Library and museum leaders urge trustees not to cut local funding as board weighs budget cuts

Graham Tedesco Blair, introduced himself as the executive director of the Darwinder Barfield Library Museum Association and asked the Board of Trustees of the Village of Fredonia not to reduce the association’s budget line. Blair told trustees the association received about $187,000 annually in 2009 (approximately $121,000 for the library and $66,000 for the museum) and said that annual village support has fallen to $45,000. Blair provided usage figures: about 3,500 Fredonia cardholders, roughly 38,000 visitors in 2024, almost 40,000 physical circulations and over 13,000 electronic circulations; the collection totals about 41,000 print books and 22,000 e‑books and the group ran about 191 programs last year.

Maxwell Walters, curator of the Darnell Barker Museum, echoed Blair and framed the museum as a repository of local history and identity that contributes to festivals and community programs. Walters described upcoming programming — “Victorian valentines” — and said museum activities support quality of life in Fredonia.

During the board’s budget discussion, trustees returned to the library question as a possible nonessential cut. Clerk/Treasurer Alyssa circulated a multi‑year revenue and expense analysis that showed four‑year revenue shortfalls totaling $633,503 across categories and total approved expenditures over budget of $1,035,256. Staff presented a one‑time savings option that would reduce the library’s quarterly payments, which the clerk estimated would reduce near‑term outlays but not fully close the gap. Trustee discussion acknowledged the library’s role in providing internet access and services to residents without home computers and noted the village charter requires the municipality to support the library/museum; trustees asked the library to quantify the operational impact if a quarter‑payment were withheld so the board could assess options.

Trustee Wandel and others urged looking at revenue options in addition to cuts — proposals mentioned included sponsorships for events, an app‑based parking program (parking fines and vehicle traffic fines were clarified by the police chief as governed differently under New York law), and using the county, community foundation, or school‑district mechanisms for library funding. Blair said he would meet with the library board in April to discuss alternative funding (including potential library funding under state Education Law sections noted during the meeting).

No formal budget cuts were adopted at the meeting.