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JUN 15 1581

Mayor and Council June 15th, 1981

MEMORANDUM

Alderman M.R. Wright Mra. J. Birnie
Community Librarian
Port Coquitlam Public Library

SUBJECT: Fraser Valley Regional Library System.

Recent events in the Fraser Valley Regional Library (FVRL) System have
led to a great deal of concern, rumour and misinformation being quoted
in the Press and Municipal Council Chambers alike. This report is an
attempt to clarify what has happened, what is happening and what our
hopes are for the future.

As Vice-Chairman of the Board of Management of the FVRL I believe that the
Board, after having been made aware of the facts, acted in a responsible
Manner and that the action taken by the Board was in the best interests

of the Library System and the Public as a whole.

Last Saturday, June 13th, 198i, the Board of Management held a Special
Board Meeting which was attended by the Public, Staff of the Library System
and the Press. The following remarks are, in fact, a summary of that
Public Meeting.

To set the record straight: -

- 4d) Mr. H. Overend, the Director of the FVRL until recently,
was not discharged three years prior to his retirement.

Mr. Overend was offered the most~senior Professional Librarian
Position in the system at his Present salary with annual
increments of 12% until he Teaches his 65th birthday. All
fringe benefits would continue until his retirement.

Mr. Overend did not accept this very generous offer.

The auditor's report, for the period January ~ December 1980,
indicated there was a deficit $377,000 sum of which was
attributed to the alleged embezzlement and the remainder being
monies spent, without Board authorization, from a reserve fund.

The total of funds missing due to the alleged embezzlement is
$140,000 and not the $200,000 mentioned in the District of
Abbotsford letter. The $140,000 figure covers the period of
January 1979 to May 1981.

Four weeks ago Mr. Gordon Newhouse of G, Newhouse and Associates, Management
Consultants, was retained by the Board of Management to conduct a search

for a new Executive Director and also to act as interim Executive Director
until a replacement could be found for Mr. Overend. An accountant,

Mr. Gary Stewart, was also retained on an_interim basis until a permanent

Office Manager could be found. - _
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