Finkelstein Library Trustee Submits Complaint Against Library Board President

At the last meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Finkelstein Memorial Library, Esther Waldman submitted a formal complaint against board president, Denet Alexandre. The complaint detailed several instances of the board president’s misconduct, incapacity, and neglect of duty. Esther Waldman explained that she was filing the complaint because, “These are matters of bylaws and policy that have been repeatedly broken by our board president, and I think that we, as a board, are required to hold ourselves accountable.” The board refused to discuss the matter and tried to brush it aside. Esther Waldman, refusing to allow the dysfunction and negligence of the board to continue, demanded that a special meeting be held to discuss the matter.

This formal complaint comes on the heels of months of dysfunction and negligence, dating back to before last year’s library election. In that election, Vivian Street, a former board member who had served for several five-year terms, was re-elected to her seat on board. However, she neglected to take her oath of office within thirty days of the start of her term, and so her seat was vacated. In line with the board’s mission of restoring faith in the library, holding each other accountable, and governing with transparency, the newer board members voted not to reappoint Ms. Street after her failure to take her oath on time.

During the same election, Esther Waldman and Sandra Duncan were elected to fill two newly-created seats – or so they thought. In the months following the election it was discovered that when the Board had voted to expand from five to seven trustees, the board at the time had neglected to check whether this change was legally valid. As a result of the board’s negligence, the votes cast for Esther Waldman and the other newly elected trustee, were not legally binding, and the two new trustees were “appointed” to their positions instead. However, because of this legal change in status from elected to appointed, instead of the five-year term the community had voted for, the appointment is only valid until the next election on May 6. This means that to continue serving, they need to run for re-election.

Denet Alexandre, has served on the board for fifteen years and has been president of the board for a majority of that time. Throughout his tenure, his inability to lead the board, his neglect to inform the board of ongoing issues, and his complete disregard for transparency and the law, have left many pressing issues in the library in limbo. For example, during the last meeting, the five-month lack of a Treasurer was discussed. The board has a duty to appoint a treasurer, yet Mr. Alexandre had several excuses as to why he hadn’t introduced the single qualified applicant for the position to the rest of the board. Additionally, his neglect to implement recommendations from the independent auditor, which were made last June, were discussed and tabled as well.

Esther Waldman told Monsey Scoop, “in the eleven months since people voted for me to represent them on the library board, I realized that before we can improve the library and its services, we need to improve the way it is governed. Many of the issues facing the library stem from a lack of transparency and leadership. Since my election, I have fought for us to execute the duties of the board with transparency, fiscal responsibility, and most importantly, the community’s needs in mind. However, because of the Board President’s disregard for the basic needs of the library, and because of his tendency to table and delay necessary action that are important to the function of the library, it has become apparent that he is no longer fit to lead the board, or even to serve on it. It is time to turn the page and usher in a new era of vitality, passion, and responsibility.”

Esther Waldman is running for re-election to maintain her position on the board and continue to implement positive change.

(Monsey Scoop Headquarters – Rockland County)