SPORTS FINAL TODAY RAIN HIGH 66 LOW 47 DETAILS, A8 SUNDAY NEWSSTAND $2.00 199th YEAR, NO. 114 @nhregister newhavenregister SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2011 W. Haven library in turmoil The $1.8 million fund has been a source $1.8M reserve fund questioned of concern for more than just employ- ees. The library’s board, called the Vil- By Amanda Pinto They also have raised concerns about lage Improvement Association, receives Register Staff $1.8 million in library funds that have for about $1.6 million annually from the city years remained unused while they say
[email protected] for the operation of the library, Mayor the library is in need of equipment and John M. Picard said. The city has a main WEST HAVEN — All is not quiet at the employees have gone three years without library, two branches and a bookmobile. West Haven Public Library. raises. Every year, he looks at the $1.8 million Its employees, who have recently The board’s president, Nancy Ciarleg- the library has in the bank and consid- formed a union amid fears they would lio, said employees haven’t told her ers slicing its budget, Picard said, but the lose their jobs, are upset about “bully- why they are angry, but that it has been City Council routinely adds to the library ing and micromanagement” from the “brewing for a while.” She said employ- budget. library’s board of directors, and the immi- ees have declined board requests to share “I think the library has more than nent departure of their eight-year direc- their ideas about programming and train- enough money to operate the library and Mara Lavitt/Register tor, whose contract was not renewed last ing on three separate occasions, and then Library patron Richard Pittman of West Haven, left, gets help from library assistant week.