By JUDY RATTNER
Trustee Tavora Buchman's term expires at the end of June, and Buchman will not run again. The election for trustees and to decide on school and library budgets is May 15.
"I am pleased with the course that the library is on right now," Wexler said. "As a board, we want to continue to find and present programs that meet the needs of our community, focus on our staff and update the physical structure of the library. I think that we are working diligently in all of these areas. As a trustee for the next three years, I would like to continue to aid in the implementation of these goals."
Wexler, a supervisory attorney for the U.S. National Labor Relations Board, where she has worked since 1987, is a graduate of Colgate University and New York Law School. She is also a board member of the Long Island Labor Employment Relations Association, and a member of the National Council of Jewish Women. She is married to Jon Reichert and the mother of two children, Jacob and Molly.
Speaking about the vacancy on the board created by Buchman's decision not to run for re-election, library Director Maureen Chiofalo said, "We were disappointed that we did not get a second candidate. But there is a system in place to ensure that the full complement - five board members - will be on the board at its first session."
Board President Bill Murray said he thought the process of getting on the ballot is a bit intimidating. This year, he said, the number of signatures needed to qualify doubled because of voter turnout in last May's school and library election. Murray said that people with busy lives need to be able to devote a number of hours every week to the job, which requires not only time, but dedication. Trustees, he said, are constantly in discussions about the issues before them, and involved in various subcommittees.
Murray said he had no doubt that a candidate would be selected, interviewed and chosen, after the election, to fill the vacant slot. Both he and Chiofalo said there were people they thought might be interested in the job who did not want to run for it.
Murray described the current board as "smooth running," and explained that a balance of viewpoints is the key to a board's efficiency.
Library budget also up for vote
As they go to the polls on May 15, residents will also vote on the proposed 2007-08 library budget of just over $2.9 million, an increase of 4.86 percent, or nearly $133,000, over the current budget of $2,798,128.
Chiofalo said that contractual salary and health insurance obligations account for the major portion of the proposed increase, a number she said was "in step" with the proposed increase in the 2007-08 school budget. Murray described the library budget as relatively small. He explained that the library board funds all of its capital projects with its operating budget of about $140,000, and that there is no debt and no appreciable direct state aid. He characterized the board's budget priorities as projects, people and programs.
And, since the building is 45 years old, Murray added, its air conditioning and heating system, old roof and fire system will get immediate attention. After that, he said, the board intends to address other priorities such as employee salaries and new programs.
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