On November 21, the Mattapoisett Free Public Library Board of Trustees held their regular monthly meeting. But the meeting was far from regular as the board took up the matter of the library director’s sudden resignation.
After eight months on the job as the library director, Colleen Tierney resigned. Tierney had relocated from Texas to take over the vacancy created when Jennifer Jones left to take a directorship in a nearby community. Now the town once again finds itself tasked with filling an important role in the fabric of the town and its character.
During the board meeting, it surfaced that Tierney had been approached by Mathew Vangel of the Dartmouth-based Lamb of God Christian Church in asking about policies and procedures related to use of a community room in the library. He sought to hold Bible studies in the public space.
There ensued a series of exchanges between Vangel and Tierney and between Tierney and the Select Board’s office beginning in June 2024. During the trustees’ meeting, its members said that Tierney never told them or the Select Board of difficulties she had with Vangel’s request.
In a follow-up with Town Administrator Mike Lorenco, he stated that such difficulties “never came up” during his conversations with Tierney.
Lorenco also stated both during the meeting and the follow-up that the Select Board engaged legal counsel after receiving a demand letter from Vangel’s legal team for use of the library space. “The board decided to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Vangel for use of the library space,” Lorenco confirmed.
During the board meeting, the trustees made it clear that they were unaware of any difficulties between Vangel and Tierney that would have prompted her resignation. They also believed they should have been informed of the brewing uneasiness.
The trustees agreed collectively that it was time to review and overhaul the existing library handbook and take a hard look at various policies. Trustee William Coquillette stated, “We need to up our game, not be complacent.” Donald Fleming, a trustee, said, “We should have known about this.”
Lorenco said at the meeting that Tierney had “felt differently” about the MOU but that the Select Board, on advice of counsel, decided to sign it allowing Vangel to use the library’s community room while following established policies. Lorenco said, regarding legal matters, it is the Select Board’s responsibility. “I don’t make the decisions for the town, I’m just the store manager,” he said.
In the meantime, Library Trustees Chairman Ruth Joliffe said that the former director, Susan Pizzolatto, has returned on a part-time basis to help out. The trustees plan to create a new search committee that would include one or more residents.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Library Trustees is scheduled for December 19 at 4:00 pm in the library’s Marine Room.
Mattapoisett Free Public Library Board of Trustees
By Marilou Newell