Don't play blame game, city council

I have been following the reaction of the Wheaton City Council concerning the library board's decision to close the library on Fridays due to the council's reduction in the library's budget.

It appears to me that the council members have overreacted to this decision. Not only have they criticized the board's action but have also made implied threats to not reappoint some of the Board members whose terms expire this summer.

The council is fully within its rights to make the tough decisions to reduce any or all funds allocated to each city budget entity. After saying this, I feel that each budget entity should have the right, based on their expertise, experience and data available to them, to make the least disrupting cutbacks to best serve the public.

To my knowledge none of the present council members or members of the city manager's staff has any expertise or experience in library management. It appears to me council members are attempting to micromanage one of the public services of the city. I am sure that they are feeling the "heat" from the general public concerning the Friday closings of the library as well as other cutbacks in services. They should have anticipated this when they made their final budget decisions.

It is unfortunate that any department must cut back its spending. The citizens recognize these are tough economic times for the city and cuts must be made. It is very unfair and petty of the council to participate in the blame game by blaming the library board and its members for this tough decision. The council should explain to the public that any and all cutbacks in city services are due to the economy - period.

George Reuss

Wheaton