Dunkirk library staff resigns

DUNKIRK — The entire staff of the Dunkirk Public Library and The Glass Museum has resigned and been replaced on a temporary basis.
The library’s board of trustees Friday night accepted the resignations of Karen Rees as interim director and library staff member Jacinda Jarvis. Both letters of resignation were submitted this week, and both are effective May 24. Glass museum curator Blake Watson submitted a letter of resignation to the board on April 25. His last day on the job was Thursday.
Though library board president Tommy “Chip” Phillips stressed that all three resignations were accepted “reluctantly,” it was clear that in at least two cases friction between the staff and a portion of the board was a factor.
Watson was particularly strong in his criticism of the board’s behavior. In a statement issued Friday, he cited what he believed to be “unethical behavior” on the part of the board and suggested that the entire board “seriously consider resigning.”
“I no longer had faith in the trustees as a whole and wished to remove myself from the unrelenting turmoil,” said Watson.
Rees, who has led the library since the board’s November firing of director Aleisha Franklin, has indicated her departure should be viewed as a no-confidence vote for the current board. “This was not an easy decision,” she said Friday.
The board turned to Gay Ann Rife, who served as library director from 1987 to 2001, to step in as temporary director while the board searches for a more permanent solution. She’ll be assisted by high school students Ciera Barcus, Carrie Addington, and Mary Vore, who were hired as 20-hour-a-week seasonal employees for the summer.
No pay levels or benefits were discussed for any of the new employees.
“We need to start the process of hiring a full-time director,” said Phillips. “We can work on salary at our next session. … I’d like to see all board members involved in the interview process.”
The staff departures provoked an expression of regret from library patron and museum volunteer Aloma Whitesell. She commended “the three who are resigning for the impact and improvements at the library and The Glass Museum.”
“These gals stepped up and filled the position, and Blake has done an excellent job at the museum,” she said. “I was quite upset that they felt they had to resign. It’s sad.”
Phillips shared her praise of Rees and Jarvis. “These two women stepped up under difficult conditions,” he said. “It didn’t go unnoticed.”
Watson expressed regret over his departure.
“The Glass Museum has so much potential and has truly progressed forward in the past 13 months. I want to thank all those who supported the museum and refined my professional outlook,” he said.
Watson urged greater engagement on the part of the library board’s appointing authorities: Jay School Board, Jay County Council, Jay County Commissioners, and the mayor of Dunkirk.[[In-content Ad]]