Library benefit cuts are ‘symptom, not the problem’

Monroe County Public Library is cutting employee health benefits to save money, but not everyone is convinced this measure is strictly financially motivated. Trustee Randy Paul sees the benefit cuts as a ‘symptom, not the problem.’ \nThe MCPL is cutting benefits in preparation for 2012, when it will lose between $350,000 and $500,000 in funding. Board of trustees president Stephen Moberly said one program – which offers 90 percent medical coverage to employees between the ages of 60 and 65 who retire early – could cost up to $293,359 in 2016. \nPaul said the move does not make financial sense because Moberly’s figures do not account for the money saved by not having to pay those retiring employees, who have usually left at the top of the pay scale and would be replaced with entry-level salaried employees. Paul believes the library, specifically library director Cindy Gray, is using the benefits to force one faction of library employees into retirement. \nThe library offers no protection to whistle blowers, he said. \n“It has turned into a vindictive attempt to ‘clean house’ on people who had expressed legitimate concerns,” Paul said. \nThose concerns include Gray’s questionable use of library credit cards. Gray was told the library would cover half her moving expenses, up to $4,500. Gray charged all her moving expenses on the library credit cards, then when she could not pay back her half immediately, told the library accountant that she would pay back the bill in installments, Paul said. \n“She essentially gave herself an interest-free loan with taxpayer dollars,” Paul said. \nGray said she was “90 percent sure” she had permission from then-Board president Pat Steele to charge her entire moving expenses on the library credit card. But Paul said permission was granted after the fact. \nGray said she had financial difficulties, because her house in Texas did not sell for a year and a half, requiring her to pay for its upkeep and for that of her new home in Bloomington. She said she instructed the bookkeeper to take $300 to $400 out of her paycheck each month to pay back the expenses. \n“The entire thing was paid off by the end of the year, which was the important thing for bookkeeping purposes,” Gray said. \nAccusations of favoritism also arose when the staff member who gave Gray a personal loan was the first to receive a stipend for a special project. However, Gray insists the loan was not a secret and that the stipend was awarded before she took a loan. \n“Was there a connection? I don’t know,” Paul said. “But it is the appearance of impropriety that is hurting her right now.” \nHowever, Treasurer John Walsh said he had not seen any evidence giving credence to allegations of favoritism. \n“The official policy is that stipends are available to all staff, and I’m not aware that anyone has ever requested extra work for a stipend and been turned down,” Walsh said. \nGray concurred. \n“Several people were given stipends who I would not consider to be in my ‘fold,’” she said. “I think it is petty.”\nRegardless, stipends will no longer be an issue in the coming year. Because of complaints about the system, the board did not include a budget for stipends in the next year, Gray said.\nGray said she’s tried to be fair during her tenure. \n“I’ve tried to install some things that bring in all staff and doesn’t single people out,” Gray said. \nMoreover, Gray said she was not responsible for the final decision to cut the benefit program entirely. The board of trustees discussed various ways to cut the budget, and it was a decision she had no control over, she said.\n“I’ve apologized for my mistakes, but I can’t apologize for the information that I presented to the board,” Gray said. “I had the best interests of the library in mind, it was certainly not malicious.”\nStill, Paul is not convinced.\n“I’d challenge someone to look at any problem we currently have and not trace it back to Cindy Gray,” Paul said.