NDN: Library Chair Responds to Call for Resignation

Newport Daily News online 12/6/06

By Matt Sheley/Daily News staff

The board of trustees for the Middletown Public Library isn't going anywhere - at least for now.

Board chairman John W. Grisham said Tuesday that the Town Council didn't have all the facts when it voted Monday night to ask members of the volunteer board to resign, calling the action "misinformed and completely unnecessary."

"I'm disappointed and never imagined they would do such a thing without the facts," Grisham said. "A lot of the accusations out there are based on false information."

For example, Grisham said one of the main factors cited in the controversy over former Library Director Robert L. Balliot - who resigned last week - was his decision to add a link to the grassroots group Middletown First on the library's Web site. But Grisham said that was never an issue.

"No one on the board ever restricted anyone from accessing that site," he said. "It's easily accessible and always has been. It's still there and will remain there."

But Grisham couldn't shed much more light on the situation, saying that because it is a personnel issue, what can and can't be released publicly still is being sorted out.

"I expect a formal response from the board will be forthcoming," Grisham said. "Right now, people are only getting part of the picture."

The library board of trustees is expected to discuss the Town Council's request at its next regular meeting, scheduled for Monday, Dec. 11, at 6 p.m. at the library, 700 West Main Road.

Town Council President Paul M. Rodrigues agreed that town officials may not have had all the information before issuing their request, but that's not what the situation was about.

"They turned their back on the people of Middletown," Rodrigues said of the board of trustees. "They said fences have to be mended, but frankly, I don't think they can be.

"The whole situation is a reflection on us and it should have been worked out. We lost a very valuable employee and no one really knows why. They turned their backs on the public and didn't treat them fairly at all and we can't tolerate that."

More than 50 people attended the board of trustees' meeting last Thursday, during which Balliot announced his resignation after a closed-door session that lasted more than two hours.

Balliot has said he can't comment on his resignation and Grisham and other board members said he left of his own volition. All parties have declined to comment on whether Balliot was given a buyout as part of an agreement to step down.

In recent months - and more so in the past couple of weeks - library patrons said Balliot was being forced out for standing up to the board on issues like the Web site, free speech, public information and other policies.

For example, supporters asked why Balliot, whose reaffirmed review in October gave stellar marks in 10 out of 11 categories, would walk away from the job. Since his departure, assistant library director Barbara Camadeco has been leading the library.

As of closing time at Town Hall on Tuesday, no one on the library board had submitted a resignation to the town clerk's office. Earlier in the day, letters were being typed up to mail to trustees regarding the council's request.

On Monday night, the Town Council did accept the unrelated resignation of board member Beverly Murphy, who cited changing work and personal commitments in her Nov. 7 letter as the reasons for stepping down. No one from the library board was present at the council meeting.

Even if he and his fellow trustees were inclined to step down, Grisham said it would be impossible now, given all the work facing the seven-member board, particularly budget issues and the search for a new director.

But Rodrigues said he doesn't expect the council to reconsider its decision. Councilman Edward J. Silveira Jr. - the council's former liaison to the library board - was the lone member to vote against the request.

State and local rules governing the library give the council the authority to appoint trustees, but no power to regulate the board or remove members.

"I respect (Grisham's) opinion, but the damage has been done," Rodrigues said. "Like the woman said during our meeting, who's going to want to come in and work under those circumstances? We're not trying to make this any worse, but this is the right thing to do. Someone lost their job because of this."


	Library board chairman says facts aren't out Newport Daily News online 12/6/06 By Matt Sheley/Daily News staff The board of trustees for the Middletown Public Library isn't going anywhere - at least for now. Board chairman John W. Grisham said Tuesday that the Town Council didn't have all the facts when it voted Monday night to ask members of the volunteer board to resign, calling the action "misinformed and completely unnecessary." "I'm disappointed and never imagined they would do such a thing without the facts," Grisham said. "A lot of the accusations out there are based on false information." For example, Grisham said one of the main factors cited in the controversy over former Library Director Robert L. Balliot - who resigned last week - was his decision to add a link to the grassroots group Middletown First on the library's Web site. But Grisham said that was never an issue. "No one on the board ever restricted anyone from accessing that site," he said. "It's easily accessible and always has been. It's still there and will remain there." But Grisham couldn't shed much more light on the situation, saying that because it is a personnel issue, what can and can't be released publicly still is being sorted out. "I expect a formal response from the board will be forthcoming," Grisham said. "Right now, people are only getting part of the picture." The library board of trustees is expected to discuss the Town Council's request at its next regular meeting, scheduled for Monday, Dec. 11, at 6 p.m. at the library, 700 West Main Road. Town Council President Paul M. Rodrigues agreed that town officials may not have had all the information before issuing their request, but that's not what the situation was about. "They turned their back on the people of Middletown," Rodrigues said of the board of trustees. "They said fences have to be mended, but frankly, I don't think they can be. "The whole situation is a reflection on us and it should have been worked out. We lost a very valuable employee and no one really knows why. They turned their backs on the public and didn't treat them fairly at all and we can't tolerate that." More than 50 people attended the board of trustees' meeting last Thursday, during which Balliot announced his resignation after a closed-door session that lasted more than two hours. Balliot has said he can't comment on his resignation and Grisham and other board members said he left of his own volition. All parties have declined to comment on whether Balliot was given a buyout as part of an agreement to step down. In recent months - and more so in the past couple of weeks - library patrons said Balliot was being forced out for standing up to the board on issues like the Web site, free speech, public information and other policies. For example, supporters asked why Balliot, whose reaffirmed review in October gave stellar marks in 10 out of 11 categories, would walk away from the job. Since his departure, assistant library director Barbara Camadeco has been leading the library. As of closing time at Town Hall on Tuesday, no one on the library board had submitted a resignation to the town clerk's office. Earlier in the day, letters were being typed up to mail to trustees regarding the council's request. On Monday night, the Town Council did accept the unrelated resignation of board member Beverly Murphy, who cited changing work and personal commitments in her Nov. 7 letter as the reasons for stepping down. No one from the library board was present at the council meeting. Even if he and his fellow trustees were inclined to step down, Grisham said it would be impossible now, given all the work facing the seven-member board, particularly budget issues and the search for a new director. But Rodrigues said he doesn't expect the council to reconsider its decision. Councilman Edward J. Silveira Jr. - the council's former liaison to the library board - was the lone member to vote against the request. State and local rules governing the library give the council the authority to appoint trustees, but no power to regulate the board or remove members. "I respect (Grisham's) opinion, but the damage has been done," Rodrigues said. "Like the woman said during our meeting, who's going to want to come in and work under those circumstances? We're not trying to make this any worse, but this is the right thing to do. Someone lost their job because of this."