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Residents and AMY board members urge Avery County to review regional library contract
Summary
Several residents and AMY Regional Library board members told the Board of Commissioners they are concerned the new AMY contract reduces Avery County representation on the library board and restricts the director’s political activity; speakers asked the county to revisit the contract language.
Multiple speakers during public comment at the June 9 special meeting urged the Avery County Board of Commissioners to reexamine a proposed contract with the AMY Regional Library.
Margaret Thiele, who identified herself as an AMY Regional Library board member, said she was "concerned about the language in the contract specifically the makeup of the Board because in the new contract there are only two board members from Avery County." Judge Frank Hughes, another AMY board member, said Avery County previously held four seats on the regional board and said the contract reduces that representation to two. Hughes also raised a legal concern, noting the contract contains a statement that the library director "cannot be involved in party politics" and saying that restriction "could be perceived to violate First Amendment rights."
Other speakers — retired Mitchell County librarian Sharon Winters, Christina D’Agostino and frequent library patron Caressa Serrell — expressed disappointment with the contract language and asked the commissioners to have the matter reviewed again.
Lan Holtsclaw, speaking as a taxpayer during the same public‑comment period, shifted to school funding concerns and questioned staffing increases in the Board of Education amid declining student enrollment, referencing prior attorney advice about ESSER fund use.
No formal board action on the AMY Regional Library contract was recorded during the special meeting. Several speakers explicitly asked the Board to revisit the contract language; commissioners did not take a vote on the contract at the meeting.
