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Citizen demands for an elected board of the Westhampton Free Library, voiced by 60 residents at a board meeting Oct. 30, 2015, were a non-issue at the board’s meeting Wednesday night.
Thomas Moore, board president, told six residents present that an elected board was not a board “priority” and it would not be discussed. About 86% of libraries have publicly elected directors. The “Free” in the WH library’s name means that it is a private 501/c/3 non-profit corporation that elects its own board.
New York State “Open Meetings” law is that the public can speak and ask questions at sessions of public boards but that board members are under no duty to reply.
Emails had been sent to the board asking for a explanation of statements by Moore at previous board meetings that there are “serious tax and financial implications” in moving to an elected board.
Residents said the new board seems to be as unresponsive as the previous board, four of whose five members resigned last year including board president Joan Levan. Citizens seeking library reforms have created a website that publicizes upcoming board meetings and carries comments of residents.
New library board members include Moore, husband of WHB Mayor Maria Moore, and Susan Rosenberg and Barbara Matros, retired WH high school teachers. Jennifer Mendelson is the sole holdover from the previous board.
Trustees Needed; Microwave Radiation Dangers
Residents noted that the board now only has four members when it is legally allowed to have seven. They asked if the board is seeking one, two or three candidates. No information was provided on that question.
Emailing individual board members is not allowed. The email of library director Danielle Waskiewicz is available but only the general email address of board@westhamptonlibrary is available for the rest of the board.
Emails to the general email box bring a return email that the email has been received.
Because of growing concern over the alleged dangers of microwave radiation, this writer has brought that issue to the attention of the board.
The websites of Dr. Joseph Mercola and Electric Sense say microwave radiation from numerous sources including computers, cellphones and microwave installations is dangerous, especially to children because of their thinner skull bones.
Their advice is limit use of cellphones by children to emergencies. They urge disconnecting cellphone bases at night because the device works 24/7. Other advice includes do not use a cellphone in a car and especially a moving car or other vehicle; put the cellphone on “airplane mode” except when in use; do not bring a cellphone or base into the bedroom, and be considerate of others by not using a cellphone in public places such as doctors’ offices, public transportation, courtrooms, etc.
They advise “going wired” with laptop computers—using an Ethernet cable instead of wireless, a wired keyboard, and a wired mouse. Apple’s MacBook Pro does not have an Ethernet connection but an adapter can be purchased from Apple for $29. Apple stores do not sell a wire mouse. Apple staff tell customers to try Best Buy or another computer store.
Employee Files NLRB Charges vs. Library
The U.S. National Labor Relations Board, responding to a request from O’Dwyer’s, has provided a copy of a complaint against the library board by an employee.
The complaint, dated Oct. 2 and addressed to board president Joan Leven (whose name is usually spelled Levan), says “The employer discriminated against employee (name left out) by disparately calling XXX into a disciplinary review and issuing a disciplinary memorandum because XXX knows XXX is an active union member.”
Employees of the library voted 31-3 to form a union Aug. 21. There had been no union at the library since its founding in 1896.
The complaint says that the employer “has interfered with, restrained, and coerced its employees in the exercise of rights protected by Section 7 of the Act by creating the impression of surveillance of employees’ union activities.”
It says the library “interrogated employees about their union activities in violation of the Act” and “issued employee XXX a verbal warning as a result of union activities in violation of the act.
The charges are being investigated by NLRB agent Sarah Hurley.
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