Mars Public Library officials responded to questions raised by a township resident about the library's finances at a supervisors' meeting this week.

On Monday, resident Frank Haustovich presented the board with copies of a 2017 library audit and outlined items that drew his concern.

Haustovich took issue with the audit being conducted by a library accountant and not a third party. He also targeted the professional fees line item, which he said accounted for $99,344 in 2017. By comparison, he said $4,500 was spent on such services in 2016. He said the overall audit shows the library operating at a loss of nearly $80,000.

Haustovich also pointed to the library's bylaws, which he said had changed several times in the past three years. He said an item that previously required all library assets to be distributed to bordering communities in the event of a dissolution had been changed.

He said Adams supervisors should take an interest in the matter, as they regularly donate money to the library.

Supervisors said Haustovich's questions and concerns would be better answered by the library board. Supervisor Thomas Franceschina suggested inviting library board members to participate. That meeting is tentatively set to appear on the agenda of the next regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. March 26.

On Tuesday, Caitlyn Boland, Mars library director, said she and the library board are always willing to answer any questions and concerns from the public.

“We want the library to be as transparent as possible, financially and otherwise, with our community,” she said.

Boland said the audit was prepared by a third-party accountant who only audits for the board. She said the increase in professional fees was the result of architectural plans from a proposed move to Adams Township.

That idea was eventually scrapped, Boland said.

“It's a completely dead issue,” she said. “If there were any plans in the future, the community would know about it first hand, but there's nothing happening.”

Boland added the library is seeking a way to repair the roof at the Mars building, although no plan has been put in place.

The increase in professional fees also included the creation of one-time legal documents updating the bylaws. Boland said those changes were made just before she took over as director Nov. 1, but said the changes were made to protect library funds.

“All of that added up, and that's what accounted for a one-time balloon in that area of the budget,” she said, adding she would provide any information available to calm future concerns.