Donald O’Brien is looking to recapture his seat on the Manhasset Public Library Board. The term this year is five years. Here is his statement on his accomplishments during his tenure.
“I am running for re-election as a Manhasset Public Library Trustee because I have demonstrated my ability over the past five years to be an effective Board member, decision maker, and Library Treasurer. I have gained valuable knowledge of all departments within the Library and the expanding mission and new role of libraries in this technological era. I have worked closely with the Library Director and the other Trustees to address the growing interests of all age groups in new materials, programs and services.
I am also running for re-election to ensure that the Board continues to have a member with a formal education and over 30 years of experience in Finance. As the Library Treasurer, I have shared responsibility for the annual budget and the financial management of the Library. All the annual budgets since the introduction of the New York State tax cap legislation in 2012 have been under the tax cap. As a public sector institution the Library must comply with the rules and regulations of the Office of the New York State Comptroller. I keep informed on important issues as a member of the NYS Government Financial Officers’ Association (GFOA). Its primary focus is on the financial responsibilities of elected officials. GFOA provides training, informational seminars and webcasts throughout the year. I have been instrumental in making cost effective changes yielding benefits to our residents and will continue to look for similar opportunities in my second term. As a result of extensive review and analysis of the budget and Library operations, Library management has been able to implement changes which have enabled the Library to continue to expand its range of programs and services to the community without exceeding the tax cap.
My private sector real estate asset management expertise has been beneficial in reducing the building operations and maintenance costs. It will continue to be useful as the Library enters its second decade. As a Trustee I established the building reserve fund which is now part of the budget. These funds provide the ability to address each year the areas of the Library which require repair, replacement or refurbishment. This is important because the reserve fund avoids the need to finance deferred capital expenses with long term bond debt. I was instrumental in refinancing the 17 million dollars in bonds that were issued in 2004 to build the new Library. The annual savings are approximately $50,000 with a total savings to the taxpayers of $900,000.
Since I joined the Library Board in 2010, the other four Trustee positions have turned over at least once. This is a rather uncommon occurrence and I am now the senior Board member. In June the four other Trustees will have a combined average of two years of experience on the Board. On any board it is important to have members with varying degrees of experience. It takes several years to gain a broad knowledge of all the departments, services and programs within the Library. Re-election to a second term offers a Board member the opportunity to continue to focus on making improvements and providing residents with a library that truly serves all members of the community. I was a member of the Board in 2011 that amended the by-laws to limit a Trustee to two terms. The objective was to strike a balance so that a Trustee could fully utilize the knowledge gained in the first term to advance the Library in the second term while also providing an opportunity for others with new ideas and skills to serve. I ask Manhasset residents to re-elect me as a Manhasset Public Library Trustee so that I can continue to make a contribution and work with Library Director Maggie Gough and the four other members of the Library Board during this era. It is a time in which libraries are expanding their collection of electronic and digital materials as well as their scope of services to the community. If re-elected, I will be available to speak with you so that your suggestions, comments and concerns regarding our Library are addressed by the Library Director and Library Board. Cost effective excellence will remain my focus for our first class Manhasset Public Library.”
