Remember when an elementary school paraprofessional for the Mill Falls Charter School (who is also a Goffstown Budget committee member) spoke at a September School Board meeting and publicly announced that gender information was being taught to kindergarten-aged children?
She proudly exclaimed, “It is being done.” Then, was angry that a Department of Education investigation was initiated into the school.
Well, another example of unhinged bias in the Goffstown Public Library happened recently through public comment that was circulated at a Goffstown Board of Library Trustees meeting. The incident started when a Goffstown resident emailed the board asking why they renamed a recent holiday and how that decision came about. After a lapse in response, the resident (who happens to be openly gay) filed a Right to Know request for all emails relating to that holiday subject.
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Once received, those emails showed evidence of the Library Director, Dianne Hathaway, asking fellow Library Trustee Board members for “help in crafting a response that doesn’t call [name redacted] an asshole.”
The Library Board of Trustees Chairperson, Diane Hebert, responded with an email that ended with “Tell him to suck it, bigot boy.”
Shocked, hurt, and appalled by these responses, the resident asked for a public apology from Dianne Hathaway, the Library Director, and for the resignation of Diane Hebert, the Library Board of Trustees Chair. Neither of which ensued. Dianne Hathaway and Diane Hebert only apologized to the resident through a private email AFTER being required and recommended by the Library Board of Trustees to do so, not before. Their behavior is concerning and unprofessional. Libraries are meant to be inclusive, safe spaces for all members of the community, and such behavior goes against the principles of respect, tolerance, and inclusivity.
Goffstown’s Code of Conduct for elected, appointed, paid, or volunteer officials states that “it is important that the public have confidence in the integrity of its government.” How do calling citizens “assholes” and “bigot boys” represent integrity? All he did was ask a question. Lately, Goffstown residents have submitted multiple complaints to the Select Board, Parks & Recreation Commission, School Board, and Library Board against different town board members, and the board’s leadership continues to find that ‘no violations have taken place,’ and there have been zero consequences for bad behavior.
Brian Campbell, a liberal Library Board trustee member who stepped into that position after running unopposed last year, recently stated that “they” (referring to conservatives) are organizing and producing candidates for Library Board to bring about harmful change. They are opposed to our award-winning director’s leadership.” It is so interesting to watch leftists take a situation and twist it into a narrative to suit their agenda. Is he saying because she won an award, her behavior is ok? I wonder if she was a conservative in leadership, would he be singing a different tune, demanding her resignation, and plastering what she said all over the town’s social media pages?
As of today, the majority of Goffstown has no idea that the Library Director and Library Board of Trustees chair were engaged in this type of name-calling behavior. Now they will. The Library Board of Trustees should demand Diane Hebert’s resignation as chair immediately. Dianne Hathaway should make a public apology statement on their social media page for full transparency.
It is crucial for such appointed and elected town individuals to be held accountable for their actions. What’s the point of a Code of Conduct if the boards don’t use it as a guideline for addressing these kinds of behaviors?
Goffstown and others, local elections are important.
Editors note: the author’s identity has been confirmed but shall remain anonymous.
