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Residents and commissioners hear repeated ethics allegations against library board chair
Summary
Multiple speakers at the Dec. 11 meeting accused Rutherford County Library Board Chair Cody York of violating board bylaws and seeking patron records; speakers asked the commission to investigate and consider removal.
Several residents told commissioners on Dec. 11 they want a full, impartial inquiry into allegations that Library Board Chairman Cody York bypassed board processes and requested private patron information.
Josh Walker and Jeffrey Wagner said the chairman contacted an outside activist legal group without board approval and sought patron data including ZIP codes and library card numbers, which they said would violate Tennessee privacy law and library policy. Matt Fee and Tatiana Silvis repeated those allegations and urged the commission to open an independent investigation into the chairman’s conduct. Fee cited statutory references during his remarks to underline his claim that the behavior could constitute misconduct under state law.
Commissioners acknowledged the public complaints and noted that the commission appoints library board members and that the ethics committee and other oversight channels exist. Commissioner Craig Harris said his committee would look into the matter; other commissioners said they would review committee procedures and consider possible changes to committee membership or alternates to ensure continuity.
No formal removal or disciplinary vote was held at the Dec. 11 meeting. The commission asked staff and committee chairs to follow up and said they would assess whether the ethics committee should add alternate members or pursue further action based on committee findings.
What happens next: commissioners indicated the ethics committee and relevant staff will review the allegations and consider whether to open a formal investigation; no final action was taken during the meeting.
