MONTICELLO - A recently stalled search to hire the Monticello Public Library director encountered a few issues along the way, specifically worry over a lawsuit.
Village Board Chair Tere Dunlap said Monticello Library Board members had concerns over the fairness of the process after Monticello library aide Zoe Buehl posted on the library's Facebook page, encouraging support of current interim director Carolyn Seaver.
"They were concerned it would give unfair, undue advantage to the internal candidate," Dunlap said.
Dunlap said the actions by a municipal employee using village-funded computers to post the message on the Monticello Public Library official page was troubling. It has since been deleted, though Buehl re-posted on her personal account, copying the exact message with a note that the board had "ordered" her to remove the original.
In the three-paragraph statement placed on her personal Facebook timeline Feb. 1, Buehl refers to Seaver as "the obvious choice," informing people that the board was conducting a second round of interviews and a meeting beforehand would allow the public to speak, while encouraging people to attend.
"As true Library lovers know, it's not just the building and things inside it that make a Library special, it's the people who work there and the patrons who spend time there," the post reads. "I feel like we have a really special thing going with our Library and I would sure hate to see that change."
Dunlap said no one will be chosen for the director position in the near future because the board declared the hiring process had failed. There were about four outside candidates in addition to Seaver.
"They decided to concern themselves with policy," Dunlap said. "Make sure everything is in order before they bring in somebody new."
She noted the follow-through of the board was commendable. Instead of knee-jerk reactions, members simply sought expert advice and acted accordingly, Dunlap said. The committee contacted the League of Wisconsin Municipalities to seek advice from an attorney over whether the village could be sued over the actions but were assured legal action was unlikely.
With worries over animosity from community members and the amount of pressure that could be placed on an outside candidate if one were to be hired, the board instead intends to focus on reviewing library matters.
Dunlap said she believes members may also be looking to step down before the upcoming April election, allowing for change on the library board. Terms for Stephen Scanland and Barb Duerst-Gietzel end May 1.
Village Board Chair Tere Dunlap said Monticello Library Board members had concerns over the fairness of the process after Monticello library aide Zoe Buehl posted on the library's Facebook page, encouraging support of current interim director Carolyn Seaver.
"They were concerned it would give unfair, undue advantage to the internal candidate," Dunlap said.
Dunlap said the actions by a municipal employee using village-funded computers to post the message on the Monticello Public Library official page was troubling. It has since been deleted, though Buehl re-posted on her personal account, copying the exact message with a note that the board had "ordered" her to remove the original.
In the three-paragraph statement placed on her personal Facebook timeline Feb. 1, Buehl refers to Seaver as "the obvious choice," informing people that the board was conducting a second round of interviews and a meeting beforehand would allow the public to speak, while encouraging people to attend.
"As true Library lovers know, it's not just the building and things inside it that make a Library special, it's the people who work there and the patrons who spend time there," the post reads. "I feel like we have a really special thing going with our Library and I would sure hate to see that change."
Dunlap said no one will be chosen for the director position in the near future because the board declared the hiring process had failed. There were about four outside candidates in addition to Seaver.
"They decided to concern themselves with policy," Dunlap said. "Make sure everything is in order before they bring in somebody new."
She noted the follow-through of the board was commendable. Instead of knee-jerk reactions, members simply sought expert advice and acted accordingly, Dunlap said. The committee contacted the League of Wisconsin Municipalities to seek advice from an attorney over whether the village could be sued over the actions but were assured legal action was unlikely.
With worries over animosity from community members and the amount of pressure that could be placed on an outside candidate if one were to be hired, the board instead intends to focus on reviewing library matters.
Dunlap said she believes members may also be looking to step down before the upcoming April election, allowing for change on the library board. Terms for Stephen Scanland and Barb Duerst-Gietzel end May 1.