By Lisa Carolin
Saturday, Nov. 21, will be the last Saturday that the Chelsea District Library will be open until further notice due to tightening restrictions and reduced staffing levels because of Covid-19.
Contact-free pickup of library materials will continue on Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Curbside pickup has been moved into the lobby, and masks are required.
Those were among the topics discussed at the Chelsea District Library Board’s Nov. 17 meeting via Zoom.
Chelsea City Manager John Hanifan, representing the Downtown Development Authority, spoke to the library board about the projects that the DDA contributes to – including Sounds and Sights, the Chelsea Farmers Market, and Hometown Holidays.
Library board members talked about the library’s now expired TIFA capture of $20,000 that as a property within the DDA district has been captured by the city in previous years.
Because of the new library millage (and all library millages voted in after 2018) CDL is no longer obligated to pay the annual $20,000 to the city’s DDA.
Board Members will make a decision at an upcoming meeting if any money will be captured by the DDA, and if so, what amount and for how long.
CDL Executive Director Lori Coryell said the library has a “wonderful relationship” with the DDA.
Board member T.J. Helfferich was appointed to another four-year term lasting through the end of 2024. Also approved were two mini retreats for the board with the first scheduled via Zoom on Dec. 9.
In other news, the Friends of the Chelsea District Library donated 350 books to the Chelsea Retirement Community for the new wing that recently opened, and Jean Vargas was recognized as the Friend of the Year.
The 2021 Washtenaw Reads book has been chosen – All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. The book addresses systemic racism and the need for action.
