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March 19, 2010

Washington ( Warren County) could put library merger to voters in November

Friday, March 19, 2010
By STEPHEN J. NOVAK
The Express-Times
WASHINGTON | Borough voters may decide in November whether the local library stays Washington's own or joins the Warren county library system.

Borough council on Tuesday gave its informal consent for Manager Rich Phelan to draft a ballot question asking voters to make that choice.

But council members made it clear they want time to review the effects of such a merger before they approve the question's appearance on the general election ballot.

"This question has been going back and forth in the borough for at least a dozen years," Mayor Scott McDonald said. "This question will decide it once and for all."

Some council members were hesitant to form the question before they had all the information about the move. Phelan said he planned to reach out to county library system officials and arrange a meeting with council.

He also said that by drafting the question now, he can alert the county that the borough is considering the course, which could help expedite the process should the question go to voters.

"At worst, I (will) waste time forming a question that will never be used," he said.

Council discussion indicated the library would likely join with the county next year, if the change is approved.

There is no cost to the borough to have a question appear on the ballot in November, McDonald said. A special election would cost about $10,000, he said.

Washington first got a library in 1913, when a group of residents formed a library association in the rectory of St. Peter's Church, according to the library's Web site. After the library changed locations, the borough took it over in 1927.

The current library building was dedicated in 1983, according to the Web site.

Reporter Stephen J. Novak can be reached at 610-258-7171, ext. 3542, or snovak@express-times.com. Talk about issues in your town at lehighvalleylive.com/forums.

Posted by tumulty at March 19, 2010 4:56 PM

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