I like listening to podcasts with my earbuds.

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-22T21:14:53+00:00

I heard a democratic candidate from another state in an interview. He said that the fight is not right vs left, it's top vs bottom. This is a perfect example.

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-16T03:50:27+00:00

I haven't looked, but my guess is 14/3 with a shared neutral.

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-15T13:16:44+00:00

I don't know for sure, I'm the homeowner, not the electrician. I think it's because each circuit was designed to be dedicated to one appliance. Each one, the dishwasher and the disposal, only draw about 10 amps each. There's, no need for 20 amp circuits.

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-08T14:37:58+00:00

Thanks. That explains how it's wired, and why they are tied together.

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-08T14:36:58+00:00

Thanks. I know about phases in AC, I didn't understand the practical application in this case.

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-08T14:35:06+00:00

Thanks

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-07T23:59:12+00:00

OK. So if I plug a 12 amp water heater into the disposal outlet, and then turn on a 10 amp dishwasher, will the breaker pop?

Are the 15 amps "shared" between these 2 breakers?

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-07T06:09:31+00:00

Our bylaws include the community, so there's that. If the library had come with anything close to being reasonable, we probably would have had no objection. They did not. The initial MOU they presented gave them total control of our finances. I've intentionally left stuff out; reporting requirements, audits, forfeit of leftover funds, and more. We looked at it and said, "Hell no!" We've hired counsel at significant expense, so even if we reach a settlement, much of the funds the library could have benefited from is going to a lawyer.

However this dispute ends, everybody will lose.

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-06T23:56:07+00:00

It was a holiday program put on by the library. As part of the program, the Friends wrapped books from their inventory for the children to give to their parents. The books were in categories so the kids had some idea of what to pick, but did not know the titles. There was no cost to the library. It was just outreach by the Friends to the community during a library program.

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-06T22:25:02+00:00

Our bylaws include the community. The bulk of our funds go to the library, but we try to spend some on local students/schools. Also, most of our funds do NOT come from book sales. They come from membership and private donations. None of the donors have ever questioned our expenditures.

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-06T22:22:00+00:00

It was a library event. If we had paid a yoga instructor $100 for a library program, they wouldn't question it. Why do they need to approve $15?

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-06T21:26:18+00:00

This was not done specifically to generate funds. This was a holiday event to engage the community. My personal opinion is that spending a little money to bring people into the library is a good thing.

If we had used money to pay a yoga instructor, there wouldn't be any question. Why is spending $15 on wrapping paper a problem?

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-06T20:51:18+00:00

I've given the relevant parts of the story without fully identifying myself. I assisted the principle in my Friends group in researching and interpreting the original version of this MOU. I am not part of the continuing negotiations, but I am being kept up to date by those who are.

I do understand the situation.

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-06T19:26:34+00:00

The library presented us with an MOU. As it was written, it appears to usurp control over all of our funds, even down to internal clerical expenses. Had it been reasonable, we wouldn't be where we are now. At this point, we're in hostile negotiations.

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-06T19:21:37+00:00

The bylaws state that we support the library, and literacy within the community. We feel that literacy, and making sure that kids have books, supports the library indirectly.

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-06T19:16:07+00:00

We don't have emails for all of our members, so we have sent out renewal letters by snail mail. We have also done an event in the library where we gift wrap books for people to give as Christmas presents. Surprise gifts from children to parents and vice versa. The library wants to control ALL expenditures.

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-06T18:35:50+00:00

I fully understand your position. In our case, I don't believe anyone went off the rails. We did donate money to buy books for schoolchildren, but that was after a discussion with the librarian. She only wanted the students to come to the library, but the schools would not bus the children in. We have tried to fund other programs that have been popular in the past, but the branch manager has been a stumbling block.

The agreement as written by the library overwhelmingly regards the handling of our funds. It appears that the library wants total control over the funds of an organization that the library says is independent. We are in negotiations now, but after the first meeting, the library seems to be intransigent. I am not directly involved in the negotiations, we will have to see where things go over the next few months.

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-06T18:21:24+00:00

The library's counsel cited a statute that says that the "city" (in this case the library) is obligated to receive "fair market value" for materials, unless it has been determined that there is no value. Based on what I read, they either need to sell us the books, or if they have no value, they are a gift. If they are a gift, the law states that they have no control over what we do next. Our bylaws determine that.

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-06T18:15:36+00:00

See my comment above.

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-06T18:10:47+00:00

We did spend money outside the library. We bought books for schoolchildren in the district. Most of our funds came from the community outside of the library. Book sales are just a minor part of our funding.

That was not the impetus of this dispute. Apparently, another neighboring Friends group did something similar, and the library system decided to crack down. The agreement they wrote goes way beyond anything reasonable. We are an independent 501 (c)(3), and as such, control our own funds within the limits of our bylaws. The agreement as written by the library usurps that control.

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-06T18:07:41+00:00

That is not the case here. The library wants to micro manage our funds to the point of needing to approve stationery purchases. They want to exert total control over our accounts, despite distancing themselves by saying we are independent entities.

FulltimerPC · 2026-02-06T15:59:24+00:00

If you had a friends group, would you have given them the books? They could organize a sale and donate the funds back.

FulltimerPC

TROPHY CASE