TENNERTON — On Wednesday, Upshur County Public Library Board President Dennis Xander walked out of the directors’ meeting, after the public demanded a response to controversial LGBT children’s books that are presently under review. Dozens of Upshur County residents filled the board room, including multiple news outlets.
Last week, Upshur County Public Library Director Paul Norko told Mountaineer Journal that the issue would be discussed during the November 20ᵗʰ meeting, but today the item was not found on the agenda.
The board meeting covered discussions on the library’s regular operations before Board President Xander attempted to enter into executive session to clear the room. Following the executive session, the meeting would be adjourned.
“I’m sorry, I’m going to ask everyone to leave now because we have to do the evaluation in executive session,” Xander said to the people in attendance. “Ya’ll need to leave.”
Both sides became enraged.
“Are we coming back in after the executive session?” asked a gentleman in the back of the room.
“We don’t have anything else on the agenda, correct?” Norko asked Xander.
Xander refused to respond.
This was when another member of the community spoke up, demanding the library board of directors to address the controversy.
“So, this many people usually come to the regular meeting?” attendee Rob Allen asked Xander. “It’s obvious why we’re all here, and you refuse to address it.”
Norko then sarcastically responded back and said that the board members regularly attend, but the large audience does not.
“So, you’re not going to address the public’s concerns about the books?” Allen asked.
“You’re more than welcome to submit written comments,” Xander responded. “We haven’t had a single conversation about this. We’re not going to sit here for hours…and hours…and hours and listen to people saying the same thing. We know pretty much what this is doing. This will be addressed at a future [meeting].”
Allen then asked Xander to specifically name the issue.
“You’re out of order, out!” Xander snapped.
Then, Xander began attempting to stifle the criticism, but most of the people in attendance refused to leave.
“I’m just asking. It’s my community and my library. I can ask you about this, sir,” Allen responded. “We have all been here to talk about it; you can’t tell me that [this many] people regularly show up for meetings like this.”
“I’m sorry, but we’re not going to address this,” Xander told Allen. “We’re entering into executive session, we’re sticking with the rules, and you’re not welcome.”
Furthermore, Xander claimed that this issue was never scheduled on the agenda to be discussed.
“My understanding was, today was the intent to address this situation,” Allen stated.
“Well, I’m sorry you misunderstood,” Xander stated.
“I’m sure that 50-plus other people here were under the same impression,” Allen exclaimed.
“I’m sorry they misunderstood,” Xander responded.
Mountaineer Journal also confronted the directors, establishing that they led the press to believe that they would be covering this issue.
“Okay, you’ve had your time to speak. It’s time for you all to move so we can continue with our meeting. If not, we can just move to adjourn and go home now,” Xander snapped.
“Can they kick us all out?” yelled a voice in the back of the room.
Xander then moved to end the executive session and to adjourn the meeting.
“I will entertain a motion to adjourn,” Xander stated.
None of the other directors seconded his motion to adjourn.
“I’m not doing this,” Xander stated. “You guys can sit here all day, but I’m going home.”
Xander stormed out of the board meeting, making his way through the crowd.
Norko expressed that the book, Prince and Knight, will remain off the shelves until the library board of directors has a chance to properly review it. The next board meeting will be held on January 15, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.