Library Board Questions Trustee Over Confidentiality Violation

Morton Grove Library Board addresses a cell phone recording, which took place during a closed meeting.

Earlier this year, the Cook County state's attorney found that the previous Morton Grove Public Library Board had violated the Open Meetings Act by failing to “keep a verbatim record of all their closed meetings” via recording. However, controversy was caused by the exact opposite occurance during a board meeting last month. Earlier: Read Patch’s complete coverage of the ongoing library board dispute. Trustee Dan Hoffman told board members during Thursday’s meeting that he recorded “pieces” of a closed executive session meeting on Oct. 13 on his cell phone. The taping issue, listed as an agenda item and a violation of closed meeting confidentiality, was addressed by the library board. Hoffman defended the action and himself, asking Board …

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Suburban Steve

3:15 pm on Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Thank you for the clarification. Then Mr. Hoffman obviously knew that what he was doing (recording portions of the meeting) was wrong. There is NO excuse.   more ›

Library Addresses Accessibility, Transparency Issues

Board members continue to try to clear the air.

Ever since news broke of the previous Morton Grove Library board violating the Open Meetings Act, the new library board has been trying to turn the page toward a fresh start. At last night's board meeting, members continued to discuss various topics focusing on how to make the library a more transparent and accessible place for patrons. Earlier: Read Patch’s complete coverage of the ongoing library board dispute. Complying with accessibility standards Board member Paul Berg said troubleshooting has begun regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance for the library. ADA lists various standards for building designs in order to assist those with disabilities including wheelchair ramps and accessible routes.  The library …

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Library Director Resigned, Albers Says

Ben Schapiro resigned July 7.

Library Board President Mark Albers has issued an official press release about the departure of Library Director Ben Schapiro, saying that he resigned. The details of Schapiro's departure July 7 — including whether he resigned or was fired — had been unclear. Albers cited, "differing visions for the future direction of the Library," in explaining Schapiro's decision to leave. The press release, which is printed in full below, is dated July 29 and was sent to Patch Monday morning. Earlier: Board still mum about director's departure. Here's the full release: Ben Schapiro, Director of the Morton Grove Public Library since 2005, resigned from the position on July 7, 2011.  Schapiro cited that he and the newly elected board had differing …

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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 his departure. 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. Earlier: The board votes to remove Schapiro The board is taking “immediate” steps to find a new director, according to Peters. She would not offer any timelines for the search process. Questions remain about departure It is still unclear if the board fired Schapiro or if he resigned. Officials have kept quiet …

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Library Board Changes Guard in Tense Meeting

New B-PAC members take chairmanship, treasurer posts.

Five new members were sworn into the board of the Morton Grove Public Library Thursday night at a tense meeting that touched lingering sore spots from a hard-fought spring election that swept in four of them. The fifth, Christa Quinn, was appointed at the April board meeting over the public objection of the four trustees-elect, who ran under the party name B-PAC, an acronym of the last names of Paul Berg, Catherine Peters, Mark Albers and David Calimag. New board president and treasurer Now holding a majority of the seven-member board, the B-PAC trustees nominated one of their own, Albers, to fill the vacant chairman’s position. In a move that took the incumbent trustees by surprise, they also removed the existing treasurer, Arthur …

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Patch Election HQ

By the Numbers: Morton Grove Election Results

The chart format of the election results shows percentages and vote counts.

UPDATED on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. -- Check out the results from the April 5 elections for Morton Grove. Here are the numbers, according to the Cook County Clerk's website on Wednesday, of contested elections for Morton Grove voters. You can also read the story and reactions here. 1,105 * Write-in candidates Renee Miller and Donald India also campaigned for the MGPL trustee seat and Golf 67 board seat respectively, but Cook County has not released their votes on the clerk's website.

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Patch Election HQ

Live Blogging: B-PAC's Library Board Forum at Civic Center

B-PAC's library board forum starts at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Civic Center in Morton Grove

B-PAC sponsored its own library candidate forum on Tuesday evening, with a general assembly of residents walking up to the podium to ask questions. Members of PROLibrary, the opposing organization running for library board trustee spots, also held a pub quiz event at the same time, and said they never received timely invitations for the B-PAC forum on Tuesday, which you can read in greater detail here. There will be a library candidate forum, sponsored by Morton Grove Public Library, on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.* 7:00 p.m. The candidate forum kicks off with four candidates on stage: Paul Berg, Catherine Peters, Mark Albers and David Calimag. The members of PROLibrary are not in attendance, though name tags and empty seats are on the stage for …

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Brent D.

5:52 pm on Thursday, March 24, 2011

I still view these tactics as silly rethorics and innuendos. It is really sad to see that the entire focus of what this campaign should be about has been replaced (at least at this forum) by angry, demeaning finger pointing. How are we suppose to trust any of these candidates when they display this behavior. Being an advocate of any instutiation requires ability to be flexibile, able to stay …   more ›

Community Voices

Letter to the Editor: What Happened to Democracy in Morton Grove?

Current Morton Grove Library Board Trustee and candidate Laura Frisch discusses the same office in the April 5th election.

I am a first-time candidate for a library seat at the upcoming April election.  This past holiday season, I spent several days circulating petition sheets to run as a candidate for a seat on the Library Board.  I collected 60 signatures.  The required number for a candidate to be placed on the ballot is only 25.  As a candidate, I am willing to devote my time and energy to an unpaid public office because I feel strongly about the important role the library plays in our community, and I am willing to dedicate myself and make the personal sacrifices necessary to further the library’s mission of service to Morton Grove.  I have already served on the Board, and believe I have valuable experience to offer, and work to continue, if I am elected …

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