Carol Stream Library board drops censure resolution
Tempers, perhaps, have come to a simmer on the Carol Stream Library board, almost three months after the controversial firing of Library Director Ann Kennedy.
The board had been expected to consider a resolution this week calling for the censure of Trustee Jim Bailey for statements he made at an Aug. 15 board meeting. But the consensus among board members on Wednesday was to table the resolution indefinitely.
“I’ve had discussions with many board members,” President Mike Wade said. “Trustee Bailey and I sat down and talked one on one. He discussed how he’d like to be a contributing factor to the board. Moving forward there’s not going to be a need for this (censure resolution). Moving forward we are going to work together as one board.”
Trustee Jerry Clark, one of two trustees who originally called for Bailey’s censure, seconded a motion to table the resolution, “for the sake of the library,” he said.
Clark had accused Bailey of using an expletive toward him during a heated discussion at the August meeting about the board’s policy for contacting the library’s legal counsel.
Trustee David DeRango also had called for Bailey’s censure, saying Bailey made an accusation that DeRango tried to punch him in the face.
At the August meeting, Bailey criticized Wade for directly contacting legal counsel to draft a separation agreement with Kennedy without consulting the rest of the board first. As the discussion went on, Bailey made a statement to Clark, who was sitting next to him. Clark stood up and said a profanity was used toward him.
But the tone was markedly different this week.
Bailey encouraged Clark to read his written statement thanking the board and staff for organizing the library’s 50th anniversary celebration Oct. 6.
“Well said,” Bailey told Clark.