+15 votes
by (620 points)
The Niles Library Director, Susan Lempke stated at a recent Board Meeting: “The Library is spending the same amount of money being closed”…. Did the Board challenge her about this? NO! Really? Programs have been canceled, no office supplies are needed, gas, electric, water bills are less. So, what is she spending tax payer’s money on? Oh, I forgot the Board of Trustees voted “Yes” to authorize Administration (Susan Lempke) to spend money without the Boards approval. Send this Board a message and call 847-663-6650…. Your comments will be automatically sent to each Board member.  
The Niles Library Director, Susan Lempke stated at a recent Board Meeting: “The Library is spendin

17 Answers

+4 votes
by (2.5k points)
 
Best answer
There is one fiscally responsible responsible board member, Carolyn Drblyk. She tries so hard to be a voice of reason. I don’t know how she stands it. My blood boils every time I go to a meeting. There is a term limit referendum that is supposed to be on the ballot in November. Remember that when you go to vote.  
by (5.8k points)
@defalcate , yes you are right. Carolyn is the only one with logic on that board. They are all so rude and ridiculous and I don’t know how she stands it!  
+2 votes
by (2.7k points)
This is absolutely embarrassing. The board is elected to keep track and approve things just like this. Maybe they should have a second meeting a month like the village or have all their bills approved at a prior meeting. It’s a zoom meeting where the president of the bird said at the last meeting saying the pledge wasn’t important about a minute in. What a joke!  
by (620 points)
@kaylor please send your message to the board phone number I posted.  
by (2.7k points)
@slayton6964 done and email sent
+6 votes
by (5.8k points)
That’s what the library board does best! Spend , spend, spend!  
by (620 points)
@derward pls send your comment to the phone number posted
by (2.7k points)
@derward it’s silly and time for some new blood in that board. This group needs to be audited and badly. Find some of these fake companies for roofing inspections Carolyn had mentioned and got road blocked on.  
+9 votes
by (570 points)
The board needs to be replaced
by (620 points)
@panic I agree. Pls send your comment to the number posted
+2 votes
by (5.8k points)
Every board member needs to be replaced! People need to go to one board meeting and see the excessive spending that’s going on. It’s unbelievable!  
+5 votes
by (330 points)
Can't be real.!?!?!?!  
by (620 points)
@samovar929 it's true Kerry. Watch the board meetings videos on line
by (330 points)
@slayton6964 This is a joke We are not in a third world country. We must do something to stop wasting our tax money
+3 votes
by (2.2k points)
I imagine salary and benefits are the biggest expenditures. I'm not surprised current spending levels are comparable to pre-Sickness levels.  
+4 votes
by (6.4k points)
My question is what's everybody doing on the payroll
by (2.7k points)
@balneal what a phenomenal question! How many library staff members are needed versus Furlough or unemployment at this time.  
by (1.5k points)
@balneal shelving books from home !  
+12 votes
by (6.4k points)
Trunco Blickhan 2021
+12 votes
by (1.3k points)
I NEED IT TO OPEN!  
by (630 points)
It would be great if they would open for curb side pickup. My 2nd grader is reading several early chapter books each week. I’d rather use my local library than make Jeff Bezos richer.  
by (1.3k points)
@ballon agreed I would just like 10 minutes! Great job to your 2nd grader!  
by (1.5k points)
@ballon at the meeting last night they discussed what things would look like to open up. You can watch the video from the meeting when they post it on you tube.  
+2 votes
by (6.4k points)
And Wilgus
+4 votes
by (1.5k points)
Omg tonight was a 3 hour long board meeting ! Sadly I couldn’t believe my eyes! Three people were actually eating snacks during the zoom meeting ! Totally unprofessional. I guess they forget people can see them  
+7 votes
by (1.4k points)
She is out of control
+11 votes
by (2.7k points)
For all to see just in case you didn’t know. Here is the tax dollars hard at work. None of the people have been furloughed or laid off while the library is closed. How much I’m salary is getting paid to sit home? Justification on this executive director? @mazy1695
by (1.5k points)
@kaylor sending you a pm
+1 vote
by (2.2k points)
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. " --Theodore Roosevelt.  
+2 votes
by (820 points)
I work at another local library and am very grateful to not have been furloughed. And I've had plenty to do from home.  
+13 votes
by (780 points)
Not really understanding how teddy roosevelt relates to how laying off or firing library staff is great move. or the cost/benefits of firing/furloughing the library staff to save money is "being in the ring". i do know that the Niles Library provides a safe place for village teens to gather without parents worrying where they are. It also helps people with passport applications that would other wise clog the post office line across the street. lastly, it provides a lot of great resources and programs that motivated us to move to the village in the first place.  
by (2.7k points)
@macfarlane absolutely agree. However my issue is that the library cost and money spent is the same monthly money now with the building closed versus it open, how should this be? Great they have the reserves and they cut a million off overall taxes (although they had the choice for 2 million). But what happens when this board asks for an increase in a year or 2 to make up for this time?  
by (780 points)
@kaylor utility bills still need to be paid, salaries still need to be paid, debt payments need tobe paid on time. Do you want the library to stop paying its bills like another fantastic example of government, the State of Illinois?  
by (2.7k points)
@macfarlane not saying that at all. However the village and parks have bother stopped paying part timers and others have been laid off. The library is too good to save some money and do the same?  
by (780 points)
@kaylor not really sure why laying people off from either of those agencies makes sense so they can collect unemployment. why not keep doing something as opposed to sitting at home. i can tell you that the non furloughed employees of other libraries have been working hard from home. i dont think the Niles library staff is doing any different.  
by (5.8k points)
@macfarlane , the library overspends on frivolous, unnecessary things. This is a known fact and has been going on for years. And people of Niles end up paying for this! Have you attended a board meeting or watched one online? Well if you haven’t, then maybe you should!  
by (2.7k points)
@derward funny because a lot of people are thinking the library did something so great cutting the million off taxes. They could have done $2 million. But chose not to. They also will come around and raise taxes in the next year if this board isn’t changed Mark my words they will increase 2 million to make up for that million and gain another.  
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