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Providence Okays 60 Pink Slips, Just in CaseWith negotiations continuing between Providence (R.I.) Public Library officials and city leaders about the municipal contribution for FY2008 to the operating budget of the private nonprofit library, the PPL board approved April 26 sending layoff notices to as many as 60 of the library’s staff members. The action came as the May 1 deadline approached to give workers 60 days’ notice of a possible reduction in force, as mandated by the union contract that covers more than half of PPL’s employees.“I think the library is completely foolish to foreclose on any of its options at this point,” trustee Bill Simmons said in the April 27 Providence Journal, noting that he found it “unrealistic to think we can work through these very complicated issues within the next few days.” The difference in position between the two sides amounted to a $2-million gap in FY2008 funding that the city remained noncommittal about closing. Time is running short on the first-ever agreement between PPL and the city, which expires June 30, to fund the library’s anticipated deficit of at least $800,000, PPL Marketing and Communications Director Tonia Mason told American Libraries. The city appropriated $3 million for FY2007 and currently allows the library to operate at a deficit in its $8.6-million budget. Library officials have submitted an FY2008 contract proposal stating that PPL needs $5 million from the city to maintain the current level of service and considering selling the 107-year-old downtown library building to raise money. PPL Associate Director Dan Austin told the Journal that the library would have to lay off 20 workers if the city kept its contribution at last year’s level. PPL trustee Kas DeCarvalho, who was appointed to the board by Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline, said, “A tremendous amount of progress was made in the last week to 10 days.” Posted April 27, 2007; modified May 2, 2007. |
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