CEO of Windsor, ON, PL Leaves After Controversy

• Library board won’t say whether CEO was fired
• Library paid for part of Bell’s law degree
• CEO said apprenticeship was part of recovery from stress

The controversial saga of the CEO of the Windsor Public Library, ON, intensified last week when Brian Bell, who while on sick leave had been interning at a local law firm, left his library job, but without a full public explanation. As reported in the Windsor Star, Alan Halberstadt, the chairman of the library board, would not say whether Bell resigned or was fired, saying the library's lawyer has advised against comment. By contrast, Mayor Eddie Francis, a critic of Bell, said he believed the city, which is responsible for most of the library funding, should know whether Bell’s contract was bought out.

“Did we send him to law school, then let him leave without repaying any of that money?" Francis told the newspaper. Bell had told the Star the library had provided some $20,000 CDN over six years to help fund his law degree. Citing stress and high blood pressure, with backup from his doctor, Bell requested his leave of absence in late March, and had remained on the library payroll. 

In July, the newspaper reported that Bell was “articling” —in the Canadian legal system, a necessary apprenticeship—at a local law firm. Bell told the newspaper he wasn’t being paid by the law firm, calling that inappropriate. (Many, if not most, articling positions are paid.)

Tensions with city
Bell’s situation also drove city councilors to cut the library’s $8.7-million 2008 budget by $400,000, but requiring the cuts not affect branches or hours.

"The board does not feel he is fulfilling his contractual obligations by articling," Halberstadt told the newspaper in July. In 11 years working for the library and city, Bell had accumulated holidays and sick days to remain on the payroll until late September 

To the newspaper, Bell described  the articling process as part of his recovery. "Here I don't have to worry about 100 to 300 people, budget constraints or all that comes with the (library CEO) job. It's not stressful here in the same sense that caused my medical problems,” he said. “I'm articling here, but I could be in class somewhere or pottery lessons."

He defended his pursuit of a law degree: “The library is all about higher education and you have to be prepared to walk the walk. I've always felt it's something that benefits the library."