Library Board Member Says She Had Conflict of Interest
By Adam Belz, Reporter
Phyllis Fleming
By
Becky Ogann
Story Created:
Feb 9, 2010 at 6:40 PM CST
Story Updated:
Feb 10, 2010 at 12:18 PM CST
CEDAR RAPIDS - A former Gazette employee who sits on the library board said Tuesday she should have abstained from the vote on where to build the new Cedar Rapids Public Library.
Phyllis Fleming, a 45-year employee who retired as the newspaper’s assistant managing editor in 2002, said she had a conflict of interest. She was working as a paid consultant for Gazette Communications, conducting a two-week accuracy audit of The Gazette and GazetteOnline at the time of the vote. She completed the project on Tuesday.
Later Tuesday, the library board to discuss the Cedar Rapids Board of Ethics Rules and Procedures, and Fleming explained the situation. She declined to comment on the telephone Monday night.
The volunteer library board has come under some criticism for choosing The Gazette site as the location for a new library because two library board members are former Gazette employees — Fleming and Hilery Livengood, who was an online editor from 1995 to 1999.
Eight of nine library board members were present at Thursday’s meeting, where they went around the room and chose Gazette Communications block over the Emerald Knights site by a tally of 5-3. Both Fleming and Livengood chose The Gazette site. Once a clear majority was established, the board held a formal vote in which it selected The Gazette site by a vote of 8-0.
Board President Susan Corrigan, in a statement, said the only vote that mattered was the unanimous one, and Fleming’s conflict of interest “did not impact the final results.”
“It was an unfortunate and unintentional mistake,” Corrigan said. “Phyllis realizes now that she should have abstained from the discussion and vote and deeply regrets any issues this may have caused.”
KCRG-TV9 & KCRG.com are owned by Gazette Communications.
More Good Stuff
Conversation Guidelines
Be Kind
Don't use abusive, offensive, threatening, racist, vulgar or sexually-oriented language.
Don't attack someone personally. Keep it civil and be responsible.
Share Knowledge
Be truthful. Share what you know and what you are passionate about.
What more do you want to learn? Keep it simple.
Stay focused
Promote lively and healthy debate. Stay on topic. Ask questions and give feedback on the story's topic.
Report Trouble
Help us maintain a quality comment section by reporting comments that are offensive. If you see a comment that is offensive, or you feel violates our guidelines, simply click on the "x" to the far right of the comment to report it.
read the full guidelines here »
Commenting will be disabled on stories dealing with the following subject matter: Violent crime, sexual abuse, Amber Alerts, Operation Quickfinds and suicides.
Most Popular >>