libraries

Getting Voting Representation on Rochester Hills Public Library Board

Bob Yager , , , ,

If we want voting representation on Rochester Hills Public Library Board, we must convince our legislators to revise the Michigan State Law titled Act 164 of 1877. Rochester Hills Public Library Board cannot legally allow it under current law even though in 2018 they wanted to.

Note that this “old law”, as some have characterized it, has been amended at least 15 times since 1877, most recently in 2014.

Our Library Board under leadership of former President Michael Tyler (resigned August 2024) has attempted to get this law changed. They first approached our state legislators. Legislators were uninterested to the point they did not respond to several emails, snail mails, and hand delivered messages on this topic. Our Library Board then sought support from our Township Board of Trustees; asking them to approve a resolution supporting the Library Board’s position and forwarding it to legislators.

President Tyler presented the Library Board’s case to our Board of Trustees at their October 23, 2018 meeting. Our Township Board declined to take action. See their minimal minutes below.

 You should view  the 30 minute discussion (1:56 to 2:27) including three public comments on the meeting video at agenda 7/5 at this link: BOT – 10/23/18 – October 23, 2018. I urge you to watch this if you have any interest in this topic.

My terse summary of Board and public comments follows.

Trustee Frank Ferriolo felt is was unnecessary to have a seat on RHPL Board as there were no problems and we have great power as a customer of RHPL. There are other options if we don’t like RHPL in the future such as Lake Orion library. He very strongly objected to the phrase “taxation without representation”.

Trustee Robin Buxar essentially supported Ferriolo

Treasurer Jeanne Langlois said the Library Board is fully authorized to request changes in legislation and saw possible confusion with the proposed arrangement.

Trustee Lana Mangiapane supported President Tyler’s request.

Supervisor Michael Bailey, Clerk Karen Reilly and Trustee John Giannangeli did not comment.

Three citizens who spoke all supported Mr. Tyler’s request

Henry Carels (also Library Board member)

Reg Brown – frequent library user

John Markel – follows the Board closely and comments often

Does our Oakland Township Library Board Want to Start it’s Own Library?

Bob Yager

Yesterday a resident asked me if the Library Board is seriously considering starting our own library and abandoning our contract with RHPL. I would say the answer is “no, not really.” But they are somewhat upset with our “taxation without representation” contract. Today I encountered Dr. Henry Carels, Oakland Township Library Board member in Township parking lot, who gave me his views. This led me to watch the tape of the February 15, 2024 meeting, which I had not viewed previously.

Library Board Meeting 2/15/2024- Sentinel summary of Agenda E1

There was a 30 minute discussion about the fact that Rochester Hills Public Library Board (membership on which we are excluded by state law even though we pay about $1,000,000 each year) is going down the path of soon asking for a mileage increase. Members, especially Dr. Henry Carels, expressed concern that questions our Library Board posed a few years ago when RHPL Board considered asking for a millage increase (but dropped the request) went unanswered even with two “asks”.  Four options for our future library were discussed informally.

Stay in contract with RHPL and do nothing else. No one was sure if we did this and defeated a millage increase in our Township if RHPL would “kick us off the contract”. Possibly they would not, since we are their highest paying customer due to our large property tax assessment per patron.

Work to get state law amended to allow representation on RHPL Board  – Carels favors this, Tyler and Parker are skeptical of the possibility of success. (Chairman Tyler tried and failed to get Township Board of Trustees support for this a few years ago.)

Form a District Library (this method is authorized by state law) – Chairman Tyler points out that any millage would go on the ballot at will of the regional library Board. Oakland Township BOT would have no say.

 Establish our own library – Kallie pointed out that this would be a very difficult path.

If you want a better understanding, watch the video at link below for Agenda Item E1 (about 30 minutes discussion), especially Dr. Carels opening remarks that the Oakland Township Library Board must represent interests of Oakland Township taxpayers that set off this discussion.

CloudCast v3 (telvue.com)

The following is verbatim from February 14, 2024 Rochester Hills Public Library Board minutes. Note our Michael Tyler’s comment at the end. He is chairman of our township library board and can attend but cannot vote. The six voting RHPL board members are all from Rochester Hills, per state law.

B. The board engaged in a discussion regarding future funding needs for the library. Ms.
Morian stated that a complicating factor surrounding a discussion of increased revenue is
the partnership with each contract community. The contracts are worded differently and
operate with different renewal dates. Neither contract provides direction for if/when the
public body (RHPL) increases revenue from the taxing base (Rochester Hills), nor does it
address tiered service levels if a contract community contributes less than the tax base.
She recommended visiting each of the communities for an information-only presentation
of details about necessary capital improvements and corresponding cost-analysis. The
February 2024 RHPL Board Minutes
board did not object to Ms. Morian providing that information and reporting back on the
conversation at a future meeting.

  1. President Deel stated that an informational brochure that identifies capital
    needs and current pain points in the library would be effective in communicating
    needs to stakeholders and the public.
  2. Mr. Tyler stated that the public may be more receptive to “sinking fund” style of
    millage request with separate accounting budget for the capital expenditures.