WEST POTTSGROVE — Township commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to increase their annual contribution to the Pottstown Regional Public Library to the full amount recommended by the state — $5 per resident.
Commissioner Dennis Arms, who is also a member of the library board of directors, abstained from the vote.
The increase will mean that the township will contribute $18,915 toward the operation of the library in 2025, according to Township Manager Deborah Roesener.
Township Solicitor Jamie Ottaviano said last February that the commissioners voted to reduce the per capita payment to $3 but also provided help with property maintenance.
The new, full-level contribution removes the in-kind maintenance contribution, he said.
However, West Pottsgrove’s increased payment, will not be enough of an increase to close the library’s projected 2025 budget gap and the library board of directors announced how it will reduce its hours of operation by eight hours the same day as the West Pottsgrove Commissioners voted.
Steve Miller, chairman of the West Pottsgrove commissioners, said the board discussed the matter after library Executive Director Angela Brown gave a presentation to the board at the last meeting about the steps the library is taking to reduce its costs.
“They’re not just sitting back and doing nothing, they are working hard to cut costs,” Miller said.
“Her presentation was very compelling,” said Commissioner Mark Green.
“We realized that the library is important not just to our community, but to the surrounding communities as well and we should all do our part,” Miller said.
Asked for a comment Wednesday evening, Brown replied “Commissioners of West Pottsgrove, Thank you for recognizing the importance of Pottstown Regional Public Library to the community. It is vital that we work together to ensure free and open access to resources that inform, instruct, inspire and promote lifelong learning.”
That leaves Upper Pottsgrove Township as the only one in the library service area that is contributing less than the state recommends. In fact, for three years, Upper Pottsgrove has not contributed at all.
Brown also appeared before the Upper Pottsgrove Commissioners on Nov. 18 with the same plea. She received no response. The Upper Pottsgrove Commissioners subsequently voted unanimously to advertise the 2025 budget with no announced payment to the library. Should that township make the state-recommended contribution, it would be about $31,000 according to the latest Census figures.
Lower Pottsgrove Township has steadily made its full contribution and Pottstown Borough imposes a special tax that raises twice the contribution recommended by the state.
As a result of the projected shortfall, these new library hours will go into effect Jan. 1 and be as follows:
• Monday — 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Tuesday — 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Wednesday — 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Thursday — 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday — 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Passport appointments will be available Monday-Wednesday 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Thursday-Friday 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
A notary will be available for walk-ins or appointments Monday–Friday 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
These new hours were set after asking the community to take a survey.
In a letter to the community dated Nov. 20, Brown wrote: “We are committed to keeping this community treasure open to our service area; Pottstown Borough, Lower Pottsgrove, West Pottsgrove, and Upper Pottsgrove Townships, as well as serving the children of Pottstown and Pottsgrove School Districts.
“After much discussion, the Library Board and I have had to make some difficult choices in order to make the library financially stable. On Nov. 19, 2024, the board unanimously voted to reduce the library’s hours of operation to the state minimum required to remain open: 45 hours. Part of this requirement is that the library be open for seven (7) hours on weekends.
“After reviewing the community survey results and comments, we have modified Option 1 to reflect your comments and suggestions.”
