Fitchburg library could close - Sentinel & Enterprise

Someone I know who has lived here their whole life, said this library was built in the mid 60s, and there was some kind of endowment set up by Wallace to keep the library going. I imagine this was set up when the library was first built, thought I don't know. Does this endowment exist? Is it now defunct? Does anyone know what happened with the moneys slated to keep the library going. My friend was kind of vague about the details of the endowment. Does anyone know anything about this?

In the words of Riley Martin: "boo f-ing hoo"

Police Department - NECESSARY

Fire Department - NECESSARY

Library - nice to have, but NOT NECESSARY

Fitchburg has to make tough choices to balance their budget. The library should be closed long before police officers or firefighters are cut.

"What about the children?" There is a library in every school.

Unnecessary programs must be cut before essential services.

Library patron wrote:

Someone I know who has lived here their whole life, said this library was built in the mid 60s, and there was some kind of endowment set up by Wallace to keep the library going. I imagine this was set up when the library was first built, thought I don't know. Does this endowment exist? Is it now defunct? Does anyone know what happened with the moneys slated to keep the library going. My friend was kind of vague about the details of the endowment. Does anyone know anything about this?

Let's now add the library, along with the civic center, to the list of Wallace gifts to the city that has been run like crap since the second it opened.

When is the last time you visited one of the Fitchburg Public Schools? Only two of them have certified librarians and B.F. Brown, for instance,
has NO LIBRARY at all. That's why middle schoolers need the Fitchburg Public Library.

JDF wrote:

In the words of Riley Martin: "boo f-ing hoo"
Police Department - NECESSARY
Fire Department - NECESSARY
Library - nice to have, but NOT NECESSARY
Fitchburg has to make tough choices to balance their budget. The library should be closed long before police officers or firefighters are cut.
"What about the children?" There is a library in every school.
Unnecessary programs must be cut before essential services.

Friend of FPL wrote:

When is the last time you visited one of the Fitchburg Public Schools? Only two of them have certified librarians and B.F. Brown, for instance,
has NO LIBRARY at all. That's why middle schoolers need the Fitchburg Public Library.
<quoted text>

FRIEND FPL: Exactly!

When you look at how Mayor Dan "The Pants Man" Mylott had ran the city, it was to raid everything else, and give it to Public Safety. Yet, look at what this did.

Seems funny, that everytime I went to FPL, IT HAD MANY KIDS using both Children's/Adult libraries. So it seems rather funny that ALL THE SCHOOLS have libraries in them in Fitchburg.

Yet JDF (STAMOS, and Taxpayer too..) basically want this idea that it is better to not have such a resource, and basically raise a generation of Fitchburg kids, on poorly funded education, and let the cops bust them and throw them in the slammer.

Seems funny, it seems their political beliefs being put under the microscope.

After all...George W. Bush...had a D minus in College Economics. Also, memory serves me right..his wife...is a FORMER SCHOOL LIBRARIAN???

I have been reading these posts and some state that the library director is using scare tactics with her announcement that the library might close or have markedly reduced hours. It is not scare tactics to state the facts. The mayor has so significantly reduced the budget that it will be impossible to keep the library open for any significant time. For those who are not aware, the budget has been reduced by 75%. That drastic reduction in funding will mean that the Libray will automaticaly lose certification and therefore Fitchburg citizens will be unable to request books or audio and visual tapes from other libraries. Part of the new budget will also allot zero dollars to the purchase of new material. The Fitchburg library will be isolated and the only books available will be those on the premises. I have no need to go over the impact of this action because others have ably done so in previously posts. I just wanted to state that the director was just stating the facts and others have interpreted her comments in an unfair manner.

JDF wrote:

In the words of Riley Martin: "boo f-ing hoo"
Police Department - NECESSARY
Fire Department - NECESSARY
Library - nice to have, but NOT NECESSARY
Fitchburg has to make tough choices to balance their budget. The library should be closed long before police officers or firefighters are cut.
"What about the children?" There is a library in every school.
Unnecessary programs must be cut before essential services.

In such an equation, when will the budgets for public safety every be enough? When we look at the budget, we can not simply just look at operations, we need to scrutinize the capital expenditures (i.e. new high school and fire station.) The whole public safety discussion reminds me of national defense. While we fight locally over change, our national government has raised national defense since 2000 by 60% in a recent report. Sometimes the best defense in this world is not force, but programs/services that restore the human being in every citizen.

Here's an idea. Rather paying for the potential injury or danger, insure that cost.(It reminds you of sports teams.) Further, we as taxpayers really need to look at the Quinn bill, another mechanism for police officers to supplement their income with a joke of master's degree (that's the words of some police friends: seat in a classroom and get a degree.)

Not to mention the details, sure that cost is picked up by private firms. Do you honestly believe that state's new tax on utilities' lines will not be passed along to consumers--as the details are? Details have indirect cost. That should be the discussion. Having officers working almost 18-20 hour days does effect judgment: obviously the proponents haven't had a new born. Sleep deprivation effects not only judgment, but performance in normal duties as reinforced by a recent study of work performance.

Of course, police unions then retort to questions about salaries and how low police salaries are. Early retirement, job security, and very high job stress don't equate to a perfect job; nevertheless, what job is perfect. It seems like a pretty good profession if your personality/gifts match well.

As long as public servants' salaries look more like the taxpayers are serving them, we are all in trouble.

It is easier to dismiss the service of the library: BUT the contingent valuation (retail cost of these services if not available) outweighs its closure. Government services such as the library have been provided in Worcester county since 1790's (Lancaster). They did not come into existence by accident.

Boulder City wrote:

<quoted text>
FRIEND FPL: Exactly!
When you look at how Mayor Dan "The Pants Man" Mylott had ran the city, it was to raid everything else, and give it to Public Safety. Yet, look at what this did.
Seems funny, that everytime I went to FPL, IT HAD MANY KIDS using both Children's/Adult libraries. So it seems rather funny that ALL THE SCHOOLS have libraries in them in Fitchburg.
Yet JDF (STAMOS, and Taxpayer too..) basically want this idea that it is better to not have such a resource, and basically raise a generation of Fitchburg kids, on poorly funded education, and let the cops bust them and throw them in the slammer.
Seems funny, it seems their political beliefs being put under the microscope.
After all...George W. Bush...had a D minus in College Economics. Also, memory serves me right..his wife...is a FORMER SCHOOL LIBRARIAN???

Democrats want us to raise taxes, which will guarantee them eternal power. But one thing the Democrats never do, probably because they lack the intelligence to ponder such matters, is talk about the economic harm that comes from increases in taxation.(If Democrats had brains they wouldn’t be Democrats!)

Obama and Clinton want to raise taxes. How does raising taxes create jobs? How does taking the money away from a wealthy person who would otherwise invest it in productive activity create jobs? How does reducing the rate of return from investment by taxing it away stimulate investment? How does taking money out of the pockets of families create jobs?

Taking money out of our consumer-driven economy by raising taxes doesn’t create jobs. It kills jobs.

Think about it: if a family has $5,000 of discretionary income that they can save or spend per year, and the Democrats come along and raise their taxes by $1,000, that is a thousand dollars less the family has to spend on books, restaurants, recreational activities, vacations, household items, etcetera. The waitress who would otherwise get a tip won’t, the restaurant owner won’t get the business, the family won’t stay at a motel for a few days on a family get-away… It’s simple logic, right? Yet it escapes the vast majority of Democrat voters.

Not only do Democrat tax increases result in less spending and, hence, less jobs, it results in less saving for retirement, which makes people even more dependent on the government! Every policy the Democrats have is designed to push the nation closer to socialism and make the populace more dependent on the Democratic Party.

Wallace, George R., Jr.— of Fitchburg, Worcester County, Mass. Republican. 1924 Delegate to Republican National Convention from Massachusetts, donated the city it's library and civic center and the democrats treated those gifts like a spoiled child who abuses it's toys.

judge and jury wrote:

Well no what, anybody ever heard of Barnes and Noble??? go buy a book. they are pretty cheap these days

1) you must have disposable income. I cannot afford to feed my children living in this state and this town, how can I take out even $2.00 for a used paperback?

2) when they have cut all of the funding to schools so that my children don't have art, gym, music taught to them anymore, I could go to the library and check out books, dvds, audio and video tapes or go online with them, introduce them to those resources. Can you do that at barnes and nobles? No, I think not.

Boulder City wrote:

<quoted text>
FRIEND FPL: Exactly!
When you look at how Mayor Dan "The Pants Man" Mylott had ran the city, it was to raid everything else, and give it to Public Safety. Yet, look at what this did.
Seems funny, that everytime I went to FPL, IT HAD MANY KIDS using both Children's/Adult libraries. So it seems rather funny that ALL THE SCHOOLS have libraries in them in Fitchburg.
Yet JDF (STAMOS, and Taxpayer too..) basically want this idea that it is better to not have such a resource, and basically raise a generation of Fitchburg kids, on poorly funded education, and let the cops bust them and throw them in the slammer.
Seems funny, it seems their political beliefs being put under the microscope.
After all...George W. Bush...had a D minus in College Economics. Also, memory serves me right..his wife...is a FORMER SCHOOL LIBRARIAN???

Boulder City, you have made a number of good points during this discussion, but unfortunately you continue to misrepresent what I have said and what my position is. You have leapt to a conclusion that is not supported by anything I have said. The fact is, I agree with you on the library and the finacial mess this city is in due to the fiscal incompetence of its former Mayors and the pass the buck attitude of past City Councils. Last year's budget hearings were the first time they actually showed some backbone and followed thru. My original post clearly states my support for the library. Criticism of the actions of those running an instituion does not translate into criticism of the institution or the need for that institution. An under-educated work force is one of the biggest problems facing American businesses today. The situation this city finds itself in has nothing to do with Democrats or Republicans as some others have claimed. It has everything to do with incompetence and lack of leadership.

[First of all waist is spelled waste. And maybe had you spent more time in a library you would be better educated. Whether or not children have the internet is besides the point. Children and Adults need the library for many things. My children and I would be lost if we did'nt have our library.

taxpayer wrote:

<quoted text>
Boulder City, you have made a number of good points during this discussion, but unfortunately you continue to misrepresent what I have said and what my position is. You have leapt to a conclusion that is not supported by anything I have said. The fact is, I agree with you on the library and the finacial mess this city is in due to the fiscal incompetence of its former Mayors and the pass the buck attitude of past City Councils. Last year's budget hearings were the first time they actually showed some backbone and followed thru. My original post clearly states my support for the library. Criticism of the actions of those running an instituion does not translate into criticism of the institution or the need for that institution. An under-educated work force is one of the biggest problems facing American businesses today. The situation this city finds itself in has nothing to do with Democrats or Republicans as some others have claimed. It has everything to do with incompetence and lack of leadership.

Taxpayer: When Former Mayor Dan Mylott had announced he was not running for re-election, the S&E took a picture of the mayor in his office. On the wall of his office was a picture of President George W. Bush.

Now consider the following:

1. Mayor Dan Mylott, and his spending practices, well documented by this paper, has left the City of Fitchburg with a $ 5-million deficit. He used the idea of spending on Police to bring business back to Fitchburg, and yet the end result was negative growth.

2. President Bush, entered office in 2001, with a surplus. Yet with the two wars, and the spending, we have a 2 trillion dollar deficit, with the idea that the War on Terror would not hurt the economy. Yet the economy is in RECESSION.

Both were REPUBLICANS...AND BOTH LEFT DEFICITS

(And STAMOS...you seem to forget...that the GOP had control of the House/Senate in Washington...for the first 7 years of the Bush Presidency.)

Sorry Taxpayer...try again. It ain't hip to be a Conservative anymore. Especially if you ain't rich!

Joe wrote:

The library is just filled with homeless people anyway. Besides, you can read almost any book online nowadays. I haven't touched a library book in almost 15 years, the always smell like pee and are really dirty. Who goes to the library anyway?

Joe Joe Joe what about the children, there are many activities for seniors and children. It is a wonderful and educational place to visit. We dont go to smell the pee thxs

Boulder City wrote:

<quoted text>
FRIEND FPL: Exactly!
When you look at how Mayor Dan "The Pants Man" Mylott had ran the city, it was to raid everything else, and give it to Public Safety. Yet, look at what this did.
Seems funny, that everytime I went to FPL, IT HAD MANY KIDS using both Children's/Adult libraries. So it seems rather funny that ALL THE SCHOOLS have libraries in them in Fitchburg.
AMEN
Yet JDF (STAMOS, and Taxpayer too..) basically want this idea that it is better to not have such a resource, and basically raise a generation of Fitchburg kids, on poorly funded education, and let the cops bust them and throw them in the slammer.
Seems funny, it seems their political beliefs being put under the microscope.
After all...George W. Bush...had a D minus in College Economics. Also, memory serves me right..his wife...is a FORMER SCHOOL LIBRARIAN???

"AMEN"

Stamos wrote:

<quoted text>
Bill,
I spent my whole life in the burg. I also defended all the negative opinions of the city for many years until I finally left. Now that I look back I can see that all that negative feedback was real and not just a bunch of angry people who moved on. Some day when you move on you will also understand that defending this city is a lost cause and worth nothing but a waste of your time. I buried my mother and father in the burg. My mother always made it clear to me that there is much more out there. She was right.

Ya so, now your gone. Your mother was right. And you are still out there, what? Just being critical?
Not here? Can't help? Don't want to?

Don't waste your time, those of us who still live here and believe there is more here, we will get through this.

Stamos wrote:

<quoted text>
Democrats want us to raise taxes, which will guarantee them eternal power. But one thing the Democrats never do, probably because they lack the intelligence to ponder such matters, is talk about the economic harm that comes from increases in taxation.(If Democrats had brains they wouldn’t be Democrats!)
Obama and Clinton want to raise taxes. How does raising taxes create jobs? How does taking the money away from a wealthy person who would otherwise invest it in productive activity create jobs? How does reducing the rate of return from investment by taxing it away stimulate investment? How does taking money out of the pockets of families create jobs?
Taking money out of our consumer-driven economy by raising taxes doesn’t create jobs. It kills jobs.
Think about it: if a family has $5,000 of discretionary income that they can save or spend per year, and the Democrats come along and raise their taxes by $1,000, that is a thousand dollars less the family has to spend on books, restaurants, recreational activities, vacations, household items, etcetera. The waitress who would otherwise get a tip won’t, the restaurant owner won’t get the business, the family won’t stay at a motel for a few days on a family get-away… It’s simple logic, right? Yet it escapes the vast majority of Democrat voters.
Not only do Democrat tax increases result in less spending and, hence, less jobs, it results in less saving for retirement, which makes people even more dependent on the government! Every policy the Democrats have is designed to push the nation closer to socialism and make the populace more dependent on the Democratic Party.
Wallace, George R., Jr.— of Fitchburg, Worcester County, Mass. Republican. 1924 Delegate to Republican National Convention from Massachusetts, donated the city it's library and civic center and the democrats treated those gifts like a spoiled child who abuses it's toys.

Stamos said the following:

Think about it: if a family has $5,000 of discretionary income that they can save or spend per year.

Well Stamos: That very situation happened through Reagan, and Pappa Bush era (although Pappa Bush reneged on his "No New Tax Pledge" when he had to face the music).

Earth to Stamos: This is not 1980.....this is 2008 calling. Yet in 2008, like what happened to President George H.W. Bush basically betrayed the Reagan Revolution in 1988, McCain (and any Republican with a brain..which is like you...an endangered specie), is betraying President George W. Bush.

EARTH TO STAMOS: Broken record with a legacy that is the equivalent of a gift that keeps on giving to Democrats. Simply put....your ideals just don't work, and destroy this country again, and again.

Seems funny....you want more cops, but don't want to pay the taxes to pay their salary. What a joke, and the people of Fitchburg...are happy to see you gone!

JDF wrote:

In the words of Riley Martin: "boo f-ing hoo"
Police Department - NECESSARY
Fire Department - NECESSARY
Library - nice to have, but NOT NECESSARY
Fitchburg has to make tough choices to balance their budget. The library should be closed long before police officers or firefighters are cut.
"What about the children?" There is a library in every school.
Unnecessary programs must be cut before essential services.

Police Department - NECESSARY, as was during the Mylott administration, which would add more business to the city. Yet more business left the city, and the only businesses that flourished according to reports over the past few months...were Prostitutes and Drug Pushers. Obviously money not well spent!

Fire Department - NECESSARY: Yes, every city/town needs a fire department. However, when you give a number of veteran firefighters bonuses with a pay raise on top of it, as you leave office, like then Mayor Dan "Pantsalesman" Mylott, then it becomes a cash cow that is a joke, especially when the money isn't there to pay for it.

Library - nice to have, but NOT NECESSARY: When only 2 of the Fitchburg Schools have libraries, and the school kids use FPL as a resource after school, one wonders what the problem is.

Apparently the only necessary message is this. JDF, and his Republican/Libertarian policies are the problem. It didn't work with Reagan, It didn't work with Pappa Bush, and his son did no better.

Yet, Pappa Bush betrayed the Reagan Revolution, and all Republicans are running away from George W. Bush.

STATE RUN MENTAL INSTITUTIONS: Necessary, for people like you who cannot face the facts since 1980. Your brand of politics is outdated, outmoded, and plainly doesn't work. So go pop a few pills with Rush Limbaugh, and give some Vallium to Bill O'Reilly too.

You all are suffering from Substance Abuse. Your Conservative Substance has abused the economy of this country, and destroyed Fitchburg, and this country.

Boulder City's idea of a perfect world:
A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.

I think I've heard of this system before... oh yeah, it's called COMMUNISM!

PS: I'm getting closer to Nobleboro, ME. I'm coming to spread the conservative word.

JDF wrote:

PS: I'm getting closer to Nobleboro, ME. I'm coming to spread the conservative word.

If you are smart.......STAY PUT. Even the republicans up here hate people from Massachusetts, and unless you want to lose your shirt, which I guarantee you will...that they will eat you up and spit you out up here.

The term is "Massh*les" and unless you have lived up here long enough, you won't like it up here.

Also, you gripe about taxes down your way...come on up...Maine State Government would like your money, and tax you into poverty!

Oh yeah...the conservatives up here also like spending taxpayers money on the local level to make you think they are Liberals too.

So JDF.....YOU LOSE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!

But if you do come up, leave your money at the York Tollbooth, and don't go away home mad...JUST GO AWAY!