Candidates voice their views on free speech and library renovation project
DELMAR – In this year’s race to serve on the Town of Bethlehem Library’s board of trustees, eight candidates are competing for three slots to fill one five year, one two year and one one year terms.
“It’s a lot of candidates,” said Library Board President Mark Kissinger. Kissinger said when he first ran for the Library board three seats were open, but only two people were running. He attributed the candidate bounty to the Library’s increased visibility caused by the drag queen story hour, the Miko Peled event and the building project. “People are looking at the library and there is alot of interest in it,” Kissinger said. “The more the better because the more people who are actively involved in the Library means we are getting their views to the board.”
Ahead of the May 21 election, six of this year’s candidates appeared at a “Meet the Candidates” mixed format event held at the Library on May 8. Library Executive Director Geoffrey Kirkpatrick introduced the candidates to the 17 member audience. One candidate – Anne Moore – made a statement by video and another candidate Maggie Casey did not attend. Each candidate was allotted time to make a statement and after all statements were made candidates mingled with the audience to answer questions. The statements were recorded and posted on-line.
After providing biographical information, each candidate, in their formal statement, spoke either directly or obliquely about the $36 million renovation project and/or the free speech issues that arose out of the December Peled event.
Valerian B-K. Masao II – Masao, originally from Tanzania, said that by contrast from countries like Tanzania, America is blessed to have information sources like public libraries. He said in Tanzania, the local American library was the most important source of information. He said a library should be an apolitical instrument and is an entity that cares about the rule of law.. He also said the Library should avoid adding unfunded mandates. He expressed his concern about imposing economic hardship on people in the community. Later, when asked, he said he welcomed expansion if it did not impose an unfunded mandate. “Some people are struggling to put food on the table,” he said. He recommended making library services available remotely, rather than expanding the facility. He took no position on the BNFP ban issue, but said the Library’s meeting spaces need to be used for “peaceful agreement and engagement.”
Laura DiBetta – DiBetta, a Board member since September 2023, said the Library was one of the reasons her family chose to live in Delmar. She said it had recently been a “very challenging” time for the Library’s trustees and staff, but that has “only deepened my commitment” because she believes a library trustee’s most important work is defending the First Amendment and ensuring Library “resources are inclusive.”
When later asked, DiBetta said she is confident the community “largely supports” the building project and wants to move to more sustainability. She noted a demand for more space for Library programs. However, she called the tax issue “fair” and said she understands people are “hurting right now.” “The board is trying to be responsible,” she said. “This is a once in a lifetime project and if we do it well and do it right, we don’t have to go back to the taxpayers and ask for more,” DiBetta said.
Michele Keleher – Keleher, a 50 year resident who operated a physical therapy business, raised seven children in Bethlehem, and spent many hours in the Library writing her thesis, said she would like to see the Library return to its “long history of independent and apolitical administration” and would work hard to avoid polarization. On the renovation project, she said she is not convinced the $36 million expense is needed. She recognized the Library building is aging, but is concerned about taxpayers already struggling with inflation. “The fiduciary responsibility of elected officials is to safeguard the public’s money,” she said. When asked, she reaffirmed she is uncomfortable with a project that is raising taxes. “We don’t need the renovations,” she said. “We just need to fix things like the roof.” On the banning of BNFP’s use of the meeting rooms, she said she is “uncomfortable” with the Board banning a group, but is insufficiently familiar with the issue to speak on it.
Joe Lombardo – Lombardo, a 35 year resident and member of Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace, spoke about the Peled meeting and called it a “curtailment of speech.” Although he acknowledged he did not have first hand knowledge of the facts underlying Peled’s alleged sale of books, he said, when the man went to the parking lot, “they say he sold one of his books.” As a result of “this”, he said BNFP was banned from using the library, which he called “a curtailment of freedom of speech” that motivated him to run for trustee. In questions and answers, Lombardo had mixed views on the renovation project. He objected to the need for a bigger meeting room. He claimed BNFP was the only group to fill the current meeting room. He agreed that “some things need to be done”, including renovating the heating and cooling system, but would like to see more money used to expand programs and utilize the lawn space more.
Anne Moore – Moore, who appeared by videotape and is a 37 year Bethlehem resident, retired high school science teacher and administrator, said she is running because of “several concerns” she has about the “direction leadership is taking” the Library. She objected to the $36 million renovation project as an “‘enormous amount of money”, stating Library funds are better spent on resources versus meeting spaces. She said even the City of Albany’s public library’s largest meeting room holds only 120 people, about half of what the new meeting room would hold. Moore fears the project will change the Library’s nature, create parking and security problems, and unnecessarily increase meeting space, all at the expense of Bethlehem taxpayers. She also said people have a ‘right to speak their mind”, but the “library is not the definitive place for expression.”
Gail Sacco – Sacco, a former and now retired Executive Director for many years at the Voorheesville Public Library, said her goals are “simple.” As a trustee, she wants to help the Library move forward and ensure taxpayer dollars are well used and spent. She also noted the importance of freedom of thought and access to information a Library should provide. “A library must fight the demand to curtail public speech,” she said. On the BNFP ban, Sacco later said during questions and answers she has a lot of faith in Executive Director Kirkpatrick and said,” he would not do something without justification.” “There are controversies in Libraries in these times,” Sacco said. “These are the times. She said she is learning more about the bond referendum and that “they put a lot of work into it.” She noted that the large proposed meeting room can be divided into four smaller rooms so more than one event can be held at a time.
Michelle Walsh – Walsh, a 24 year Delmar resident and a current trustee running for re-election, said she has spent five years on the Board, four as Vice President. During that time, she has “learned alot about collaborating with others and that this can be challenging work.” Her comment drew a chuckle from the audience. Walsh said the Library has worked hard to ensure that taxpayer money is well spent and that the board advocates on behalf of Bethlehem taxpayers. She said the Library “does it all” and gave a shout out to Kirkpatrick and Library staff who do an “amazing job with lending and programming.” She said that the Library keeps up with national trends and she would be “honored” to remain a part of it. She called the Library a “cornerstone” of her daughter’s upbringing.
Candidate submitted bios and statements on the candidates views about libraries can be found on the library’s website.Voting on candidates and the library’s proposed $4.98 million 2024-2025 budget will be held at the Bethlehem Central High School on May 21 from 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Whoever is elected, DiBetto said she hopes that person “comes with a broad perspective and ready to work.”
