Comments on: Library Moves Ahead on Front Entrance Work

By: Dave Cahill

Dave Cahill — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 13:53:23 +0000

Congrats to Eli on his promotion! He did a great job as the person in charge of information technology, keeping the Library ahead of the curve.

I expect similar results from him in his new position.

By: Donald Salberg

Donald Salberg — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 04:10:13 +0000

Last year the AADL board decided to allow the Pittsfield Township State Street Corridor Improvement Authority to extract TIF payments from properties subject to both the AADL and Pittsfield Township taxation.

Because I was curious I asked Josie Parker to share the TIF payment figure for this year. She suggested that I contact Pittsfield Township directly because, apparently it can redirect AADL millage money to fulfill the TIF agreement without providing a statement to the AADL. And, furthermore, Josie Parker has apparently no personal interest in the amount of taxpayer money no longer available for use by the AADL.
If I have success in obtaining the TIF figure I will share it with annarborchronicle.com readers in a comment to a future AADL board meeting report.

By: Donald Salberg

Donald Salberg — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 04:00:12 +0000

As I had commented to the annarborchronicle.com’s report of last month’s AADL board meeting, I remain disappointed that Josie Parker decided not to issue an RFP for construction manager. While O’Neal and Company may still have won the contract other firms were not given a chance to compete. The size of the contract to replace the front of the library exceeds the $27,000 limit for requiring RFP’s that is set by the AADL’s own purchasing policies.

By: Lyn Davidge

Lyn Davidge — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 02:14:51 +0000

I think I was the only non-library-affiliated citizen present at this meeting, which is too bad. My recollection is that the two summer-time meetings I was able to attend last year — at Traverwood and Pittsfield — were well attended, with at least as many regular citizens as usually show up Downtown, some new faces among them. Not so this time. After the meeting, President Prue Rosenthal told me that the next Board meeting, and those thereafter, will be held back Downtown, in part because of the poor turnout this time at Traverwood. She also cited disruption and inconvenience both to patrons and to Library Board and staff.