HamCo leaders favor giving library board spots to Fishers, Noblesville after controversy

Hamilton County officials said they favor transferring some library appointments to Fishers and Noblesville after battles about a controversial book relocation policy made national headlines and widespread criticism was directed at the suburbs.

The cities — primarily Fishers — were lambasted on social media and elsewhere by opponents of the policy despite having made no appointments to the Hamilton East Public Library board, which runs independently of municipal government.

Mayor Scott Fadness and some county officials now say the turmoil revealed it’s time to give the cities a tangible say in the board’s membership.

If people were going to lay the blame for the library's action on the city, Fadness said, "I'd like a seat at the table."

Change would require altering state law

The proposal would require a change in state law that would permit the Hamilton County Commission and the County Council to give to the cities two of their four appointments to the HEPL board.

Officials said the change would provide the cities a measure of accountability in the HEPL board’s composition, and bring them in line with Carmel and Westfield, which, by a quirk in the law, already make appointments to their libraries.

“The law on this is so old and our county is growing so fast that it needs to change drastically to ensure the cities are adequately represented,” said County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt.

The months-long simmering debate about a policy to move books considered offensive to children from the teen and children's section to the adult shelves exploded about a month ago when the library relocated Indiana author John Green's book, “A Fault in Our Stars."

Green lashed out on social media against city leaders, saying he wouldn’t be caught “alive or dead in Fishers" and that the municipalities should be “embarrassed.” His book was eventually moved back to the teen shelves. Green's quote about Fishers was turned into a t-shirt.

But neither Fishers nor Noblesville appoints any members to the library board. Instead, the county commission, county council and the Noblesville School Board each appoint two members; and the Hamilton Southeastern Schools board chooses one.

Heirbrandt said Fishers was “unfairly criticized.”

"They had no input at all," in the board's composition, he said.

County Commission President Christine Altman said she also favors amending the state code, which is “outdated” and written when the cities were much smaller and residents in unincorporated areas needed to be represented.

“The district boundaries have evolved,” she said.

Fadness agreed.

“It’s long overdue," Fadness said. "The majority of people being served by the Fishers library are Fishers residents and it is only logical we would have a say in the board’s make-up.”

See the replay: HEPL board suspends book review process

'Collateral damage'

Fadness had a long and amiable phone conversation with Green and the author "understood Fishers and the administration were not to blame" for the discord at the HEPL board, the mayor said.

"He gets that there was collateral damage," to Fishers' reputation, Fadness said. "Anytime something like this spreads throughout the country it is not good."

While Green took aim at the suburbs, opponents of the re-shelving policy directed their ire at the four conservative members of the board who voted in favor of moving hundreds of books.

Three of the four members were appointed by the county panels, including its most conservative members, controversial pastor Micah Beckwith and Ray Maddalone.

In August commissioners said they would discuss in private with Maddalone and its other appointee, Craig Siebe, “expectations” for them on the library board.

“I’d like to see if we can get everything tamped down and see if we can get that library board to operate ... in a cohesive manner,” Altman said at a commission meeting. “It has just gotten out of control and we need to get it back where we have a library for all.”

Indiana law grants four appointees to county executives because the HEPL district boundaries straddle two cities. Altman speculated that the intent was to ensure that residents from all the townships were represented. Westfield and Carmel each get one appointment on their library boards because the districts are limited to the city boundaries, according to state law.

County Councilor Amy Massillaminy said she would gladly surrender an appointment to a city.

“I would be all for it,” she said. “It would be great for city representation. People in their community should have a say in this important issue. It should be a collective where everyone has representation.”

County Council President Ken Alexander said he would favor a change only if the cities wanted it, calling the lack of an appointment "an anomaly.”

“I am willing to work with the municipalities to provide proper representation that mimics the other libraries,” Alexander said.

Noblesville officials on the fence about board change

Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen said he had mixed feelings about a change, which could be construed as “passing the buck.” He said he was perfectly satisfied with the Noblesville school board’s appointments.

In mid-August, the school board voted against re-appointing HEPL Board President Laura Alerding, a member of the conservative majority, and replaced her with Bill Kenley, a Noblesville English teacher.

“If they want to add an appointment (for the city) I’m always happy to consider good people for good appointments,” he said. “I won’t fight it but I have a lot of bigger things to worry about.”

Noblesville City Councilor Pete Schwartz also said an appointment is not something the city is clamoring for or demanding.

“I don't have an opinion either way,” he said. “I’m sure we can find good people in the city to appoint and it would give a sense of accountability to the city, an additional check and balance.”

Heirbrandt said he would discuss amending the state law with Hamilton County members of the general assembly, who would need to introduce legislation during the legislative session, which begins each January.

Call IndyStar reporter John Tuohy at 317-444-6418. Email at john.tuohy@indystar.com and follow on X/Twitter @john_tuohy and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana county favors giving cities library board spots after dustup