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Residents tell Warren County supervisors they felt unheard after library board vote
Summary
More than one speaker criticized supervisors for proceeding with creation of a Warren County Library Board, saying the board had already decided before public comment and that emails to supervisors went unanswered.
Several residents used the board’s public-comment period to criticize supervisors for a recent vote to create a Warren County Library Board and to say they felt their comments were dismissed.
“Ninety‑six percent of people who spoke were against the creation of the library board,” said Nancy Smith, identifying herself from the Shenandoah District. Smith said supervisors had “made up your mind before the 100 plus community members spoke,” and criticized what she described as prepared remarks and prearranged votes by some board members.
Bethany O’Neil, a Samuels Public Library cardholder from the North River District, told the board she was “bummed” after a lengthy prior meeting and said the vote left supporters of Samuels feeling unheard.
Board members acknowledged the public’s concerns. Supervisor Stanmeyer apologized to Smith for the oversight of not replying to an email and said he will look for the correspondence. The board did not reverse the prior action to create the library board during Tuesday’s meeting, and no motion to reconsider was recorded.
The public-comment speakers called on supervisors to be more responsive to constituent emails and to explain why the vote to create the library board was not tabled for further consideration.
