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Lebanon Committee accepts White Paper to keep Bunnvale Library open; directs implementation
Summary
The Township Committee unanimously accepted a White Paper on the Bunnvale Library prepared by Committeeman Richard Webb and the library advisory board and directed the strategies in the paper be implemented to sustain municipal library operations amid budget pressure.
The Lebanon Township Committee on June 10 accepted a White Paper on the Bunnvale Library and voted to implement its strategies to maintain the municipal library in the face of budget constraints.
Resolution No. 102‑2026 formally accepted the document titled WHITE PAPER ON THE BUNNVALE LIBRARY (June 3, 2026), prepared by Committeeman Richard Webb in consultation with the Bunnvale Library Advisory Board. The resolution recites that while the township owns the library building and grounds, operating costs fall to the municipality; rising expenses and the State’s 2% spending cap have increased fiscal pressure. The White Paper proposes operational and cost‑management strategies to preserve library services, and the committee directed township staff to begin implementing the plan.
Committeeman Richard Webb presented the White Paper and the committee acknowledged his and the advisory board’s work. Public commenters earlier in the meeting had urged opposing votes on Resolution 102‑2026; the transcript records the public comment topics included "Vote No on Resolution No. 102‑2026," but no individual who opposed the resolution is named.
Why it matters: The Bunnvale Library is a municipal facility and local access point to county library services. Accepting the White Paper signals the township’s intention to formalize operations and may change how the library is staffed, funded and integrated with the Hunterdon County Library system. The resolution also prompted approval of related administrative steps including a gas extension contract for the library (Resolution 101‑2026) and a directive to implement the White Paper’s recommendations.
What’s next: The committee directed implementation of the White Paper’s strategies; specific operational changes, timelines and any budgetary adjustments will be reported by township staff in follow‑up committee meetings.
