There’ve been many meetings since Pawlet library director Lyndsi Barnes was unceremoniously fired in November. Yet, three months later we still have no word as to why it happened or whether it was actually legal. No answers. No statement.

But now we have a new mystery to add to our list: Who is paying for the Library Board’s attorney?

Instead of answers, there’s been a tremendous amount of evasiveness from the Library Board. What we do know is that the Library Board now has legal representation- Gary Cupferer of Rutland, VT. This is separate from the lawyer who represents the Pawlet Select Board (Merrill Bent of Manchester, VT). We also know that they refuse to disclose who is paying for it.

The town isn’t paying for it. The library isn’t paying for it. The Library Board Chair isn’t paying for it.

When pressed at the January 2 Library Board meeting, Library Board Chair Harley Cudney said that although he would not reveal their identity, he does know who is paying for the attorney’s advice. He added that when Cufperer informed him who it was he “didn’t believe the answer when he heard it.”

Is this getting weirder all the time or what?

Yes, we need to have patience as the wheels of government, and their assorted legal advisors, slowly turn. But if our representatives in local boards imagine this issue will quietly go away without any review or explanation, I think they are making a serious misstep. Pawlet townspeople clearly care about this firing and how it was handled, and whether it is allowed to stand.

Folks, I truly believe we all want the best possible resolution to what has become a very messy and unpleasant situation. I believe that the Pawlet Library is beloved by pretty much everyone who lives here and that this debacle has come to be symbolic of a larger matter: that of overall town governmental transparency.

The next Library Board AND Select Board meetings are being held on Tues. Feb 6 at 5:30 PM at the Library and 7PM at the Town Hall, respectively. I encourage everyone who cares about this issue to attend, (Select Board meetings may also be attended via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3494892532 Meeting ID: 349 489 2532 )