Newport Beach PL Endures
Bitter Intramural Dispute
The Central Library of Newport Beach, California, has seen its fundraising efforts paralyzed recently thanks to a dispute between the library’s trustees and the Newport Beach Library Foundation.
Although no allegations of illegality have been brought, trustees and foundation administrators have quarreled extensively over the definition of “operational” spending. Trustees have charged that as much of 70% of donations are spent on the fund’s operation, while foundation members claim the actual figure is under 15%.
Further complicating the issue, trustees chair Jim Wood also chairs the committee in charge of fundraising for a new Arts and Education Center in what some see as a conflict of interest. However, City Attorney Bob Burnham has declared Wood’s position legal and proper, according to the December 18 Los Angeles Times.
The dispute was to have been resolved by the end of 1999, but it now appears an agreement will not be possible until well into 2000.
Posted December 27, 1999.
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