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This blog is published as an offering of topics that may be of interest to Ridgefield residents in the hope that it will spark some dialog about important issues that face us as a community.

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Saturday, July 31, 2010

Ridgefield Press Letter to the Editor > Financing a New Library

Does Marty Heiser speak for the Board of Finance or is he just Bored of Finance? 

Regarding the notion of a new $20 million library, Mr. Heiser is quoted in the Ridgefield Press as stating: "I told them [if] they want to build their Carnegie Hall, they’ve got [to] find their Carnegie.” It looks to me like they have. His name is Heiser. 

Mr. Heiser, referring to the Board of Finance, said “...This board can help shape the deal.” I ask: What deal? 

Furthermore, in Heiser's world “...If it’s $15 million private and $5 million public, I can see getting behind that, because we’d have to spend $5 million to fix it, anyway.” I say: Really? If the library can raise $15 million, raising $5 million should be a breeze. 

And finally the former Board of Finance chairman stated “This thing’s got architect’s renderings and ads in the newspaper — this thing is coming.” So I say if 'this thing is coming', why should we waste money on a referendum? Let's just call it "Fiat by Marty". 

Here's some more of what I think. 

(1) If the library can only raise $15m, they should build something for $15m. 

(2) Their current rendering described in the Ridgefield Press & the Danbury News Times doesn't even include the old Webster bank building which could house a gift shop, a coffee house and other appropriate businesses that could help support their kingdom. 

(3) If, in fact, taxpayers are asked to chip in $5 million, the quid pro quo should be the gradual zeroing of the library's annual stipend which is $1.64 million this year and use that money to pay down the taxpayer $5 million contribution. 

(4) I dare any member of any board to raise these politically un-popular propositions publicly. It's always MORE, it's NEVER LESS.

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