Wiatr
New Hartford library appointment in question
By
ELIZABETH COOPER Posted Aug 03,
2010 @ 04:17 PM Last update Aug
03, 2010 @ 04:50 PM NEW
The saga of the New Hartford Public Library
Board of Trustees continues. Now, the state Education Department has
issued a preliminary letter of findings saying that Edmund Wiatr Jr. is not a
library trustee after all. But town Supervisor Patrick Tyksinski and
town Attorney Herbert Cully said they are contesting the findings. “He based his opinion on incorrect facts,”
Tyksinski said of Bernard Margolis, the state librarian and assistant
commissioner for libraries for the Education Department who wrote the July 28
letter. “Herb is sending him a letter telling him the correct facts.” Library Board of Trustees President Mary
DuRoss could not be reached Tuesday. Wiatr, who is co-founder of the watchdog
group Concerned Citizens for Honest & Open Government, was placed on the
library board in the end of May after revelations that the 11 members of the
library board had not been properly appointed. DuRoss rejected Wiatr’s appointment and her
board sought an opinion from the Education Department, which oversees public libraries.
The library and the town now have until Aug. 10 to respond to the preliminary
findings letter. A final opinion will come after that. The opinion stated that Tyksinski
unilaterally appointed Wiatr, instead of allowing the Town Board to do so. Cully
said that wasn’t so, and he believed the Town Board had voted on the
appointment. The letter also stated Wiatr was appointed as
a 12th board member, when only 11 are allowed by law. Cully said Wiatr was
meant to replace one of the members who had not been properly appointed. |
