As if the Monmouth County Commissioner majority didn’t do enough injury to Commissioner Lillian Burry by axing her as liaison from the committees she has worked so hard to be successful, they committed what appears to be another huge faux pas in the process.
By taking Commissioner Burry off as the Library Commission’s connection with the county board, that board, absent Ms. Burry’s vote of course, has managed to wipe out more than a century, perhaps a century and a quarter, of experience with the Monmouth County Library.
This Commissioner has been the voice between the library and the county board for 15 years or so. She attended the meetings, asked questions, made suggestions, vetoed what she did not think would be good for the library and its patrons, and worked hard for the ideas and innovations that were the right thing. She was always there. Always with ideas.
But so was Renee Schwartz, who was the head of the Library Commission for 50 years. She literally wrote a good amount of its successful history, she headed the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the opening of Eastern Branch, she was there for the construction of the Manalapan headquarters as well as the beginnings of the re-construction and improvements at headquarters when it started a couple of years ago.
She got wiped out three years ago. Simply not re-appointed. No reason, just no reappointment.
Then there was Nancy Grbelja, former Mayor of Millstone, who was a Commissioner for years and a chairman years after Renee was ousted. She got wiped out two years ago.
There was Don Burden, another former mayor, he in Shrewsbury, former History Commissioner member as well. He went the way of Nancy, Renee and Lillian. Only he was double barreled…got wiped out of both commissions.
There was also Grace Abramov, another charmer with terrific ideas, lots of energy, eager to work on any project present and generous with her knowledge and time for library meetings, consultations or anything ask of her. Whoops, she was not reappointed either with no reason given. Heck, not even the courtesy of a phone call to let her know she would not be reappointed in spite of her willingness to continue.
Then there was I, who was not a commissioner. I was a paid contractor with 60 years of experience writing news. The Commissioners applauded me many times on the public relations I did for the library. Each year for four years, they sent me the contract to sign to renew for another year. Sometimes even with a raise I never sought or asked for. I signed each contract and sent each back, happy they had requested it from me because they liked what I was doing..
Then there was last year. The County sent me the contract as usual. Then I never heard another official word. I did get an e-mail from an employee saying I shouldn’t go to any more meetings because I wouldn’t be paid. Still haven’t heard any more. I asked the Library Commission about it. They didn’t know either. They would find out. Haven’t heard back from them either
So there you have it. Add up all those years of experience, and it’s well over 100 years, with hundreds, make that thousands of hours donated to make the library the outstanding facility it is.
OK, what do we all have in common? Well, of the six of us, five of us are women. None of us has ever heard a word of criticism or correction for what we did, paid or volunteer. But I suppose what’s worse is, all six of us, even the one male, are all 65 years of age. Some of us are over 70 or 75. And some over 80. Nary a word of criticism, just being wiped out of volunteer or paid positions, no reason given.
The only thing we have in common is age.
