Copies of the agreement were available at the door for anyone who had not read the substance of the mediation in one of the two newspapers that carried it.  Since the agreement, Nyree Thomas publicly stated her support for it in order for the library and the community to move on, and because the agreement contained provisions that would improve personnel practices at the Patten Free Library.

After some brief remarks by mediator Jonathan Reitman, committee member David Miller of Woolwich opened up the discussion both to the general public and to the assembled corporators.

Alice Meyer of Bath was one of those who spoke.  “I am not trying to overturn this agreement,” she said, “only because Nyree has agreed to it.  Really, it’s not a good agreement for the Library or its patrons.”

Candace Watson of Woolwich, referring to the tumult that followed Thomas’ dismissal, said that the board of trustees had “failed to grasp the public’s interest in the library.”  At the time, board chair Steve Gardner and others believed that the public discontent was fomented by a few disgruntled patrons, despite the vast numbers who turned out to support Thomas at every public meeting.  Watson went on to say that the board should resign, and not hold the position of trustee again. 

Steve Gardner has already resigned as chair of the board of trustees.

Dean Corner, a former employee, remarked that Maine is an at-will state, and that he objected to the provisions that would govern employee relations at the library.  “It would be difficult to get a director who would be willing to work under such a yoke,” he said.  “It would be setting the next director up for failure.”

Nyree Thomas spoke at the meeting, asking that the corporators support the agreement to help the library and the community move forward.  The agreement called for a public apology to Thomas, an increased severance and health package, and a positive letter of recommendation.

Corporator Ken Textor of Arrowsic tried to change the terms of the agreement, making a motion to strike certain portions of the agreement, especially those relating to the supervision of director Anne Phillips and to the internal governance of the library and board of trustees.  His motion was ultimately defeated.

Anne Phillips herself spoke, too.  Although members of the mediation committee indicated that she supported the agreement, at the meeting she very clearly stated that she did not support it.  “No director would accept this kind of constraint,” she said.  “This agreement is not acceptable to me.”

Upon hearing this, Alice Meyers asked to speak again.  “I only agreed [to the mediation] because Nyree supported this,” she said.  “Now, I don’t think I can agree with it.  This director needs to be dismissed immediately.”

Only six corporators voted in favor of Textor’s amendments to the agreement, while 50 voted against.  By a vote of 49-21, the mediation agreement was agreed to by the corporators.   

With the conclusion of the mediation, other Library business, such as the election of a new slate of officers for the Board of Trustees, can move forward.  The corporators will meet at a later time to consider the slate.

One of the possible chairmen for the next term is David Miller, who was on the mediation committee.  When asked about Phillips’ statement that she would not agree to the mediation agreement, Miller said, “That is a matter for the trustees to work on …. It will be difficult for a director to work within an agreement she has publicly stated that she will not consent to.  We trustees will take it up at the next meeting.”

Nyree Thomas is not sure what her next step will be, but she believes she will continue to work with children and literacy in another way in the future.  “I love children, and I believe that reading is essential to a quality education,” she said.