NASHUA, NH – After discussion and comments from the public, the Board of Aldermen voted 8-4 not to pass a resolution that would propose an amendment to the city charter to have the Library Board of Trustees be elected instead of appointed.
Members of the Library Board of Trustees are currently appointed by a commission of aldermen and library trustees.
“It would benefit everyone to have the library be a more democratic institution,” one member of the public said. “We should be able to vote for people that share a similar vision for the library and if they don’t do it we should be able to vote them out. As Nashua becomes a more diverse city, this will naturally give new demographics representation.”
Chairperson of the Library Board of Trustees Linda Laflamme was opposed to the resolution. She said that the current appointment process allows for the formation of a balanced board with members who complement each other’s knowledge base and skill set and who believe in the ideals of the library and its importance in the community.
“I believe the joint convention method gives Nashua the best chance for a balanced, equitable and effective board of trustees to oversee the library and its service to the community,” she said.
Ward 1 Alderman Tyler Gouveia – who endorsed the resolution along with Ward 9 Alderman John Sullivan and Ward 6 Alderman Chris Thibodeau – said that having the board be elected would ensure accountability, allow for representation for the people, by the people, and get people talking about the library and its future.
On the other hand, Alderman Ben Clemons said he felt that putting trustees on the ballot would produce unintended consequences.
“I do not want Nashua to turn into Florida where we start banning books and we have people who have a political agenda and they want to run the library a certain way because they feel that their social presence is more important than somebody else’s,” he said. “We should never make it a political thing and I will never support something like this.”
The board ultimately voted with 4 in favor – Aldermen Thibodeau, Gouveia, Sullivan and Ward 5 Ernest Jette – and 8 opposed to the resolution, including Aldermen Michael O’Brien, Gloria Timmons, Clemons, Thibeault, Patricia Klee, Richard Dowd, Shoshanna Kelly and Lori Wilshire.
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