HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12071993 - 1.172 r �oraga,� Zown of a Mora8
2100 DONALD DRIVE
RECEIVED
.�
P.O. BOX 188
_ MORAGA, CA 94556 OV 15 1�
(510) 376-2590
°�ember,1°� OARDOF SUPERVISORS
NTRA COSTA CO.
November 3, 1993
Honorable Tom Torlakson, Chair
Board of Supervisors
651 Pine Street
Martinez, CA 94553
Dear Chairman Tor son and Supervisors,
Library services within Contra Costa County should be
given every opportunity to survive, in spite of the
dwindling resources of.- the County. To this end, the Moraga
Town Council unanimously urges you to allow and encourage
libraryo staff , to'. keep 'the- branch .-libraries open -at least 40
hours per week. 1i ., We-* -believe'that your 'staff can- develop
staffing . methods" which are' unique and •'innovative; aril
consistent with the needs 'desires desires -of the citizenry.
The Moraga Town Council believes that the professional
library staff should be utilized for the majority of the
time, to provide basic services, such as book checkout.
Additional services, above the basic level, would be the
responsibility of the individual communities . Each
community could determine the most feasible method of
providing advanced services, either through direct payment,
use of volunteers, or other methods .
We have had several discussions with the- head
librarian, Anne Marie Gold, and her staff, during the last
month and have heard discussions by the Board of
Supervisors on library services . In each of these
discussions we have asked that innovation, efficiency, and
effective use of personnel be the standards of operation
within the Moraga library in order to keep the library open.
The most recent response from Mrs . Gold was extremely
disappointing, with her negotiating tactics, being- to adhere
to the,- status •quo in 'operations ' and personnel assignments .
The status quo is not in' the best- interest ' of` providing
effective library services to Moraga or the County.
Our Council discussions have included exploring the
possibility of utilizing state-of-the-art materials, such
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as CD-ROM reference materials; innovative payment methods
for specialized services, such as new volume reservation
fees; minimizing inside library services; development of a
stable volunteer base for the provision of' other than basic
services; and the maintenance of the maximum number of
hours at basic service levels as defined by the community,
not by maintenance of the status quo.
The Town Council and staff can foresee that the rapid
change of technology in our society will force a change in
government services - particularly those dealing in
information processing. Library services in our County
could be on the leading edge of these technological changes
if the Board is willing to abandon the traditional and
seemingly archaic processes which are currently employed to
disseminate educational and informational materials .
We believe the current financial crisis offers the
County the opportunity to develop new methods to provide
traditional services and believe that if such an
opportunity is lost, the viability of library services in
our County would be jeopardized.
Our Council, along with representatives of the City of
Lafayette, have proposed that our "paired" branches be set
up as a pilot project, allowing the County Library to
explore innovative methods of providing services, while
keeping the "doors open" to a maximum by utilizing
personnel in such a way that available funds will provide
effective service levels .
Please instruct your staff to develop this new
approach, so that each taxpayer is assured that the hours
of service are appropriate to the community desires, yet
within the limitations of the funds available.
Sincerel ,
A. G. Dessay
Mayor
cc: City of Lafayette
City of Orinda
1. 173 through 1. 176
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on December 7, 1993, by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Powers, Smith, Bishop, McPeak and Torlakson
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
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SUBJECT: CORRESPONDENCE
Item No.
1. 173, LETTER dated November 11, 1993, from Kay Woodson, City
Clerk, City of Hercules, 111 Civic Drive, Hercules 94547,
advising that the City Council has adopted a resolution
supporting the acceleration of funding for reconstruction
of Highway 4 between Interstate 80 and Cummings Skyway, and
requesting the Board to encourage the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission to approve the funding to
expedite the improvements for this area.
***REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
1. 174 LETTER dated November 12, 1993, from State Senator Daniel
E. Boatwright, State Capitol - Room 3086, Sacramento 95814,
advising of his commitment to resolve disparities of the
State's allocation of Federal Older Americans Act funds.
***REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICE DIRECTOR AND COUNTY
ADMINISTRATOR
1. 175 LETTER dated November 8, 1993, from Doris Greene,
President, Merrithew Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, 2500
Alhambra Avenue, Martinez 94553 , supporting the plan to
rebuild Merrithew Memorial Hospital.
***REFERRED TO HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTOR
1. 176 LETTER November 15, 1993 , from James A. Gwerder, Secretary,
Contra Costa County Citizens Land Alliance, P.O. Box 553,
'Byron 94514, requesting that the Board make a finding that
the banning of grazing on public land is not in the best
interest of the people of Contra Costa County.
***REFERRED TO DIRECTOR; GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the recommendations' as referenced
(***) are approved.
cc: Correspondents
County Administrator
Community Development Director
Transportation Committee
Social Service Director
Health Services Director
Director, GMEDA
I he►ehy certify that this is a iru6 and correct copy of
an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED:
PHIL BATCHELOR,Clerk of the F3oard
Of supervisors and Countv AdminiRtratof
Deputy