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Board confronts library turnover, makes trustee changes after citizen letter
Summary
Supervisors discussed staffing instability and trustee turnover at the Amelia County Library after a citizen letter raised concerns; the Board voted to add Supervisor Benjamin Morris as an at-large voting trustee and reappointed two district trustees amid mixed votes.
The Amelia County Board of Supervisors spent a substantial portion of its May 27 meeting addressing complaints about library operations and trustee turnover, and it voted to change the Board's representation on the Library Board of Trustees.
Supervisor H. Joseph Easter raised concerns about repeated leadership changes, service disruptions and limited trustee responsiveness after the Board received a May 5, 2026 letter from citizen Jennifer Whitaker urging action. Whitaker wrote, "I am very concerned with what I am hearing in the community concerning the Library," and asked the Board to investigate why trustees and staff were leaving and whether governance changes were needed.
Jeff Gore, the county attorney, explained the difference between serving as a liaison and serving as an at-large voting member on the trustees. After discussion, Supervisor Todd Robinson moved to nominate Supervisor Benjamin Morris as an at-large (voting) member of the Library Board of Trustees; Chairman David Felts and Supervisors Dexter Jones and Robinson voted in favor, Supervisor Easter voted opposed, and Supervisor Morris abstained from the vote on his own nomination.
The Board also reappointed Gail Geraghty as the District 1 trustee and Tom Hayghe as the District 2 trustee. The reappointments passed with Felts, Jones, Morris and Robinson voting in favor and Supervisor Easter voting opposed for each reappointment. Board members indicated continued concern about turnover and asked staff and legal counsel to assist with governance and communication improvements.
The action does not itself change library policies; it shifts the Board's representation and adds a voting supervisor to the trusteeship with the stated objective of strengthening oversight and stability. The trusteeship continues to have at least one open seat (District 5), which Supervisor Robinson said he is still trying to fill.
