Funds have been offered to restore the oil paintings that have been damaged while hanging in the James Prendergast Library.

On Thursday during the library’s board of trustees meeting, Jesse Marion of Houston, Texas, on behalf of his wife, Cathy, who didn’t attend the meeting, proposed to pay for the cost of restoring artwork that has been damaged while hanging in the Fireplace Room. Marion, whose wife is originally from Jamestown, also proposed funding to pay for assessing the costs to renovate the Fireplace Room so the oil paintings can be shown in an environment where they are preserved properly.

In August, the library board passed a resolution to hire Sotheby’s of New York City to manage an auction to sell some of the oil paintings. Library officials approved the possible art auction to raise funds for an endowment fund for operation costs. Library officials have stated that they are running a budget deficit of more than $40,000 for this year, and an even greater deficit for 2016.

Following the board decision’s to hire the auction house, a local group started a Facebook page in September entitled ”Save Local Art.” The Facebook group has expressed their desire to see the artworks remain in Jamestown while urging the library board to consider other cost-saving measures.

During public meetings where people have spoken out and in favor of the library board’s decision, R. Thomas Rankin, James Prendergast Library board president, has said the Fireplace Room is not the proper environment to house the oil paintings and that paintings have been damaged while hanging in the library.

Marion said he and his wife have been involved in several fundraising campaigns, including recently the $56 million restoration project for the Alley Theatre in Houston. Even though the couple live in Texas, they have been involved in several projects locally. According to SUNY Fredonia website, a graduate of Falconer Central School, Cathy Marion continued her education at Fredonia, graduating in 1979 with a degree in psychology. She serves on the board of the Fredonia College Foundation, the advisory board of the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet and the Marion Foundation has provided support for Chautauqua Institution as well.

Cathy Marion was honored in 2007 with the Fredonia Alumni Association’s Outstanding Achievement Award for her distinguished professional achievement and humanitarian service. In 2011, the Marion Art Gallery in the Rockefeller Arts Center on the SUNY Fredonia campus was dedicated. In 2013, the Marions launched the Marion Fellowship for the Visual and Performing Arts.

During a board executive session, Jesse Marion said it is important for the library to continue to display art, especially with arts funding being reduced to local school districts.

”Where will students go to see art,” Marion said.

Nancy Bargar of Lakewood also spoke to the board about the library’s art collection. She said it is important for the paintings donated by the Packard family not to be sold. Bargar, who lives in the chauffeur’s house of the former Packard estate, said the Packards, who were the creators of Packard automobiles, are an important part of Chautauqua County history. She said when Elizabeth Packard died in 1960, many items in her estate were auctioned, but notably her art collection was not.

Bargar said she has not been told whether library officials have discussed selling any of the Packard-donated paintings during the possible auction. Rankin has said that no paintings with ties to the local area would be sold.