renovation of the library. No mention is made of the prior use of reserve funds for various parts of this project. https://www.greatnecklibrary.org/libinfo/pdfs/2011Budget.pdf
Missed the percentage of the positive vote for the school district by 10 percent.
Norman Roland
Great Neck
