JC Library Board
(is not an autonomous agency, just acts like one)
"In Jersey City, the "reform" Schundler administration has gone beyond nepotism to the realm of political incest. Not only has the mayor appointed a number of municipal workers to various boards and commissions, he's taken the process a step further by adding husband and wife teams, (the Corrado's) often both on the city payroll, as board members on "autonomous agencies". Take the Jersey City Library's board. It's been a political hotbed through several administrations now, and is top heavy with city employees." (As reported by Earl Morgan in his "Nepotism in Excess" column, 6/12/96)In June 1999, the JC Library Board against the wishes of the public, library unions, and the City Council outsourced the daily operations of running the library to LSSI Library Systems and Services at a cost of $6.7 Million over a three year period. Several suits were filed which delayed but did not kill the contract award. The Board is constantly criticized for their violations of sunshine laws, hiring practices etc.
In May 1999, the City settled a $20,000 award stemming from a SEXUAL HARASSMENT SUIT against the former Director of JC Housing and Economic Development Ervin Haynes but the current President of the Library Board. In December 2000, the Board is considering renewing LSSI's contract even though it doesn't expire until 2002.
What follows is Yvonne Balcer's web page on the JC Library, LINK
"Jersey Journal Reporter, Earl Morgan, should be congratulated for uncovering the scams of the library during the Schundler Administration. Congratulations!
Candidate Schundler produced many flyers to let the public know he was not the typical politician. In 1992, voters were reacting to the removeful of Mayor McCann from public office. Bret Schundler produced a flyer titled, Real Change, as a response to corruption. He said, "The goal of public spending should be to provide services and solve problems-not to employ and enrich politicians' friends!" Schundler's administration is now the poster child for rewarding political friends. It is the standard for corruption. Schundler manipulates corruption by his appointments to the various boards.
During the early part of Schundler's administration, he appointed Reverend R.L. Williams to the library board. Reverend Williams was also appointed the Director of Public Works and was considered a top contender as the Police Director. (see POLICE) Schundler rewarded him because he campaigned in black neighborhoods and churches.
Reverend Williams and another member of the library went on a spending spree using the library credit card. They went to "sex clubs" in New York City. ($40,000 AMEX bill)
The next notable member to rise to fame is City Employee/Library Board Chairman/Movie Director Greg Corrado. Before Schundler election, Greg Corrado and his wife, Maureen operated a restaurant called Moochie. After the election, Greg got a job as assistant business administrator (present salary $61,119) and his wife, Maureen, a former waitress became the Director of the Neighborhood Improvement District (present salary $80,372). (see PLUM JOBS)
Under Greg, public rights vanished. Months would pass before there would be a public meeting on the Library Board. At one time there was no meetings between August 1997 until the end of January 1998. Apparently, checks and bills were approved in the absence of "Sunshine". Sunshine is a law informing the public about meetings. On the rare occasion when there were public meetings, the time of the meetings changed. During these rare meetings, the board went into executive sessions, to exclude the public.
Greg Corrado used the Main Library to shoot his movie. The public had no access to those floors. This movie took a lot of his day time. I wonder, did he use vacation time from his day job at City Hall?
Greg Corrado hired a favorite supporter of Schundler, Dr. Cifford Waldman, a practicing psychologist. Dr. Waldman was hired as a part-time landscaper who received health benefits. No other part-time employee received health benefits. Since health benefits are expensive, Dr. Waldman probably dropped his personal health insurance as a self-employed practitioner and saved a bundle.
Dr. Waldman wanted to landscape the libraries and put in fountains. The library system employees people in the 'teens as starting salaries (full time), yet it chooses to spend its public revenue on fountains. Amazing! The library board hired a $200-a-day financial consultant, then increased it to$300 a day in 1997. Eventually, a position was created for a favorite person Al Cameron. Cameron's job required a civil service test. He took the test and came in third. The first place winner, James Bolan, a black veteran, scored 99.9% but never received the job. The library board changed Cameron's title to business manager, different title-same duties.
In 1996, the Library's budget was $5.2 million, by 1998, it had risen to $5.8 million (political jobs). Now Schundler proposed to raise the budget to over $7.2 million in order to privatize. Normally, privatization means fewer dollars, but this is Jersey City.
Bret Schundler and the library board ran a campaign that the library is poorly managed. I agree, Schundler has been mayor for over six years by that time. The library, under his tenure was and still is a political embarrassment.
The library board did a public relations job to show half-empty book stacks. Library employees came to those meetings and informed the public that they were required to remove the books. It became a circus with municipal employees following Schundler's road show to different neighborhood groups.
The public, at different neighborhood groups agreed the library should be updated but they spoke against privatization in general.
Schundler put the squeeze on his council members. Six of the nine members are Schundler's supporters who ran on his ticket. In the beginning they tried to defend the mayor's position. Council-President DeGise was a guest on Brian Leher show "On The Line", a talk radio station. DeGise praised the privatization deal with LSSI.
Then things changed. An ad was placed in the Jersey Journal asking for support from the public. Eventually, a web site was developed (yes, I created it). Library employees and friends downloaded the forms from the web site and collected thousands of signatures. The message was keep the Public Library Free. Do not let our tax dollars go into the pockets of an out-of-state private firm.
After 5,000 signatures were collected, the lightbulb went off in the heads of the pro-Schundler council. I often told them that fewer signatures are needed to do a recall for individual ward seats. Essentially, the council found "religion.".
Now the city council, the Library employees, and the public protested when Library Board President/city employee, Ervin L. Haynes introduced the LSSI contract for privatization. The board members voted to give LSSI 3% of the library budget, not including other costs.
The city employees took LSSI to court. Robert Cavanaugh, the Greenville Councilman, and a true supporter of the library employees, filed an amicus curia brief on behalf of the city council at no cost. He challenged the contract along with the library employees' legal counsel.
On October 17, 1998, Earl Morgan reported in the Jersey Journal, "I've never seen a more callous disregard of the Open Public Meeting Act," said Superior Court Judge Arthur N. D'Italia. Judge D'Italia threw out the contract between the Public Library and the private firm, LSSI.
Judge D'Italia said the contract was "ambiguous, vague and fraught with illegalities...that will not stand a legal challenge." The judge ordered the library board to stop paying LSSI its $200,000 annual fee or any other money.
D'Italia criticized the board for not discussing the issue in public, and noted that the board did not have records of any closed discussions about the contract.
This victory did not stop Mayor Schundler who later said the board would start the process all over again. Let's face it, Schundler needs campaign contributions from private companies.
Early in 1999, the madness of privatizing the library management started. A bidding process was designed to open up the contract, but in reality the bid was tailor-written to fit LSSI. During one public meeting, board members kept referring to LSSI, instead of the open contract.
Did the public lose out after the privatization? Yes, Schundler has another entity to draw campaign contributions.
Did the library workers lose out? Yes & No, they have language in the privatization contract that gives them a certain amount of protection that did not exist before their court date. But they are being harassed by LSSI management. They are hoping those employees who spoke against them will resign."
FOR THE MAIN TOPICS, CLICK BELOW