Judge-Exec.: No 'ol' boys' network in Boyd

Oct. 11—CATLETTSBURG — A brief back-and-forth ensued at Tuesday's Boyd County Fiscal Court meeting between Judge-Executive Eric Chaney and Library Director Debbie Cosper over the appointment of library board members.

After Chaney said he denied the two proposed board members and recommended his own — who hadn't applied — based on knowing the candidate, Cosper argued his reasoning "screams good 'ol' boy network."

During public comment section, a resident requested the court reconsider its denial of two candidates who had been recommended by the library to serve as board members.

According to state statutes, a county library can fill vacant board seats by recommending two potential candidates to Kentucky's Department for Libraries and Archives — which then forwards the two candidates to the judge-executive and fiscal court for selection and final vote.

The complainant stated he only asked for reconsideration and an explanation after his recommendation had been denied by Chaney, as he lived in the community for 35 years and felt he was a quality candidate for the position.

Chaney explained he didn't know the man and had no ill intent toward anyone, but said the library board essentially governed and selected itself, leaving little room for input by the court and ultimately no representation for community members when it came to decisions that affected all of Boyd County, including tax rates and expenditures.

"Every other board in Boyd County that is appointed from this fiscal court, is a selection of this court as a whole, usually based off my recommendation," Chaney said.

Library boards in Kentucky exist autonomously, setting their own tax rates and acting as their own governing body — which Chaney said leaves no room for checks and balances, outside of his ability to reject board recommendations and return his own.

"I have to appoint people based off of recommendations and then people that I feel that I know, right? This is the first time that I've met you. This is the first time that we've had a conversation," Chaney said to the man. "Now, KRS dictates that we kind of have a little bit more control over who we choose to be on our library board; that's what I'm exploring right now."

The man said he was confused as Chaney's stance is usually the absence of government when things can work out on their own, causing Chaney to briefly interject, arguing the law tells him he "has to" get involved.

"No it says you can. Just because you can doesn't mean you should," the man responded. "So you're choosing to do that."

Chaney volleyed any appointment for any other board in the county is also his choice.

"What makes the library board operation separate from everyone or more important than any other board set up in the county?" Chaney asked.

The man didn't have a direct answer, but proposed the process worked successfully in the past, raising the age-old "If it ain't broke, why are you fixing it?"

Chaney then referred the conversation to Cosper, regarding previous funds available before the construction of the new Midland Branch location in Summit.

"Do you remember, I reached out to you before I ran for Judge-Exec. and we talked. You wouldn't give me the information and I had to file an open records request. ... My job is taxpayer money. I care about that and transparency," Chaney said. "Did you or did you not have enough money to fully fund the library at least 80-90% cash-money on hand as you constructed?"

Cosper said the money — several million dollars — was set aside so the library didn't have to take out a loan for operational costs while waiting on tax revenue to be collected.

"We had enough money to purchase the land and we did for cash ... to only borrow $2.4 million — we only used $2 million of that," Cosper said.

"That's why I want representation on the board," Chaney followed, reiterating until the statute came out, the library lacked any representation from the people who created the library district — the fiscal court.

Cosper took the podium after the rejected applicant was invited to sit down with Chaney for a one-on-one conversation.

Cosper said the application process is opened to any of-age citizen in Boyd County, adding, "You don't have to know anyone on the board to apply."

"Why does it have to be somebody you know? Truly it should be somebody who represents the library," Cosper said.

"Our library is funded by taxpayer dollars, the same as us. I just don't understand how the library, essentially, gets to pick their own board members," Chaney responded.

"I guess my problem here is, you choose somebody you know. It screams 'ol' boy network," Cosper said, which stirred Commissioner David Salisbury to the conversation.

"So does it scream 'ol' girl network 'cause you choose who you want?" Salisbury responded.

While Chaney said he understood Cosper's "fair" concern, he gently batted back at the comment, saying if he was part of an "ol' boy" network, he wouldn't have appointed more Democrats to boards than he had Republicans.

Chaney used his appointment of an interim county clerk over current Clerk Kevin Johnston for an example.

"I could've very easily looked at Kevin Johnston ... 'I'd love for you to come and be the clerk of Boyd County. You're a fellow Republican. We'd love to have ya,'" Chaney said.

"That's not what I did. You wanna know why I didn't do that? Because that's the good 'ol' boys' club ... (That is) something that I've spent the last five years trying to bust and get out of."

Cosper apologized for insulting Chaney with the statement, which Chaney said didn't hurt his feelings, he was only passionate.

"Me and you are friends ... I just feel that this board shouldn't be treated any different than any other board in the state of Kentucky," Chaney said.

(606) 326-2652 — mjepling@dailyindependent.com