Library Closes on Summer Sundays, Including June

In another attempt to cut expenses in a year three branches were closed, the Middletown Township Library Board of Trustees has decided to close the main branch on summer Sundays between Memorial Day through Labor Day. 

Normally the library closes Sundays in July and August. But after considering how some recent personnel changes could potentially save money, the trustees decided in April it was still prudent to stay closed from Memorial Day through Labor Day to save about $5,000.

At a special meeting held Tuesday night, a motion was made to rescind the decision made at the April meeting, but it failed.  Board members Davic Siwiec, Michael Vitkansas, Lawrence Nelson, Cynthia Wilson and Vivian Breen voted against the motion; Board President Brock Siebert voted for the motion. 

"I felt closing more Sundays after closing the three branches was not in the best interest of the public," said Siebert. 

Following an inquiry by Patch, Board Attorney Armen McOmber acknowledged that notice of the special meeting held Tuesday did not comply with the Open Public Meetings Act, because the agenda of the special meeting was not included in the notice that ran in the Asbury Park Press on May 3, nor on the Library website prior to the meeting. "Notice was deficient," he said Wednesday. We're going to correct that going forward and make sure we comply with the Sunshine Law." 

The next meeting of the Libary Board of Trustees will be May 15 at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the library. The public should be able to find the agenda posted on the MTPL.org website,.