I propose that the Fairhope Code of Ordinances,
Chapter 13 -LIBRARY, Section 13-2,
be revised as follows –
Sec. 13-2. – Board—Established; composition; function; appointment, terms and compensation of members; filling vacancies.
(a) The city council hereby establishes a library board consisting of three (3) members.
(b) The government and supervision of the library shall be vested in the board.
(c) The board members shall be appointed as follows:
– (1) The Mayor of the City of Fairhope shall serve as a permanent member of the board for the duration of their term in office.
– (2) Two additional members, representing diverse ideological perspectives (one progressive and one conservative), shall be appointed by the mayor and city council to reflect the community’s values.
(d) The terms of the two appointed members of the library board, as first appointed under this revision, shall be as follows: One member shall be appointed for two (2) years; the second member shall be appointed for four (4) years. After the first term, all appointments to the library board shall be for four (4) years.
(e) All vacancies shall be filled by the mayor and council, including expired and unexpired terms, ensuring continued representation of diverse ideological perspectives.
(f) All members of the library board shall serve without compensation.
(Ord. No. 637, §§ 2—6, 4-23-79; Ord. No. 920, §§ 1, 2, 2-8-93; Ord. No. 1534, 3-5-15; Ord. No. [New], [Date])
In my very first post about the library I wrote…
The way that the system is supposed to work is…
(our elected) officials choose a library board, whose philosophy and outlook lines up more or less with that of the town…
…We are where we are because that system broke down.
The New York Times has reported that there is a “heated divide” in Fairhope over our library.
But “heated divide” isn’t at all accurate. It’s more like 20% of us are bitterly divided, the rest don’t really have a strong opinion one way or the other.
No, our real problem is that there is hardly any division whatsoever on the Library Board. No one on the board seems to have a strong opinion. They also keep an awfully low profile. That New York Times reporter couldn’t find a single member of the Fairhope Library Board worth quoting for her article. The very ones who got us into this mess go unnamed.
I propose starting over with a smaller, much more transparent board that will give every Fairhoper a strong voice in the oversight of the library. This lean and mean board will have three members –
Our mayor will represent the overwhelming majority of Fairhopers who are not ideological. Of the other two members, one will be a well known ideological progressive, and one will be a well known ideological conservative. Strong opinions will be represented, and no one will be left out.
I understand that Sherry may be reluctant to be part of such a scheme, but there is a mutual love between her and the town, and a trusted, common-sense leader is desperately needed. It may be possible to persuade her with an offer of travel.
For the progressive and the conservative members, I have some people in mind, and I am open to suggestions. I would invite every other candidate for City Council to start suggesting nominees ASAP.
This proposal is being made in all seriousness. If the voters choose to hire me next week, I will push hard for this restructuring of the Fairhope Library Board.
Let’s get our Library (and the Sundial) pointed in the right direction.
(UPDATE) I would nominate Elizabeth Williams, head of the Baldwin County Chapter of Read Freely Alabama, to be the well known progressive on the new board. I grabbed a pint with Ms. Williams last night at Fairhope Brewing Co. and she told me that the council has already had her application on hand for quite some time. I don’t agree with many of her positions, but I’m certain that both of Heather’s mommies would feel secure with Elizabeth as an advocate.
As for the well known conservative, my thoughts on that nominee will have to wait until after the election.
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