Savannah Board Finally Fires
Director Dickerson
After months of conflict, the Chatham-Effingham-Liberty Regional Library board finally fired Library Director Lon Dickerson August 15. The 7-to-6 vote came after a new board member who sided with the anti-Dickerson members was appointed to replace a trustee who resigned following a July 18 walkout by his supporters, a move that blocked a vote on Dickerson’s termination.
Dickerson had angered the board by withholding some $300,000 due to Chatham County from the Savannah, Georgia–based library system. He argued that the library was entitled to the money because the county failed to approve the library’s requested budget and refused to authorize spending money saved because of a hiring freeze. The Savannah News reported August 17 that Dickerson had resigned as director of the Omaha, Nebraska, library system in 1996 after a similar disagreement with the board.
The resolution called on Dickerson to vacate his office by August 18, although he will receive six months’ severance pay. Board Chair Mary Ellen Sprague, who led the fight to oust Dickerson, said she hopes to fill the position within six months.
Posted August 21, 2000.
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