Library Services Solution 4 Union Vale

03/06/2024

Tonight!
The time HAS come! Our new Union Vale Supervisor, Steve Frazier, began meeting with the Mid-Hudson Library System administrators as soon as he won the election to build a bridge back to restore

library services for the residents of Union Vale. Steve has been offered a library contract to sign to restore FULL ACCESS to library services at a price point equivalent to where we would be if the referendum passed for the 414.

This contract does not prevent the Union Vale Library Trustees from continuing to do the work of establishing a charter and the project of building and establishing a library. The Union Vale Trustees have been working on these efforts for some time with no tangible results. There has been a high turnover in a short time for the trustees. The trustees will not even agree to meet with the new Supervisor. Union Vale residents have been the ones to suffer the consequences.

Now WE NEED TO SPEAK! Steve needs our assistance in compelling the resistant board members to vote YES to the Mid-Hudson Library contract. The contract will be presented at this week’s town board meeting: Wednesday, March 6, 2024 @ 7:30pm at Town Hall. We need to fill the town hall with as many residents as possible. Please plan to attend, bring a friend, family member, and/or neighbor.

There will be a time for public comment; speak if you are able. Comments do not have to be elaborate. Comments can be as simple as stating, “Please vote yes to restore full access to library services for Union Vale residents.” Three of the town board members are resistant to agreeing to a contract. There needs to be overwhelming pressure to compel those members to see the truth through the false information they have been given from an outside influencer.

This has been a long road and no matter when you joined the efforts in the process, I applaud you for your perseverance. I hope to see you Wednesday night!

10/17/2022

For Union Vale residents who may not be aware: At 7:00 PM on October 19, the UV Town Board will hold a public hearing to hear resident questions and comments regarding the 2023 Tentative Budget. During the 10/12 Town Board "work session", those in attendance were told to expect a property tax increase in 2023. Now is the time for residents to listen to how money is being spent and speak-up as necessary.
The 10/19 public hearing will be immediately followed by an official Town Board meeting when the budget will be presented and voted on to become the Preliminary Budget. Copies of the 2023 budget document are available from the UV Town Clerk.

10/13/2022

Just thought I would share that unfortunately the supervisor in the town of Union Vale believes censorship is important.

07/20/2022

Pass this on to all your Union Vale friends and family!
I do apologize for the late notice. The Town Supervisor only posted the agenda items and resolution to the website today. The information for the July 20 UV Town Board meeting is on the Town Website - http://www.unionvaleny.us/. (Note the resolution to authorize establishment of a Union Vale Town Library.) This meeting presents an opportunity for residents to express their thoughts and concerns. If the resolution establishing a Town Library
passes it will commit the residents of Union Vale to, using similar libraries as an example, an approximate $250,000 annual
library bill that will increase taxes in Union Vale significantly in
perpetuity!
There is a theory that Proposition 7 in the 2021 general election did not pass (44% yes, public library funding to 55% no, to public library funding) because taxpayers were concerned that paying $77,935 to Union Vale’s 3 neighboring libraries may have resulted in a tax increase. Now Union Vale residents are faced with the reality of a tax increase that is at least three times the amount on the 2021 ballot.
While I am hopeful for an opportunity to learn more regarding the proposed plan from the Town Board tonight, it is not yet clear that a detailed end-to-end plan that addresses resident needs and makes financial sense is available.
I am VERY concerned that "procedure" for the meetings has now changed. Anyone wanting to comment at the meeting MUST attend in person as ZOOM is only being used for AV capability. ZOOM has been utilized for the past 2+ years as an attendance platform in which participants could watch and request to make comment. I know of at least 2 individuals who are only able to attend virtually due to illness and more that are on vacation, but since "procedure" was changed without any warning will not be able to use their voice.
Anyone that cannot attend in person, please type a letter and EMAIL IT TO EVERY BOARD MEMBER AND CC the TOWN CLERK. Request that your letter be read at tonight's meeting AND be attached to the notes from the meeting. Do not miss out on your chance to make YOUR VOICE heard!
Town Board: [email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Town Clerk: [email protected]

Town Clerk Hours- Monday-Thursday 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.Recreation Facility - Dawn to Dusk            Park Office: 9:00-1:00Recycle Center - Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wednesday 8:00 to 1:00 p.m.

07/20/2022

The PowerPoint presentation by the Union Vale Library consultant can be found on the Town of Union Vale home page:

Town Clerk Hours- Monday-Thursday 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.Recreation Facility - Dawn to Dusk            Park Office: 9:00-1:00Recycle Center - Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wednesday 8:00 to 1:00 p.m.

05/26/2022

05/02/2022

I encourage EVERY Union Vale resident to sign up to participate for an in person session with the library consultant on Saturday, May 14th at 10am! Contact:
Laura Sumner
[email protected]
(845) 724-5600

UV residents have paid more than $19,000 to Alex Cohen. Use your tax dollars wisely by using your voice.

04/21/2022

Dear UV Library Supporter,
Have you had an opportunity to speak with the Library Consultant hired by the UV Town Board? If so, please give feedback, questions, and concerns to the library consultant, Alex Cohen. He has shared his e-mail for any feedback. Please cc all Town Board Members for clear communication for all involved in making important decisions with our tax dollars.

Library Consultant: Alex Cohen mailto:[email protected]

Town Board: mailto:[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]

If you have not had the opportunity to speak with him in a small zoom session on the previous dates/times, please consider signing up for future sessions. If they are full, please contact the Supervisor to request the additional dates and times.

Hello Union Vale Residents,
The Community Engagement Meetings or workshops, that we have engaged Alex Cohen to organize and moderate are continuing.
You are being invited to attend one of these meetings because you indicated interest by putting your email address at the bottom of the survey that was recently distributed.
The initial meetings or workshops will be for groups of 10 on Zoom. There are multiple meetings planned for small groups, so if all of these meetings fill up, we will send out additional dates.
To register for one of the Zoom workshops please contact the Town Clerk by phone or email to sign-up (845-724-5600 or mailto:[email protected] )
We look forward to many of these meetings so Alex can gather thoughts from as many residents as possible!
Best regards,
Betsy C. Maas
Town Supervisor

Also, there are larger group meetings planned and YOU MUST RSVP! First date to RSVP is SUNDAY!!!

Public Library Meetings Scheduled with Library Consultant, Please RSVP
Union Vale Residents, there are two meetings scheduled on two Saturdays in the Senior Center:

Saturday, April 30th 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
RSVP by Sunday, April 24th
&
Saturday, May 14 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
RSVP by Sunday, May 8th

Please email Library Coordinator,
Laura Sumner to RSVP

Contact Info:

mailto:[email protected]

04/08/2022

Hello Union Vale Residents,

The Community Engagement Meetings or workshops, that we have engaged Alex Cohen to organize and moderate will begin next week.
You are being invited to attend one of these meetings because you indicated interest by putting your email address at the bottom of the survey that was recently distributed.

The initial meetings or workshops will be for groups of 10 on Zoom. There are multiple meetings planned for small groups, so if one of next week’s meetings fills up, we will be sending out four other dates by Saturday.
At the end of the series of small group meetings, there will be two (or more) larger, in-person meetings open to all residents. Two of the in-person meetings have been scheduled. One on April 30th (9:00 a.m. – Noon) and another on May 14th (9:00am-Noon). Please mark your calendars! Location TBD (depending on number of attendees).

To register for one of workshops on the evening of April 11th please use the link below and follow the easy instructions for reserving a spot.

https://doodle.com/meeting/participate/id/epYgZ7ya

We look forward to many of these meetings so Alex can gather thoughts from as many residents as possible!

Best regards,

Betsy


Betsy C. Maas
Town Supervisor
Town of Union Vale
(845) 724-5600 ext. 110 (office)
249 Duncan Road
LaGrangeville, NY 12540

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04/07/2022

For Union Vale residents. It is 2+ years since the Town stopped funding local libraries for resident access. The Town is moving forward with a plan for a library consultant to hold public meetings to discuss library services and the pros and cons of building a UV library. The first two meetings that have been announced will take place on April 30 and May 14, both beginning at 9AM. Registration will be required. Additional information is pending. If needed, I have found the Town Clerk (845-724-5600, [email protected]) to be helpful with information in the past.