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Library staff dispute over Saturday coverage raises concerns about HR role, board told
Summary
Library staff and trustees discussed a personnel dispute involving a children’s programmer who declined Saturday work and a city HR staffer who told trustees she would not hire a replacement if the programmer left. The board recorded concerns but took no formal personnel action.
Trustees of the Beaver City Library on Tuesday heard about a personnel dispute involving the library’s children’s programmer and a city HR staffer, a matter board members said they found unprofessional though no formal action was taken.
“Stacy brought me in and said, if you don't give in to her off, I won't. And she and if she quits, I will not hire someone to replace her,” Jody Robinson told the board, recounting a conversation in which the HR staffer had sought to avoid hiring a replacement if the programmer left. Robinson said the matter left her “between a rock and a hard place.”
Why it matters: Board members said the children’s programmer, identified in the discussion only as Addie, runs summer programs and is scheduled four days a week; the programmer declined an HR offer of four extra hours on occasional Saturdays. Trustees said staffing coverage for summer programs is operationally important and that the library has historically relied on a small, consistent staff to run programming.
Board members described the exchange with HR as “an ultimatum” and questioned whether HR was making employment decisions for the library without following normal hiring practices. “Miss HR is making decisions about employment,” one board member said. Board members said they would inform their city council representative and requested that the board be kept informed of any staffing changes that affect the library’s ability to run programs.
No motion or vote was recorded on personnel action at the meeting. Board members said they worked out a short-term schedule to avoid Saturday openings during a busy summer sports schedule and planned to revisit summer staffing if the issue recurs.
Several trustees reminded the board that the position description presented at interviews included weekend duties and that the board prefers not to leave programming unstaffed. Trustees said they will monitor the situation and seek clarity from the city manager and HR on hiring authority and replacement procedures.
The board did not vote to change staffing levels or hire a replacement at the meeting; members directed staff to attempt to make coverage arrangements for the upcoming summer programs and to raise the matter with city officials if the situation cannot be resolved.
