Retired Poland Seminary High School teacher Larry Bartos speaks about how upset he was when the library board decided to replace the brick walkway with pink cement.

POLAND TOWNSHIP — A special two-and-a-half hour roundtable discussion Monday at the township hall brought together local and state officials as the Save Our Library committee prepared to ramp up its efforts to keep Poland’s 25-year-old library.

“If the whole story is not being told, it is our responsibility to tell the rest of the story. And we don’t intend to stop fighting any time soon,” said Maria Pappas, Save Our Library chair.

Setting a timeline was Poland Village Councilwoman Laurie LaPlante. She started with 1999-2001 when she said a Legacy Fundraising campaign took place that raised more than $1.8 million from hundreds of local donors. The donations, she said, were to be a permanent part of the library building’s legacy.

The new library was completed in 2001 and for many years was enjoyed by Poland residents. Problems came in 2022 with the unapproved removal of brick pavers that were replaced by pink concrete.

“At that time, a lot of us got angry and the library’s director didn’t like it,” said former high school teacher Larry Bartos.

LaPlante said in November of 2023, the village’s zoning department issued a Notice of Administrative Penalty for lack of exterior maintenance.

In 2024, LaPlante said the library board identified structural issues and in May 2025, issued a formal structural report in which one option was to relocate the Poland branch. One month later, the Save Our Library committee was formed and has been growing in numbers since.

Pappas said there is a lot of misinformation out there, and some misquoted figures, including what she said was a $10,000 estimate for a sewer line to connect the Denver Drive site, which is the location chosen for the new library.

Mahoning County Sanitary Engineer Bernie Petro was able to address that number.

“They would have to put in about 282 feet, which includes boring under state Route 170,” he said. “That would cost around $153,000, not the $10,000 the library had estimated.”

While the removal of vintage chairs, the brick paver replacement and the lack of proper maintenance on the Poland branch were all issues of discussion, the matter of the library board itself was questioned.

“Your voices have been heard,” said Sen. Al Cutrona, R-Canfield. “I have (submitted) legislation and we are going to take a hard look at this board, how it was founded and how it is structured.”

He said since the library is receiving state funding and tax dollars, the board should be required to follow the rules for nonprofits.

“You continue to have my support,” Cutrona said. “There is going to be changes happening.”

Congressman Michael Rulli, R-Salem, said he spent his childhood in Poland and recalls walking to the Poland branch.

“The core of the community is the downtown area and the library,” Rulli said. “By the library board (planning to relocate), they are destroying that concept.”

Rulli said he doesn’t know why the library board is acting the way they are.

“I don’t know how they could ever come to the people for another levy after pulling this crap,” Rulli said. “We have to take a stand.”

The Mahoning County commissioners also weighed in on the issue and all three agreed the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County (PLYMC) receive tax dollars, but has board members who answer to no one.

“Once they are appointed to the board, they are untouchable,” said Commissioner Geno DiFabio.

Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti said she can’t believe the PLYMC would not fix and maintain a 25-year-old building.

Commissioner Anthony Traficanti said he recalls visiting the library then crossing the street to the Isaly’s store to get the cup of ice cream with the wooden spoons.

“There was something magical about Poland back then,” he said. “So here we are at a crossroad with one of the most beautiful libraries in the state or even country, and it is in jeopardy. I hope by all of us being here, we can show that we want the library to stay where it is.”

Ted Downie, president of Alex Downie and Sons, disputed that there are structural issues with the branch.

“There are no structural issues because the Poland Library is sitting on bedrock,” Downie said.

Poland Trustee Frank DeMain served as moderator for the event and said he was pleased with the turnout. He said the library board was asked to attend, but no one did so.

Committee member Joan Smith said in closing, “This room is full of powerful people. Our elected officials need to be front and center in this fight.”