South Strabane may lose library board representation
Jack Keisling, former South Strabane Township supervisor, receives standing ovation from supervisors and the audience, during a Tuesday meeting, for the years he's spent in public service.
Jack Keisling, former South Strabane Township supervisor, receives standing ovation from supervisors and the audience during a Tuesday meeting, for the years he's spent in public service.
South Strabane Township supervisors Tuesday tabled a decision on whether to keep a representative on the Citizens Library board of directors.
The library board recently changed its bylaws requiring municipalities to contribute $2 per resident with a minimum of $5,000 to the library in order to have a representative. South Strabane, with a population of 9,346, would see a large increase, going from the $7,500 paid last year to $18,692. But the supervisors don’t plan on giving more than a $1,000 donation to the library, according to Supervisor Laynee Zipko.
Supervisor Richard Luketich said by tabling the decision, the supervisors were “just putting off the inevitable,” because they don’t have the money to keep a representative on the library board.
South Strabane’s representative to the library board, Cynthia Rossi, and some of her friends who have previously worked with her on the library board, asked the supervisors to find a way to keep her there. Rossi offered to do private fundraising throughout the township in order to have the money to keep her on the board, but the supervisors were not in favor of that.
Luketich said there are many South Strabane residents who give donations to the library on their own. He said if the township were to solicit money from residents for the library in order to keep representation, it would feel like “buying a seat on the board.”
Supervisor Bracken Burns said that while he’s “always been a supporter of the library” as a charitable organization, he doesn’t agree with the library board’s decision to change the bylaws.
“I find that policy to be unacceptable,” he said. “You offend the giver when you tell them how much they have to give. That’s a bill, and it’s offensive.”
Supervisors also recognized one of their own during the meeting.
They presented a resolution to Jack Keisling, a former supervisor whose six-year term ended in December, for his service to his community, country and state.
Board Chairman Robert Weber thanked Keisling for his service in the military, his 12 years on the Trinity Area School Board and his time as township supervisor.
“I knew he cared for this township,” Weber said. “He’s a good soldier and he’s my friend.”
Supervisors Tom Moore and Zipko also thanked Keisling for his public service.
“I wish you all the best in your future endeavors,” Moore said.
Keisling attended the meeting with his family and thanked the board for their words of appreciation.
“Sorry I didn’t leave you more money,” Keisling said, jokingly. “But we did the best we could.”
The board had also planned to recognize Ed Mazur, another former supervisor whose term ended in December, but he reportedly declined. Board members said they would still write up a similar resolution for Mazur.