Boyd: Drama continues at the soap opera known as the Indianapolis Public Library board

The Indianapolis Public Library board’s continuous dysfunction has worn thin and is now to the point of exasperation. Whether the board chooses Nichelle Hayes to be CEO or not, it needs to repair the damage done to the board’s reputation, the trust broken between the community, particularly the Black community, and the board and, probably most importantly, the relationship between Hayes and the board — should she continue to work at the library.

It’s been a mess for a couple of years now, and I was hopeful the appointment of Dr. Eugene White would help quell the drama.

White’s first board meeting blew that hope out the water — at least for now.

After his appointment by the city-county council, White indicated he would stand up for Hayes and recommend hiring her as CEO. That was March 6. By March 27, White did an about-face and said he no longer supported naming Hayes as CEO.

Changed his mind: Indianapolis library board's Dr. White flips, opposes Hayes for CEO. Read his email.

On March 6, White said the board’s reasons for not hiring Hayes as CEO were “weak” and he planned to fix it. On March 27, White explained he didn’t have all the details when he made his statement in support of Hayes. OK. You don’t receive all the information board members have until you actually become a board member, which is why it would’ve been best to say nothing. I respect White. He is highly educated and has plenty of executive experience, so one would think he would know better.

"I was supposed to be their savior, and I'm just telling the truth," White said.

He set up an expectation — not just hope — for Hayes’ supporters that he would back her. Then he didn’t. It felt like a betrayal ­— another betrayal.

What others are reading: Boyd: Like a petulant child, IndyPL library board sticks beside its bad decisions

If that wasn’t enough controversy for one night, then came White’s email to Hayes.

Wow. Just wow!

That email hit like Batman and Robin when they fought villains in the old “Batman” TV series: BAM! BOOM! SPLAT! White threw punches from all different directions and finally shed light on the board’s reasoning for not hiring Hayes. I tried not to read emotions into the email, but it’s pretty hard not to. When you start an email with the time of day you’re writing and how long you’ve been waiting on someone to call, that certainly doesn’t make me think you’re in a joyful mood.

According to White, the board never had any intentions on hiring Hayes as CEO; they just strung her along.

“They knew that you were not ‘ready’ for the job. However, they played the game of keeping you in the process because they just knew the lady from California or the guy from Atlanta would beat you out. They never thought that you would be the last candidate standing and when you were they didn’t have the courage to tell the community why they didn’t give you the job,” White told Hayes in the email.

I think many of us have surmised the board never wanted to hire Hayes as CEO, but now we have confirmation, especially after they so brazenly disregarded a directive from the city-county council — one of the bodies that appoints board members — to hire Hayes. At any point in the process, the board could’ve let Hayes know they didn’t think she had the experience necessary to be CEO and not allow her to go forward. Instead, they allowed her to think she had a chance. Why the mind games? Why waste the board’s time and Hayes’ time — and most importantly, taxpayer dollars? If the board would’ve been honest with Hayes months ago, this mess would’ve likely been avoided.

After explaining to Hayes why he thinks she’s unqualified to be CEO and offering her two other positions, White then tells Hayes acting CEO Greg Hill has the expertise needed to become the permanent CEO. Was White appointed spokesperson for the board? Does he have authority to offer Hayes those positions? It’s a little odd that White extols Hill’s experience when Hill previously turned down the position. Does White know something we don’t? Has Hill also had a change of heart and now wants the job? I can’t see why his experience matters if he doesn’t want the position.

And if Hill has so much experience why did the library hire a chief administrative officer to fill in the gap in areas where he lacks expertise?

Temporary position: Amid CEO controversy, library board appoints temp executive as No. 2 leader

I guess we’ll have to tune in later this month to find out if all my questions and more are answered on the next episode of the Indianapolis Public Library.

Contact IndyStar Public Engagement Editor Oseye Boyd at oboyd@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @oseyetboyd.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis Public Library board has more drama than a soap opera