A proposal for a $7.5 million bond to expand the East Meadow Library was defeated on Sept. 23, by an overwhelming number.

Only 532 people voted in favor of the bond, with 1,215 voting against it. This result was foreshadowed by the controversy before the vote took place. One of the main voices of opposition to the bond was Robert Zafonte, president of the East Meadow Civic Association, who prior to the bond vote, criticized the library board for trying to slip the bond past the taxpayers.

One of the main concerns, expressed by Zafonte was the change in voting procedures. According to the civic leader, bond votes, such as this one, typically take place at the same time as school votes and are held in five schools on a Tuesday. This vote was scheduled for a Thursday and the only polling place was the library. Zafonte also believed that the library board did not get enough information out to the voters.

Representatives of the library, such as Michael Conte, a library consultant with Syntax Communications, countered the accusations of Zafonte, explaining that this project had been in the works for the past year with surveys taking place within the library as early as last fall and a newsletter being sent out to every household in the community this past spring, informing them of the project and inviting them to review the plans. There were 125 residents who participated in 12 different focus groups to study the project.

At a meeting held in early September, community leaders voiced concerns and told library officials that they had concerns over the "process, not the project," and suggested that the Sept. 23 vote be postponed until May. This idea was not followed through on and the library board went ahead as planned, including an open house, held Sept. 9, which allowed community members to view and discuss plans for the library, which included two new additions to the library building and renovations and upgrades to the interior and exterior of the structure.

Despite the fact that their objections were not to the project itself, community activists were pleased that the bond referendum was not passed. Zafonte noted, "I think it was a wake-up call that the library officials, the library board, must share the details of any application thoroughly with the community and they didn't do that."

Helen Murphy, president of Knolls of East Meadow Seniors on Salisbury Park Drive and Cypress Circle Civic Association stated, "I'm very happy with the result, only because of the procedure of the way the library board went ahead and did this." She added that the vote should have taken place with the school district vote and also should have taken place at the schools. When she went to vote, Murphy said, she had to wait one hour and 15 minutes and some seniors that she knows of had to go back two or three times before they could vote because of the wait. The vote took place in one room in the library and, according to Murphy, there was no place for seniors to sit while they waited. "It was very inconsiderate," she added.

John Franzen, East Meadow Library director, when asked if only having one polling place hurt the library, responded, "No," adding, "I honestly couldn't say as to what contributed to the defeat other than the fact that we weren't able to get the yes vote out." Zafonte said he believes the lack of polling places was an attempt to limit the number of seniors voting, who often vote against bond referendums.

Murphy noted that the seniors did go out and vote, "because remember, we're the ones that built that library 45 years ago."

Although there were objections to the process of this referendum, both Zafonte and Murphy noted that they would not be opposed to an altered bond if it were presented to the public correctly. "I would definitely consider supporting any new proposal if they did it aboveboard and they did it in total communication with the community leaders and had meetings that were opened up to questions and answers," said Zafonte. "We're not in any way anti-library. We think that we have one of the best library systems in the country but if they can prove their case I would certainly give it [a new bond proposal] serious consideration." Murphy echoed Zafonte's sentiments, stating, "I was not against their bond issue per se, I was against the procedure of how they did it. All facilities need money to do things, it's 1999. I'm not opposed to that at all but it was the way they went about it and did it." At the moment, according to Franzen, the library board has not discussed whether or not they will bring the bond back to the voters. "At this point it's too soon to say," said Franzen. "The library board has to get together and explore its options."