Published: November 09, 2009 11:51 pm      

NIAGARA FALLS: Babanoury makes it official

As expected, long-time director resigns her post

Betty Babanoury has officially tendered her resignation as head of the Niagara Falls Public Library.

Delores Marino, library board president, said she received notice from Babanoury on Monday. Marino said the short letter was dated Nov. 4 and indicated that Babanoury’s resignation was effective immediately. Marino said Babanoury did not offer any reasons for her departure.

“I really can’t say because I don’t know for sure,” Marino said. “There have been a lot of things going on lately.”  Babanoury has for years found herself at odds with city leaders over financial support for the city’s two library branches. Her departure comes as library officials are attempting to secure additional funds from the city for operations at both the Main Street and LaSalle branches in 2010.

Her departure also comes as library board members are working with the New York state Comptroller’s Office to finalize an audit of library operations.

Long-time library board member Don King said the comptroller’s office was brought in to review the library’s finances at Babanoury’s request in hopes the state agency would be able to put to rest a long standing issue regarding the timeliness of delivery of funds from the city to the library. King indicated the audit report is now in its draft stages. Neither board member cited the auditors’ visit as a possible factor in Babanoury’s decision to step down.

“They are working on the final report,” Marino said.

Mayor Paul Dyster’s proposed 2010 budget allocated $1.7 million for the library, the same amount as the current year. Babanoury and other library officials requested an extra $65,664 to offset an expected drop in state aid. Library representatives recently called for a meeting with Mayor Paul Dyster and members of his administration to discuss various outstanding issues. Marino said Dyster’s office has tentatively scheduled agreed to meet with members of the library board on Dec. 2.

King said the current situation was indicative of the challenges Babanoury traditionally faced while dealing with the city during her tenure as the head of the city’s libraries. King suggested concern over the level of financial support for 2010 was a likely factor in her decision to leave, but said it probably wasn’t the only reason.

“I didn’t feel that she felt she was getting the support from city hall, not just now but for the last few years,” King said.

King characterized Babanoury as a “consummate professional” whose services will be missed. “I just think she kind of personified a touch of class,” King said. “The community is the big loser when we lose a quality person like Betty. We don’t know the effect of it yet, but I would wager that people like her are hard to find.”

The city’s library branches operate a combined 100 hours a week and have a total staff of 37 employees. Babanoury has served as director for the past 15 years. Marino said she will be temporarily replaced by Assistant Director Maureen Fennie, whose job description requires her to fill in for the director in the event she is unable to perform the top job.

Marino said the library board is planning to meet at noon on Thursday to discuss plans to find a permanent replacement for Babanoury. In the meantime, she said, library patrons can expect no changes in operations at either branch.

“They know their jobs,” Marino said of the library staff members. “Things will carry on as usual at the library.”