Friday, July 22, 2005

What do you think of this story? Click here to send a message to the editor.

Council argues over library promotion

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

Senoia librarian Aimee Scarbrough will have to wait until next month to see if she’ll have another full-time employee.

Scarbrough told the City Council Monday night that she wanted to promote her assistant to full-time status because of the growth at the library.

In the last two years, the number of patrons at the library has increased from 400 a month to more than 1,000 a month. Scarbrough also said circulation had increased from 1,200 a month to more than 2,000.

“I’d love to have a book club and other activities at the library, but I just can’t do it right now,” she said.

Scarbrough said that assistant Mary Ruth Davidson had been at the library for two years and moving her to full-time would cost another $15,000 a year in salary and benefits.

While the City Council agreed that more help was needed, they couldn’t agree on the exact procedure.

Councilman Bill Wood suggested that a job description be drawn up for the position and that it be advertised in the community.

“We’re ahead of the curve here. What are the exact qualifications for the position?” Wood wondered.

But Councilman Larry Owen said Scarbrough was merely seeking a promotion and didn’t understand why the City Council couldn’t move forward on the issue.

“I think we’re making too much of this. We don’t need a job description,” he added.

But motions to promote Davidson and write a job description failed, so the issue was table until the Aug. 1 City Council meeting.