PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The board of the Providence Community Library voted 6 to 2 to uphold the executive director's decision to fire Tom O'Donnell, manager of the Rochambeau, Fox Point and Smith Hill libraries.
Executive Director Laura Marlane said O'Donnell was dismissed for insubordination, failure to follow procedures/instructions and dishonesty. At issue were: where one library employee was to be assigned, the use of a temporary employee to fill vacancies other than vacations and sick days, and an employee whose outbursts made other employees feel unsafe.
Although comment or questions by the public was not allowed, about 50 people listened quietly, some from in the hallways of the community room at the South Providence Library, to at least two hours of testimony and discussion after an hour of delays while executives and lawyers met behind closed doors.
Tom O'Donnell's last name was misspelled in the original posting of this item.