An ongoing feud between the Newport Beach (Calif.) Library board of trustees and the library foundation escalated January 18 as the trustees demanded that foundation managers vacate their offices in the library building and turn over the $1.5 million in its fund to the trustees. The Newport Beach city council, which had previously hoped to stay above the fray, offered the foundation temporary offices in the municipal building.
The board is attempting to sever ties with the foundation completely, take control of the monies it has raised, and prohibit its use of the library’s name, according to the January 26 Los Angeles Times. However, city attorney Bob Burnham believes the foundation must be managed independently to maintain its nonprofit status.
Following the collapse of talks in mid-January, the city council had hoped the increasingly bitter negotiations could be resumed under the supervision of a mediator. But trustee chairman Jim Wood refused to continue discussions, citing the “countless” hours already spent trying to reconcile the trustees’ and foundation’s positions.
Posted January 31, 2000.