Queens Borough President is putting a new law to use in her decision to nix members from the Queens Library board of trustees. Photo courtesy Queens borough president’s office
Eight members of the Queens Library’s board of trustees were nixed on Wednesday, thanks to a new state law enacted last month with help from Borough President Melinda Katz.
Katz came out with the announcement Wednesday evening, taking responsibility for six of the eight members she removed from the board under a new state law she and other elected officials worked to pass in June in the name of transparency. In a statement, Katz said she chose to nix the members, all of whom were appointed under former Borough President Helen Marshall, because they were not performing up to the standard at which she and the borough expected.
Those six members included Jacqueline Arrington, Joseph R. Ficalora, William Jefferson, Grace Lawrence, Terri C. Mangino and George L. Stamatiades.
Mayor Bill de Blasio, who also has the ability to remove members, also announced he was nixing his former appointees Patricia Flynn and Stephen Van Anden from the board.
“Throughout the history of the Queens Borough Public Library, the people of Queens have benefitted enormously from a highly committed library board of trustees, whose leadership has helped keep libraries open and free,” a spokeswoman for the library said in a statement. “They have helped make Queens Library a recognized national model of excellence. The board consists of volunteer high-profile professionals and community activists who make time out of their busy schedules. Every one of the tens of millions who has enriched his life through Queens Library owes them thanks for their service.”
Each member was appointed for a five-year term. Before the new law went into effect last month, members could not be removed until their terms were completed, Katz said.
Soon after the announcement, elected officials from across the city came out in support of Katz’s call to nix six members from the board.
“I commend Queens Borough President Melinda Katz for initiating changes to the Queens Library board that I believe will be in the best interests of taxpayers, accountability and good governance,” city Comptroller Scott Stringer said. “It is my hope that the information requested by my audit team will be made available without further delay.”
Queens officials helped craft the legislation in an attempt to alleviate transparency issues after library CEO Thomas Galante’s six-figure salary made headlines earlier this year.
News reports showed Galante earned a roughly $400,000 salary while jobs were being outsourced and expensive construction projects were enacted. State Sen. Mike Gianaris (D-Astoria) first introduced the legislation back in April with help from Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, who has been a harsh critic of Galante over recent months.
The library must now file financial disclosure forms, put limits on outside employment and require an annual budget hearing along with a 30-day public comment period before it is adopted, lawmakers said.
By Phil Corso
