02/28/2021
Today’s Pilot article accurately represents the importance I place on being transparent with residents, and that I posted a factual update on Save Givens/Tufts page for the hundreds of supporters of this effort. Many are depressed and saddened by the thought that the Givens/Tufts will be relocated from its home and I had news that could alleviate those concerns.
Unfortunately, transparency isn’t as important to some as protocol and control. So I was forced by the Mayor to remove my post because there is a planned announcement set for Monday. I regret removing the post, as this did not allow me to be as transparent as I like with the public. I want to thank everyone for the texts, emails, and phone calls today of support in reaction to the story in The Pilot. It's been overwhelmingly postive - thank you.
My plan upon election 3 ½ years ago was to solve the library problem (the Givens Board requesting that the Village take over responsibility for library services) within the first month of my term. I was appointed to the library working group and my goal was to fund and solve this issue in a few weeks. But from the get-go, the momentum has been to build a new library and sacrifice the current Givens/Tufts historic home with no regard to what the public wanted. That, combined with a total lack of transparency of this group, especially private meetings with third parties the public was not invited to, had me resign within months because I thought the lack of transparency broke my fiduciary responsibilities to voters/constituents. But instead of stopping this practice when I resigned, and doing them publicly and agreeing with my assessment, the council appointed another elected council member. It went on for 15 months, still no public invited. I had to walk out of a meeting last month which was focused on designs for a new library in various locations with no mention of the archive’s future. There was no attempt to deal with the Library and Archives holistically, or serve the public's interest, so I walked out.
So my decision to post this information before scheduled was influenced by the incredible lack of transparency throughout this process - wrongly or rightly. My oath is to the public, the constitution and serving the best interests of the Village of Pinehurst, not its officials or third parties.
If transparency ruffles some feathers, I’m okay with that and I’m sorry your feathers got ruffled, but I do not apologize for being a champion for the Givens Library/Tufts Archives, and being transparent to the public, and I never will.
I look forward to reposting Monday after announcement, and until then see attached article in today's Pilot.
Years of deliberations by Pinehurst’s leaders over whether or not to bring library services under the village’s umbrella may be coming to a close.
