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Select Board splits over Patent Free Library funding; $44,517 cap and $85 per-card cap proposed
Summary
A contentious debate over Article 27 (Patent Free Library funding) led the board to propose allocating $44,517 as a capped contribution and an amendment limiting reimbursement to $85 per card; members argued over transparency of cardholder data, use of the library endowment and whether to allow residents to choose any library.
A lengthy and at times heated debate over library funding dominated discussion of Article 27, with board members and a presenter clashing over transparency, municipal responsibility and how to structure the warrant question.
Anthony Jameson, introduced as the town treasurer and present to speak about community agency funding, described figures about cardholders and argued the library’s per-capita request was modest given the library’s endowment and community benefits. He described receiving limited annual cardholder data and said he had contacted library authorities for more detailed information.
Several board members pressed for more specific yearly-use numbers and circulation figures before endorsing direct funding. One member said she could not support placing the article on the warrant without receiving the requested annual cardholder data, calling the lack of timely information “ungracious.” Another member called the requested increase ‘‘$167 per person’’ and questioned whether West Bath residents were being asked to subsidize other towns.
After debate about process and A/B warrant formatting, the board moved to change the warrant language: Article 27 was altered to raise and appropriate $44,517 as a cap for library contributions, and a second article (Article 28) would ask voters whether the allocation should go to the Patent Free Library or be applied toward library memberships of each resident’s choice. The board also voted to include a per-card reimbursement cap of $85 and a limit of one card per person in the warrant language and to make the vote by secret ballot.
Board members repeatedly emphasized administrative burdens for reimbursement (receipts, staff time to process payments) and discussed possible hardship provisions for residents who could not pay upfront. No definitive change to West Bath’s trustee or board representation at the Patent Free Library was finalized in the meeting; members warned that withdrawing as a participating municipality could affect voting seats on library boards and trusteeship.
The Select Board directed staff to work with the town attorney and budget advisory committee to finalize warrant language and mechanics for reimbursements, and to include explanatory language so voters understand how the cap and the AB choice would operate at town meeting.
