With an estimated 36,000 appeals filed against the recent controversial property reassessments, the St. Tammany Parish Library Board of Control decided Tuesday to accept the Parish Council’s recommendation of a new millage rate, even though that decision may be delayed for some time.

“The proposed budget does not anticipate any windfall from the reassessment,” said Assistant Director Donald Westmoreland. “However, it’s likely that in the light of the situation our millage rate will be rolled back, and we will have to act accordingly.”

The library’s current rate is 6.33 mills, and once parish Tax Assessor Patricia Schwarz Core establishes a new rate, it will come before the Parish Council for approval. The board voted 5-1 to follow the recommendation of the council on a fair and equitable millage rate that does not take undue advantage of the increase in assessed value. Westmoreland said the library usually sees a “bump” from area growth, but the proposed budget was created based on the assumption that assessed property values would remain about the same. Board secretary/treasurer Silvia Muller observed that in the event the council’s recommendation does not significantly reduce the millage rate, the board would have an obligation to voluntarily ask for a lower figure.

“We do not want to profit from a windfall,” said Muller. “That’s not what the public expects from us.”

The board will vote on its new budget during its November meeting. Among the items included in the proposed new budget is a higher starting salary for library staff, which would increase the annual salary for librarians, those with a master’s degree in Library Sciences, from $35,984 to $40,000, and the hourly wage for associates, those with a bachelor’s degree, from $10.16 to $12 per hour.

Westmoreland said the current wage levels have sometimes made it difficult to hire and keep qualified individuals in the past, although board president Dr. Argiro Morgan said only two parishes in the state have higher starting salaries.

“We’re very competitive with other parishes,” said Morgan. “I’m not as concerned with hiring new staff as I am about keeping those that have been here for many years.”

In other business, Executive Director Janice Butler announced that nine architectural firms have submitted bids and plans for the proposed new Madisonville branch. A review committee has been formed and will meet for the first time Nov. 12 to review the plans.

“It has begun,” she said.

Butler said there has been no communication from Madisonville Mayor Peter Gitz as to what will happen with the former library building, which sustained heavy damage during Hurricane Katrina. In order to receive FEMA funding, the building cannot change hands and must be renovated to serve a comparable purpose for public use.

Three civic groups have reportedly expressed interest in the property as a cultural center. Art for Madisonville, the Madisonville Garden Club and the Greater Madisonville Chamber of Commerce would be among those to share use of the building.

The board also discussed changes for its charter and its set of rules and regulations for governance that come under review about every five years.

The hottest issue appears to be the library’s policy on Internet access. While initial recommendations had called for omitting a portion that applied to patrons 10 to 17 years of age, the board decided to keep the current policy.

“We need to make sure the policy is in effect for all minors,” said Morgan. “Otherwise, it looks like were saying ages 10 to 17, they’re on their own.”

The library provides filtered Internet access but puts responsibility for viewed content solely on the user and states that parents or legal guardians are held responsible for what is viewed by children under 18 years of age. Children under 10 may use a computer workstation but only under the direct supervision of a parent or legal guardian. For those ages 10 to 17, an approved Internet consent form signed by a parent or legal guardian is required.

According to Morgan, who recently met with the High Tech Crimes Unit of the Louisiana Department of Justice, nearly 2,900 pornographic images of children were traded across the state in September alone. The library’s systems administrator, Brad Westmoreland, said updated filtering and monitoring software can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $35,000 and will prepare a report for the board on how best to tighten up the security on Internet content.

Three new board members were also elected during the meeting: Becky Scroggins, David Stefferud and Rebecca Taylor. In addition, longtime member Bob Wilson announced his resignation.

The board’s next meeting will be Nov. 18 in Covington .