PLEASE attend the Cuyahoga County Public Library BOARD MEETING TONIGHT, Tuesday, June 25th at 6pm in the Library Administration Building: 2111 Snow Road, Parma OH 44134 | 216.398.1800.
THE BOARD WILL VOTE ON THE SALE OF TELLING MANSION.
Telling Mansion has been the home of the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Library for the past 60 years.
There is an ongoing legal case seeking to enjoin the Library from selling it. Next court date is 7/17/13 in Judge Timothy McCormick’s courtroom.
Please come prepared to speak at TOMORROW’S MEETING for two minutes. Please bring a written version of your remarks to submit as part of the public record.
Here are some talking points:
• Citizens were denied democratic process. Taxpayers were never surveyed about what they wanted.
• Taxpayers were denied the opportunity to VOTE on a levy for new buildings. Instead, the Board unilaterally issued $75 million in notes (debt) that all taxpayers*must pay back along with an ADDITIONAL $100 million in interest.
• The Library’s Facilities Master Plan indicated that Telling Mansion would be renovated, NOT SOLD. The document supporting the issuance of the $75 million in notes indicated Telling Mansion would be renovated, NOT SOLD.
• Transfer of our public wealth into private hands is fiscally irresponsible.
• The Board plans to sell Telling for $755,000 It cost $700,000 to build Telling in 1930. The Board is using an outdated appraisal done in September 2010. Would you sell your home based on an appraisal done almost 3 years ago?
• Why sell this building, on the National Register of Historic Places and an Ohio Landmark for pennies on the dollar? (Look at this comparable property.) The Library Board spent $1.5 million on renovations in 2002-2003 and acquired the Telling gatehouse in 2000. The Board is willing to sell Telling Mansion for ½ the cost of the renovations done only 10 years ago.
• The best and highest use of Telling Mansion is as a library.
• The Board does not have to sell Telling Mansion in order to build a new library.
• Telling is a “21st Century Library”. What cannot be done in Telling Mansion that is done in other libraries?
• Operating Telling Mansion costs almost exactly the same per square foot as the new Warrensville branch. See this link for details.
• This sale is a transfer of public wealth into private hands. Our community will lose this unique and beautiful public space. How many historic public spaces are left?
• What other historic public building can you enjoy with the freedom you have when that public building is a library?
For more information or for a ride to the meeting call 216-694-8304 or email savethemansionlibrary@gmail.com
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MansionLibrary.
Sign our petition.
Directions to Cuyahoga County Public Library Board meeting:
NOTE: THERE IS NO SIGN IN FRONT OF THE LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING. Look for the construction. Coming from the east look for Eat n Park; library is next driveway. Coming from west look for McDonald’s on OPPOSITE side of street.
*This includes every taxpayer in Cuyahoga County and Ohio, whether or not they have a County Library in their community.
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