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September 27. 2012 10:02PM
Conway library trustees rescind decision to fire four
CONWAY — Conway Public Library trustees were mostly silent during a 90-minute meeting that reaffirmed the vote taken at an emergency meeting on Sept. 18, but several apologized to four library employees for previously voting to eliminate their jobs after listening to emotional testimony.
The Thursday vote rescinded a move to restructure positions at the library, effectively killing the process that would have eliminated four positions and created four positions. The controversial move by trustees to restructure staff kicked up a firestorm, with many people calling for the resignations of the library director and the chairman of the trustees.
The four library employee affected were given written notice on Sept. 17 that their positions were being eliminated, and that they could apply for the new positions. The librarians, Betty Parker, Kate Darlington, Olga Morrill and Janis Minshull, have filed a grievance, retaining Edward Alkalay as their legal counsel.
Trustee chairman Linda Fox Phillips said that the board had miscalculated when approving the restructuring, calling how the process was handled “a grave mistake.” She declined to comment any further, citing the grievance.
The meeting Thursday afternoon in the Ham Community Room at the library drew a vocal crowd of about 100. The board had been presented the restructuring plan at a Sept. 13 meeting.
Tara Thomas, library director, in a letter to patrons posted on the library website and dated Sept. 18, explained the (now-dead) restructuring. “While this was a difficult decision for the trustees and me to make, we are confident that at the end of it, the Conway Public Library will be better structured internally and that resources will be maximized in order to provide the highest level of personal service to our patrons. I want you to know that the trustees and I did not enter into this process lightly. It was a difficult decision and one made even more difficult by the fact that, on a personal level, it directly impacts four members of staff who many of us consider friends. These staff members have been invited to apply for the newly restructured positions.”
Thomas wrote that the new positions would streamline circulation desk services, and that the professional library positions would play a greater role leadership role.
At the meeting, Morrill, who has been program coordinator for adults and children for 19 years, argued that Thomas has not managed the library well and does not understand the community. She charged that the director, who took over from long-time director Margaret Marschner in 2009, had championed the restructuring as a way to get rid of Marschner’s people.
A common theme brought up by several speakers was the lack of public and staff input into the proposed restructuring.
“I can’t explain my vote, it was just bad,” trustee Barbara Douglas said near the end of meeting.
Trustee Sarah Charles said, “It was the wrong choice.”
The restructuring would have created four new positions: head of public services/assistant director; head of youth services; technology services librarian; and reference services librarian.
Conway resident and community activist Mark Hounsell pushed for the identity of the consultant who recommended the changes, and asked if the trustees had retained legal counsel to address the grievance.
“I don’t think that’s going to be necessary,” Fox Phillips replied, after saying the restructuring consultant had been retained at no cost through the Local Government Center.
The trustees meet again on Thursday, Oct. 4.
Sara Young-Knox may be reached at syoungknox@newstote.com.
The Thursday vote rescinded a move to restructure positions at the library, effectively killing the process that would have eliminated four positions and created four positions. The controversial move by trustees to restructure staff kicked up a firestorm, with many people calling for the resignations of the library director and the chairman of the trustees.
The four library employee affected were given written notice on Sept. 17 that their positions were being eliminated, and that they could apply for the new positions. The librarians, Betty Parker, Kate Darlington, Olga Morrill and Janis Minshull, have filed a grievance, retaining Edward Alkalay as their legal counsel.
Trustee chairman Linda Fox Phillips said that the board had miscalculated when approving the restructuring, calling how the process was handled “a grave mistake.” She declined to comment any further, citing the grievance.
The meeting Thursday afternoon in the Ham Community Room at the library drew a vocal crowd of about 100. The board had been presented the restructuring plan at a Sept. 13 meeting.
Tara Thomas, library director, in a letter to patrons posted on the library website and dated Sept. 18, explained the (now-dead) restructuring. “While this was a difficult decision for the trustees and me to make, we are confident that at the end of it, the Conway Public Library will be better structured internally and that resources will be maximized in order to provide the highest level of personal service to our patrons. I want you to know that the trustees and I did not enter into this process lightly. It was a difficult decision and one made even more difficult by the fact that, on a personal level, it directly impacts four members of staff who many of us consider friends. These staff members have been invited to apply for the newly restructured positions.”
Thomas wrote that the new positions would streamline circulation desk services, and that the professional library positions would play a greater role leadership role.
At the meeting, Morrill, who has been program coordinator for adults and children for 19 years, argued that Thomas has not managed the library well and does not understand the community. She charged that the director, who took over from long-time director Margaret Marschner in 2009, had championed the restructuring as a way to get rid of Marschner’s people.
A common theme brought up by several speakers was the lack of public and staff input into the proposed restructuring.
“I can’t explain my vote, it was just bad,” trustee Barbara Douglas said near the end of meeting.
Trustee Sarah Charles said, “It was the wrong choice.”
The restructuring would have created four new positions: head of public services/assistant director; head of youth services; technology services librarian; and reference services librarian.
Conway resident and community activist Mark Hounsell pushed for the identity of the consultant who recommended the changes, and asked if the trustees had retained legal counsel to address the grievance.
“I don’t think that’s going to be necessary,” Fox Phillips replied, after saying the restructuring consultant had been retained at no cost through the Local Government Center.
The trustees meet again on Thursday, Oct. 4.
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Sara Young-Knox may be reached at syoungknox@newstote.com.