Council dismisses Washburn librarian
Staff Writer
WASHBURN — The town of Washburn no longer has a head librarian, following Monday’s unanimous vote by the Town Council to remove Kathy Corey from her duties, following nearly two months’ of discussion on personnel issues that led to the final decision.
Patrons visiting the Washburn Memorial Library in mid-March found the doors locked, with little explanation except signs posted indicating the facility was closed until further notice. During an April 13 Town Council meeting, councilors confirmed the closing, saying only it involved a “personnel issue.” Town Manager Bev Turner confirmed that it would re-open, on a limited basis, but gave no additional information at that time as to the reason for the closure.
Citizens had their first opportunity to learn more about what brought about the closing during Council’s May 11 meeting.
“We received your letter dated May 4 waiving executive session, requesting to speak to the Council,” said Council Chair Mike Umphrey, in reference to a letter from Corey. Umphrey advised Corey that in doing so, she was allowing press and the public to hear the details behind her initial removal. She said she understood and agreed to continue.
Umphrey said there were four items brought up in Corey’s initial dismissal as town librarian, which were outlined in a termination letter to Corey.
“The first item was inefficiency and the manner in which bills were paid,” said Umphrey.
Corey responded, reading from a prepared statement, noting that she’d “handled bills the same way for 10 years.”
“I’m the one to deal with the vendors. I don’t handle the money, the town does,” said Corey, noting she’d turned in statements during Town Manager Andrea Powers’ tenure, only to be told later that town officials weren’t aware of said statements.
Corey said Powers informed her around that time that she was considering terminating her as librarian. She said she continued to turn bills in, putting copies in a designated bill folder on a bulletin board in the Town Office.
Turner said she handled bills for all departments the same.
“I put a copy of the paid bill in their folder and mail out the check for payment. With no other department do I get calls that bills aren’t being paid,” said Turner.
The next issue of concern for town officials was one of falsification of documents.
“Documents don’t always reflect accurate information,” said Umphrey.
Corey acknowledged creating her own invoices when bill collectors called because she had turned the originals in to the Town Office.
“I made up my own statements, using the account information that was available (online),” said Corey.
Turner said she spent a lot of time trying to match these ‘invoices’ with various company requests for payment.
“I followed up with companies to try to match up invoices with requests (for payment),” said Turner.
Umphrey said the third issue involved Corey’s reported inability to follow procedure.
Corey said she always followed procedure and referenced the auditor’s citing of a lack of separation of duties at the town level for being part of the problem.
“I hope this has been cleared up and won’t happen to anyone again,” said Corey.
Corey said the latest recollection she had on following town procedures was a conversation she had with Turner in regard to not keeping over a certain amount of money at the library.
“Discussion involved bringing money over once a day. Before that, I’d always brought it over once a month,” said Corey.
Turner said back as far as April 2008 she could recall requesting money be brought over twice a month or, at the least, once a month.
There were times “checks were turned in that were at least two months old,” said Turner.
Turner said she requested money be turned in daily after a small sum of money disappeared from the library. Corey noted the money wasn’t “library money but funds kept in a jar that were used toward the care of the library cat.”
The final item of concern to town officials pertained to dishonesty, said Umphrey.
At that point, Corey and Turner got into a heated debate over the purchase of computer equipment for the library and what had transpired since February 2009.
“In February 2009, I took a spec sheet for a laptop to the Town Office but was asked to get a payment schedule made and, if the company approved, payments would be made. I was told cash payments would be made,” said Corey.
Turner was adamant that the town would never purchase anything on a cash basis, especially equipment valued at hundreds of dollars.
“We wouldn’t make monthly payments,” said Turner. “I contacted Andrea (Powers) who said she knew nothing of a laptop purchased in 2009.”
Umphrey recalled a conversation with Corey regarding the laptop.
“When you and I were talking, I asked who authorized you to buy a computer and you said Andrea and the money would come from Bev via petty cash. That’s not something we do,” said Umphrey.
Several citizens and library board members spoke on Corey’s behalf, requesting councilors to overturn her termination. Council agreed to take everything under consideration before making a final decision.
“Council has up to 10 days to render a decision,” said Umphrey. “We’ll schedule a meeting within 10 days to give our final decision.”
That meeting took place Monday morning, with Umphrey and Councilors Jeff Wark, Kermit Fuller, Keith Brown and Fred Thomas voting unanimously to terminate Corey as librarian. Following the decision, Corey was escorted to the library where she retrieved personal belongings as town officials stood by.
