By: Mike Caputo
An "exhausting," months-long voter-education effort has culminated in a new lease on life for the Peninsula Public Library, which celebrated a two-part victory in Tuesday's special vote for District 15 residents: the long-awaited ownership of the property on which it sits without being required to compensate the school district.
Proposition 1 - the transfer of ownership of the land from the school district to the library's Board of Trustees - passed by an overwhelming vote count of 1,289 to 98. In an even more one-sided tally, 1,197 to 0, Proposition 2A - the transfer of the property without payment - was favored over Proposition 2B, which would have required the library to pay the district more than $800,000 if it were to eventually sell the property.
All results will remain unofficial until the school board approves them at its next public
session on Tuesday.
"I'm euphoric, exhausted and thrilled that people made such an effort in support of the library," said Joan Lepelstat, co-president of PPL's Board of Trustees. Now, she said, "The bottom line is to find out how to get a state-of-the-art facility for our community in the most reasonable and most cost-effective way."
The referendum marked the end of a three-month effort by Lepelstat, co-president Joel Shiff and other library supporters - including Ron Goldman of the Foundation for the Peninsula Public Library - to inform the public about the propositions. Until the very last day, they made phone calls, sent e-mails and put up posters, even in the rain. Others spread the word through their various organizations and places of worship.
In recent months, Lepelstat said, she has been overwhelmed by the community's interest in the library's efforts. "I have learned a lot - it has been wonderful," she said. "The whole process has convinced me of the tremendous value this community places on the library."
Comments about this story? MCaputo@li-herald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
