New Freedom Council authorizes up to $20,000 to support Paul Smith Library amid York County review

The New Freedom Borough Council voted on March 10 to commit up to $20,000 in municipal support to Paul Smith Library while the library works with York County Library System (YCLS) on its affiliation and accounting questions.

Council approved an immediate disbursement of $3,000 to cover the first quarter and authorized $1,000 a month thereafter, with monthly review and the payments contingent on the library remaining an independent member library rather than becoming a branch of YCLS. The motion was moved and seconded during a lengthy discussion and was carried by voice vote.

The action aims to keep the library solvent while the borough and the library await additional financial information from YCLS. Council members said the conditional, staged payments were intended to show municipal support without committing funds uncontrollably if the library’s affiliation status changes.

Discussion and why it mattered

Council members and staff described a March meeting between Paul Smith, Mason Dixon Library representatives and YCLS where library leaders said the county system had not yet provided clear numbers showing the cost difference between remaining a member library and becoming a branch. Borough officials said the libraries had requested time for YCLS to bring an accountant to outline the accounting impacts.

Speakers debated timing and form of municipal aid. Several council members favored releasing a smaller immediate payment and holding the remainder as an authorized but unreleased contingent sum until YCLS clarified the financial terms. One council member proposed a compromise of paying $3,000 now and then $1,000 per month while reviewing the situation monthly; that is the package council approved.

Council members also discussed safeguards to prevent municipal funds from being absorbed into YCLS if a library changes affiliation. Borough legal and administrative staff advised that the council could designate the contribution a contingent gift — limited to use by Paul Smith Library while it remains an independent member — or pay specific vendor invoices (for example, utility bills) on the library’s behalf. Council asked staff to draft appropriate language to accompany the disbursement.

Context and community reaction

Councilors noted Shrewsbury Borough and Shrewsbury Township have announced supplemental support for area libraries. Several speakers — including members of the public during comments — urged more public outreach and transparency so residents understand what is at stake for local hours and services if libraries are absorbed under YCLS and service hours are reduced.

Council members also cited one speaker’s statement at the meeting that YCLS is operating at a reported structural shortfall and that consultant fees had figured prominently in the county-level deficit; council debate referenced numbers discussed at the YCLS meeting but did not adopt a fiscal analysis of YCLS operations.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to commit up to $20,000 to Paul Smith Library, payable $3,000 immediately and $1,000 per month thereafter subject to monthly review and contingent on library status: approved (voice vote). - Ordinance codification (adopt and enact codification of borough code of ordinances): approved (motion carried; council also authorized advertising the ordinance adoption). - Authorization to advertise bids for Bailey Avenue stormwater infrastructure upgrade: approved. - Authorization to hire an appraiser for borough real property, fee not to exceed $5,000: approved. - Ratification of additional volunteer credit roster for fire/EMS 2024 (add Tammy Graff): approved. - Multiple board/commission appointment resolutions (planning, recreation, property maintenance appeals, zoning hearing board): approved.

What the council directed staff to do next

Council asked borough staff to prepare: (1) a letter to Paul Smith Library documenting the payment schedule and contingent terms; (2) draft language for a conditional gift or invoice-payment procedure to limit municipal exposure if the library affiliate status changes; and (3) monthly status updates on the library’s discussions with YCLS for future council consideration.

Ending

Council members said the staged, conditional payments were intended to preserve local library hours and services in the short term while requiring YCLS to provide the financial detail the municipalities requested. The library funding item will return to the council as an agenda item each month until the affiliation and accounting questions are resolved.