Plans for the Bexley Outdoor Reading Park between the library and Torat Emet are moving forward. Based on feedback from our members, staff, and consultants we have drafted the below Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be presented to our board next week. We wish to give our membership the opportunity to review the MOU and offer any comments, additions or edits before it is presented to the Torat Emet Board of Directors for approval. It will then be submitted to the City of Bexley and the Bexley Public Library. The next step will be to have the MOU approved by the library and the city. __________________________________________________________
Draft Terms to be Included in Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between Congregation Torat Emet, the Bexley Public Library and The City of Bexley regarding the Bexley Outdoor Reading Park. The executive board of Congregation Torat Emet has reviewed the plans for the Bexley Outdoor Reading Park and has affirmed its support for the plan provided there is a memorandum of understanding regarding the usage, safety and security of the park, including the provisions below, signed by Congregation Torat Emet, the Bexley Public Library and the City of Bexley. The MOU would accompany the recorded Easement.
It is our understanding that:
The park will be open during library hours. This may be extended on weekends and during the summer months by mutual consent, but never later than 9:00pm.
The park will not be used for any private events or gatherings.
The park may be used by the Bexley Library and/or Torat Emet, occasionally but not regularly, for their own institutional events with mutual consent.
In consultation with the JewishColumbus’s security director, the City of Bexley will be responsible for providing monitoring and maintaining appropriate and sufficient security lighting and video cameras (if any are needed in addition to those already provided by the library and Torat Emet).
In consultation with the Bexley Police Department, the park will be patrolled to ensure that it is not being used for vagrancy, illegal activity, or overnight lodging.
The City of Bexley and/or the Bexley Public Library will be responsible for basic maintenance and upkeep of the shared public space.
The City of Bexley and/or the Bexley Public Library will be responsible for landscape maintenance and trash collection of the shared public space.
