This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

Library Board Appoints Interim Co-Directors, Still Mum About Previous Director

Board member says "immediate" steps are being taken to find a replacement for former director.

The library board recently appointed two interim replacements to fill former Executive Director Ben Schapiro’s shoes, but officials remain closemouthed about the details surrounding .

The board appointed Assistant Director Kevin Justie and Natalya Fishman, head of reference, as interim co-directors at a July 14 board meeting.

 “They are well-respected by the staff,” said Catherine Peters, treasurer of the library board.

Find out what's happening in Niles-Morton Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Earlier:

The board is taking “immediate” steps to find a new director, according to Peters. She would not offer any timelines for the search process.

Find out what's happening in Niles-Morton Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Questions remain about departure

It is still unclear if the board fired Schapiro or if he resigned. Officials have kept quiet about the topic because it was a personnel matter discussed in a closed executive session July 7.

Residents at the July 14 board meeting demanded answers from the board about Schapiro's employment status. Residents also questioned the rationale that led to the July 7 vote in favor of preparing and executing a separation agreement with Schapiro.

Carol Rand, a resident, spoke out in support of Schapiro and pressed President Mark Albers for an explanation. 

“I cannot make any comments,” Albers said.

Another resident jumped into the conversation and asked, “When will you be able to make comments?”

“When he’s standing in the unemployment line, is that when?” Rand added.

Albers again declined to comment.

“I’m sure I’m not the only person who is outraged about this, and this is not what we have you here for,” Rand said. “We’re proud of our director.”

“At the appropriate time, a statement will be made,” Albers later promised attendees. One resident then asked when that appropriate time would be.

“You’ll know it,” Albers responded.

Details still being settled

Morton Grove Corporate Counsel Teresa Liston explained that when it comes to separation agreements between employees and employers, both sides tend to refrain from discussing the process until an agreement is finalized.

Such agreements usually address matters including benefits and additional compensation after severance, what property the employee can or cannot take from the workplace, what is and isn’t proprietary information, and:

“What the employer and employee are going to say to the public and prospective new employers of the employee,” Liston said.

“Really it is this: We are parting ways, so here's what I'm getting, here's what you're getting, here's what we're going to say," Liston said. "Lots of companies, when there’s absolutely no animosity, will do a separation agreement because they want things to be clean.”

Schapiro has declined to comment on the situation until after it is resolved.

Liston noted that details of the agreement will eventually surface, especially due to recent changes to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act that make such documents public record.

“Now that they’re negotiating it, you’re not entitled to any of the terms,” she said. “But once it’s been finalized and signed, you’re going to get to see it, and I’m going to see it. It’s a public record at that point.”

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?