Goshen Library Board: Personnel Emergency, Suspension of Thursday Evening Hours, Steinmeier to Return as Temporary Director
Special Meeting 8/18/2025
Present: Chair, Henrietta Horvay, Josephine Jones, Patricia Sanders, Johanna Kimball, Lynette Miller and Anne Green
The Library Board held a special meeting to address the recent termination of the library director, the resignation of a library employee, and the impact of those changes on library operations.
Chair Henrietta Horvay opened the meeting by noting that the library’s three current staff members had agreed to work additional hours to cover operations. She said she would provide Board members with a copy of the schedule.
Board member Lynette Miller told the Board, “State Library Association says we have to have two paid staff on each floor,” citing the guideline as a reason to consider reducing library hours. When questioned by Josephine Jones, however, Miller admitted the staffing level was a “best practice,” rather than a statute.
1st Selectman Todd Carusillo reported that he had spoken with two people who could return to work at the library. Miller noted that hiring decisions fall under the purview of the Library Board. Carusillo, who serves as the town’s human resources director, reminded the Board that they had given him “full supervision of the library director.” Dexter Kinsella added, “The way I understood it, you were ceding the authority of the director, which would include hiring and firing.” Miller disagreed, citing state statute and the Library By-Laws. (Note: The statute cited, CGS 11-21, only refers to management of public libraries “In the absence of any other provision therefor”, while the Goshen Library is governed by its own bylaws.) Jones added, “When we took the action we took back in May, it was our intent only to remove the [Board] president as a supervisor. The first selectman was already on the job description as a supervisor. It was not our intent to abdicate any responsibilities whatsoever.”
Horvay and Miller argued over the lack of Zoom access to Friday’s (8/15) emergency meeting, with Horvay stating that for emergency meetings “you don’t have to have it on Zoom.” Miller countered that the decision to hold the meeting in person only had been made without discussion or a vote. Horvay replied that she had delayed scheduling the meeting until receiving advice from the attorney, since Miller had requested legal consultation.
Miller expressed concerns about Board communications, stating that members had not received certain information. She said, “. . . everything’s been unbeknownst to the Board, information that [Horvay] and Todd had, and the Board was kept in the dark.” Horvay responded, “That’s not the truth,” and both agreed to address the issue in executive session. Jones also asked that communications be shared with members before meetings.
The Board briefly discussed advertising for open positions. Horvay and Carusillo both confirmed that no advertisements had been posted.
The meeting concluded with a vote to enter executive session including the three selectmen to discuss the termination and resignation. No business was conducted after the executive session.
Regular Meeting 8/20/2025
Present: Chair, Henrietta Horvay, Josephine Jones, Patricia Sanders, Johanna Kimball, Lynette Miller and Anne Green
At the request of First Selectman Todd Carusillo, an executive session to discuss personnel matters was moved to the top of the agenda. Following nearly 40 minutes in executive session, the Board reconvened to regular business.
Henrietta Horvay distributed copies of four policies—Collection Development and Maintenance, Library Material Review and Reconsideration, Library Display, and Program—that must be reviewed and updated by October 1st to meet current State requirements. The Board then discussed possible dates for special meetings to work through both the policy revisions and a questionnaire submitted by the Planning and Zoning Commission for the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development.
Horvay reported that the Board of Selectmen had not yet responded to a facilities letter previously sent. She requested a motion “to push the issue.” The Board approved unanimously, a motion asking that needed repairs in the Children’s Room be addressed.
The discussion turned to computer purchases. Horvay stated that requested information from the First Selectman’s office had not been received, with four computers still remaining to be purchased from the 2024–2025 capital funds. A motion was passed unanimously, asking the First Selectman to ensure that the computers are purchased by September 15.
Two motions regarding library operations were also approved. First, Thursday evening library hours (6–8 p.m.), including the book club, were temporarily suspended. Second, former Library Director Lynn Steinmeier, who served from 2007 to 2023, was rehired as Director for up to 15 hours per week for no longer than six months.
