New City Library Director Search Status Unknown

When the New City Library Board of Trustees meets on Thursday, they will be faced with the absence of a candidate for the vacant director’s post.  That position has been empty since May of 2012 when Chuck McMorran resigned and the candidate selected by a majority of the board has withdrawn her name.

The candidate selected by the board’s New Director Search Committee sent a letter to Board President Tom Ninan on March 14 withdrawing her name from consideration.  Tracey Simon said she made the decision based on several factors including what she had read about the library and her concerned that the board’s vote for her appointment was split.

Several trustees opposed her hiring because they had not had the opportunity to meet with her. Simon said she had told Ninan, who also chairs the committee, in February she wanted to meet with the board but had not received a response to her request by the time she sent the letter withdrawing her name. Additionally, Simon said she received an anonymous letter advising her to research the library. 

Board secretary Joe Reiter said there was no discussion about Simon’s letter at the March 21 meeting and board members were unaware of it. Ninan had brought up her request to meet with the full board and he suggested scheduling a special session. He could not be reached for further information.

The agenda for Thursday’s meeting, which begins at 7 p.m., does include the New Director Search Committee under the reports section. 

The board took other action at the March 21 meeting. Reiter said James Collins was hired as business manager to start immediately. The vote was four in favor, two against and one abstention. The board’s Personnel & Finance Committee recommended Collins, a New City resident, for the position.

“We had four resumes and we interviewed two people,” Reiter said.

Collins previously worked as executive director of Murray-Weigel Hall in the Bronx from 2008 to 2012. It is a healthcare facility for retired Jesuits on the campus of Fordham University.  Prior to that he was the deputy director and chief financial officer of the Manhattan Psychiatric Center on Ward’s Island. Collins has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from John Jay College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Lehman College. The library's business manager retired last year. 

The board also hired Samantha Mahatcek as a library page. They approved an agreement with Blend Air to repair the non-functioning boiler for $6,250. An environmental management firm was retained to test for mold and fungus in the children’s section. 

Also, Jan Degenshein, an architect from South Nyack presented a proposal for updating the A/V section. Trustee Olahannan Poulose was appointed as the liaison to the Friends of the New City Library.