Staff unrest grips Midland

By Andrew Philips Orillia Packet & Times

Midland will soon welcome one CEO, while another top administrator has suddenly left her post.

But some residents aren’t happy with what they see as a less-than-transparent hiring process as the Midland Public Library board unveiled its choice to lead the facility following the “early retirement” of head librarian Bill Molesworth in late November. Some are concerned by reports the hiring took place with only one person interviewed, then hired, weeks prior to the job listing’s Jan. 15 application deadline.

As well, the community is filled with angst and speculation surrounding the final day of former CAO Carolyn Tripp, who left the town’s employ last week after close to three years as the municipality’s top administrator.

Mayor Gord McKay wouldn’t say whether Tripp was fired, as the rumour mill suggests, or left on her own volition, only noting “the town thanks her for her contributions to the municipality and wishes her every success in her career.”

Coun. Jonathan Main also declined to address Tripp’s departure, saying it’s a personnel matter.

McKay said there a number of options for council to consider with Tripp’s departure, including the possibility the position won’t be filled.

As an example, McKay noted, some municipalities don’t have a top administrator, but rather rely on a clerk and/or department heads to ensure things run smoothly.

McKay said council members will discuss their preferences during a meeting this week, then again during a strategic planning session slated for February.

A few kilometres away in Penetanguishene, the CAO’s contract expires soon with Ted Walker expected to retire. Walker, who had earlier retired as Midland’s CAO, took on the Penetanguishene role after council fired his predecessor.

Mayor Gerry Marshall, who supports investigating shared services with Midland whenever possible, said the concept of a shared CAO working for both municipalities should be studied.

“Every opportunity should be explored, including vacancies at the CAO level,” said Marshall, who noted the two towns share a fire chief and transit while also sharing regional economic development and tourism officers with two other neighbouring municipalities.

“You have to look at costs you can control.”

But by hiring a new library CEO, Marshall said, his suggestion Midland and Penetanguishene libraries could share a top administrator now seems to be off the table.

That said, the two municipalities should share services whenever viable, he added.

“I’m not pro-amalgamation; I’m pro-shared services.”

As for the library, rumours persist of concerns relating to the downtown landmark’s future following the departure of its two most senior staffers late last year.

Diane Greenfield, a longtime volunteer who heads a major annual library fundraiser, said the board has done a disservice to both the employees and library users by following a narrow, corporate vision.

“I am very concerned that the volunteer library board has hired a replacement librarian after only one interview and long before the deadline posted has expired,” Greenfield said, referring to the hiring of Crystal Budgell, who currently works at the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library.

“Certainly, this would not have happened if the hiring was done through the town.”

Greenfield said since the opening came so close to Christmas and the holiday season, it doesn’t seem appropriate it was handled so quickly.

“I very much doubt that this would have occurred in the corporate world,” she said, pointing out the new hire isn’t scheduled to begin her duties until March 1.

“It is not as if this candidate could come immediately and fill the gaping void they created. This is a long-term position that will direct the development of the library in this community.”

Board chair Trisha Sheridan declined to address Greenfield’s concerns, only saying the job was posted on the town and library websites, a local newspaper and on the Ontario Library Association website, which she said reaches libraries across the province.

According to Sheridan, the posting stated consideration of candidates would begin immediately.

“The board considered applicants from across the country and identified a highly qualified candidate, who it believed, and continues to believe, would best serve the library and the community of Midland,” Sheridan wrote in an email.

“The board’s primary goal in all of its actions is to strengthen an important community institution for all residents in the Town of Midland and Tiny Township.”

McKay said while council appoints library board members, the board remains an arm’s-length apparatus and makes its own decisions.

“We approve of the board appointees,” he said. “You can’t appoint a board and then second-guess them.”

Under the Municipal Act, he said, libraries are considered to be their own entities, with the facilities’ boards of directors charged with making major decisions such as hiring top administrators.

But Main said a seniors’ group he spoke with earlier this week worries the library might be moving away from its primary mandate of lending books and other resources, with the board’s hope to create a learning centre filled new technology like a three-dimensional printer.

While Main said the board’s move to diversify the library’s mandate could prove positive, he would like to see more dialogue between the board and the broader community to help alleviate people’s anxiety over the facility’s future.

In an open letter to council, Greenfield said a presentation by the board to council last fall didn’t paint an accurate picture of the many accomplishments made by Molesworth and the other volunteers who work to support the facility.

“What is happening now with a volunteer board is extremely disturbing,” she wrote. “Even more so when speed, lack of research and lack of transparency are the hallmarks of decision making.”