Crime Spike Leads to Increased Spending Request

The is seeking to maintain throughout the summer its security guards that patrol the library during the school year because of increased crime-related incidents.

“Unfortunately, the number of patron behavior and has risen substantially over the past 12 months, and immediate action to appropriately deal with these ongoing threats has become necessary,” said in a memo to the Finance Committee. “An absent security presence for summer 2012 presents a potential dangerous situation for library staff and patrons alike.”

Lynch estimated in his memo to the committee that about 150,000 patrons will use the library and that the children’s department is on target to receive a record number of participants for its summer reading program.

The cost to hire security personnel for the summer is $7,920 and the money is not in the library’s budget. Lynch is requesting the Finance Committee approve the expenditure from the city’s contingency fund.

The request to hire security personnel is supported by Alderwoman Joan Francoeur, acting City Administrator Steve Crandell, Library Building and Operations Supervisor Jim LaPaz and Police Capt. Ron Tischer, in addition to Lynch, according to the memo.

The Finance Committee will take up the request during its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at , 201 Delafield St.