By Juan Soto
Borough President Melinda Katz appointed two more trustees to the Queens Library’s board after firing six of them last summer for failing to oust its then president, Thomas Galante.
All six tried to get their jobs back, but a judge dismissed the lawsuit against Katz.
The removal of the trustees was a reaction from the borough president to a series of reports alleging fiscal mismanagement and questioning Galante’s external income.
New to the board are Adrienne Adams, chairwoman of Jamaica’s Community Boards 12, and Eli Shapiro, a schools social worker in Nassau County.
“I am honored to be appointed” to the board of trustees of the Queens Library, Adams said. “The library is a significant educational resource for all Queens residents, especially our children.”
Shapiro noted, “I look forward to the opportunity to work with my fellow board members on making sure all our communities have access to the vital services the library provides.”
Katz said the new appointments took effect Tuesday..
“Both have impressive backgrounds in education and they both have a deep commitment to ensuring that the Queens Library remains a top-notch resource for our borough,” Katz said referring to the latest appointments.
Adams and Shapiro will participate in the next board meeting scheduled for Jan. 22.
In August, Jukay Hsu and Robert Santos replaced two other of the fired trustees. There are still two vacant positions in the library’s board.
