Tamika Price resigns as Harvey library treasurer
She’s exiting that role — not the board — citing scheduling issues. The Harvey Public Library District could possibly name a new treasurer, and board secretary, at a special meeting on Tuesday.
Treasurer Tamika Price resigned from that role during the Harvey Public Library District’s regular board meeting on Feb. 13. She’s still a board member, though.
“At this time, I’d like to formally resign as the treasurer from the board, because I know it’s a very important role, and trying to coordinate schedules to get everything set up with the bank accounts is taking longer than expected,” Price said.
Her spouse, vice president Keith Price, said the resignation came as a surprise to him. “Man, she’s just extremely busy. She said she didn’t have the time. I found out about it when everyone else found out. Honestly,” he told the HWH.
He, secretary Chapelle Hooks, and trustee Felicia Powell Johnson accepted the resignation. President Anthony McCaskill voted against her resignation, and trustee Charwana Morgan abstained from the vote. Trustee Angelette Taylor was absent.Both McCaskill and Tamika Price declined to comment further on the resignation and the board’s plans to fill the role.
According to the agenda for a special meeting on Feb. 18, the board will possibly approve a treasurer and board secretary. That role is currently filled by Hooks.
Treasurer’s report
Just before Price announced her resignation, the board voted to table the treasurer’s report while it awaits information from the Certified Public Accountant.
“Don’t we have the bills list?” Morgan, who joined remotely via phone, asked, unable to hear the motion to table the report until it was repeated to her.
“The bills list and treasurer’s report are two different things,” McCaskill clarified. “The treasurer’s report is generated based on reconciliation of the bank statements.”
No public comments were made during the meeting.
Remote presence and closed session
Morgan, who was absent due to illness, requested to attend the meeting remotely. The board approved her request — however, McCaskill voted against it, claiming the request was sent in too late. Powell Johnson abstained before ultimately voting down as well.
McCaskill read aloud an email he sent to Morgan prior to the meeting regarding her remote attendance.
“‘In the future, can you please send a request to be added to the regular board meeting the Monday before the meeting? Your request was submitted after the agenda was communicated to the board,’” he read.
However, Keith Price clarified that Morgan had requested remote attendance during the last meeting due to illness.
The board’s bylaws on virtual attendance require members to notify the library director at least 24 hours before the meeting so that a call-in number can be established, “unless such advance notice is impractical.”
Morgan was connected to the meeting via a wall phone but struggled to hear the discussion and repeatedly asked for members to speak louder during the vote. Later, Tamika Price called Morgan directly, which improved her audio connection.
At Tuesday’s special meeting, the board will consider the full-time placement of two temporary workers based on a consultant’s recommendation. They will also consider appointing a library administrator. That’s different from an executive director, Tamika Price said, and the board is not searching to fill an ED position.
Morgan requested to attend that meeting remotely as well, adding: “I do have ADA reasonable accommodations.”
Board members agreed she could attend the meeting remotely but clarified Morgan would not be allowed to attend an accompanying closed session remotely because “it’s not secure,” according to McCaskill.
Morgan argued this decision would violate her rights. “That’s not a violation of your rights. That’s the law,” Price responded.
We’re filling the void after the collapse of local newspapers decades ago. But we can’t do it without reader support.
Help us continue to publish stories like these
Author
Related Articles
HWH files lawsuit against Harvey library over financial records
The Harvey Public Library District rejected the release of over a year’s worth of bills lists, documents crucial to examining the public body’s spending behavior.
Harvey library board votes to ‘vacate the seat’ of trustee Tamika Price, prompting lawsuit
A law firm connected to the McCaskill family, which now runs the city’s library and park districts, was tapped to investigate the trustee. Pending those findings, the board vacated her seat. Now, she and another trustee are suing.
Harvey library trustee reports board president to state attorney general over outstanding public records requests
As the McCaskill family seizes influence over the city’s library, trustees are resorting to filing public records requests, seeking state intervention, and suing the library to fulfill their duties as library fiduciaries.
