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Library trustees table resolution to censure colleague

Trustee says colleague used expletive toward him

Bad blood continues to boil on the Carol Stream Public Library board in the aftermath of Ann Kennedy’s firing as library director.

Two trustees have called for the censure of Trustee Jim Bailey for statements they say he made at the board’s Aug. 15 meeting.

The board was set to vote on the resolution Wednesday, but at Bailey’s request, trustees voted 4-3 to table discussion of the matter until their Oct. 17 meeting.

Trustee Jerry Clark said Bailey used an expletive toward him, and Trustee David DeRango said Bailey made an accusation that DeRango tried to punch him in the face.

Bailey has denied making either statement, and instead says he used a similar word in talking to Clark but not the word in question.

He also said the action of censure is baseless since there’s no provisions for it in the library’s bylaws.

Discussion at the August meeting became heated when trustees were debating the board’s policy for contacting the library’s legal counsel, Ancel Glink.

Bailey said it was “restrictive” for trustees to be required to channel questions to the attorney through Board President Mike Wade.

Wade said he didn’t want to limit any trustee’s access to the attorney, but wanted one opportunity to speak to that trustee to see if the issue could be resolved beforehand.

“I want one opportunity to respond before we run up our legal bills,” Wade said.

Bailey responded, “Mr. Wade, in all fairness, the board would appreciate the same kind of courtesy we did not receive when you entertained a discussion with our attorney in dismissing our director.”

And though the board voted 4-2 to fire Kennedy, her supporters, including Bailey, objected to Wade contacting the attorney to draft a separation agreement without consulting the board first.

As the discussion continued, Bailey made a statement to Clark, who was sitting next to him.

“I just had a profanity used towards me,” Clark said. “That wasn’t civil. I used that language when I was in the Navy.”

Bailey, Wade, Mary Hudspeath and Dominick Jeffrey voted to table consideration of the censure resolution to the October meeting, and Clark, DeRango and Susan Galle voted against.

Jim Bailey
David DeRango
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