Suzanne Jeska

MOUNT OLIVE (12/28/06) – It was the first meeting of the newly re-organized Library Board of Trustees and Suzanne Jeska found herself elected President.

From the election of officers thru the regular order of business Jeska and her newly appointed colleagues acted like "pros."

Mayor David Scapicchio, who made the appointments, was in the audience for the meeting. It was obvious he was happy with his appointments.

Toward the end of the meeting a bone of contention between the library board and the Township Council came up.

The library board was in possession of $198,861, the balance of a state grant the library received toward construction costs for the new library. The money was to reimburse the township for funds it had advanced for the construction project prior to receiving the state grant.

For several months an on-going argument ensued between the Council and the Library about who should be in possession of the money. The library’s position was that it wanted to hold the money in the event the state, for some reason, decided it wanted the money returned and would come to the library for it.

Council President Rob Greenbaum didn’t buy that at all and continuously demanded that the library board turn the money over to the town.

Jeska entertained a motion that was unanimously approved that the board turn the money over to the township.

Then, she added, but we want a receipt "in writing" which Scapiccio told her the board would get.

At last week’s meeting the Council passed a resolution acknowledging receiving the $198,861 check which had been hand delivered by Jeska.

A long simmering problem solved.