Library seeks reversal of Delaware ballot decision

MILFORD — The Pike County Public Library wants back on the Delaware Township ballot. On Wednesday the library and two residents filed an action in the Court of Common Pleas to reverse an Oct. 7 move by the Board of Elections to remove the library tax question from November ballots in Delaware. Library backers collected over 2,000 signatures from county residents in August, including a number from Delaware Township, who petitioned the county to place the question of a dedicated library tax on the Nov. 3 ballot for all county residents. In September, the board accepted the Library’s petitions and agreed to place the referendum on the countywide ballot. Last week, according to a statement from the library, they amended the decision and ordered the Delaware Township ballots printed without the library tax question, based on a letter from the Pike County Solicitor concerning a volunteer library at Camp Akenac. The Board of Elections has declined to make public that letter. The Pike County Public Library has posted on its website its memorandum explaining why it believes the library at Camp Akenac does not change the Board of Elections’ legal obligation to give all county citizens an equal right to vote on the question of a dedicated library tax. No date for a court decision was reported and court officials were unavailable for comment as the Courier went to press.