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Library seeks restoration of $50,000 for part-time wages; BET recommends smaller immediate action
Summary
Library Director Cheryl requested restoration of $50,000 cut from part-time staffing and presented market comparisons; BET finance staff recommended holding recommendation at $671,000 with potential targeted adjustments and a year-long market analysis.
Cheryl (library director) asked the Board of Estimate and Taxation on March 20 to restore $50,000 to the library—s part-time wage line and presented market comparisons showing Norwalk—s part-time pay lagging regional norms for degreed librarians and custodial staff.
She said the library operates seven days a week, provides passport services and hotspot lending and that part-time librarians have not received cost-of-living adjustments in more than a decade; her full package requested an increase to $721,000, and the BET—s current recommendation was $671,000. Cheryl proposed phasing raises (for custodians and librarians) and presented two scenarios: a moderate package to raise librarian pay toward $30/hr and custodians to $20/hr (estimated cost scenarios were provided), and a larger scenario that would require hour reductions or larger appropriations.
City finance staff told the BET they could not recommend restoring the full $50,000 today but were open to limited targeted increases and committed to a market analysis through the year to examine phased adjustments for positions lacking raises. BET members said they were sympathetic and asked that passport-service revenue (anticipated if passport operations resume) be considered as a potential local revenue source.
No formal BET vote to restore the full $50,000 was recorded; BET recommended keeping the library appropriation at $671,000 while working with the director and finance to explore options for next year.
