Library donor levels charges at board trustee

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- A bitter feud between a major donor to the Central

Library and one of its trustees has spilled over into the city attorney’s

office, which is looking into conflict of interest allegations.

“What happened is that Elizabeth Stahr is accusing Jim Wood of having a

conflict of interest by sitting on the Library Board [of Trustees] and on

the ad hoc committee,” said committee member Don Gregory.

City Atty. Bob Burnham could not be reached for comment.

Stahr, who was instrumental in raising the funds that resulted in the

creation of the Central Library on Avocado Avenue, made the accusation at

the council’s study session two weeks ago, when the ad hoc committee

first presented the $12-million arts center to the public.

A letter was later distributed to all council members in which Stahr said

Wood’s involvement went against city policy.

Stahr said the problem is that Wood’s fund-raising for the Arts and

Education Center is in direct competition to the Library Foundation. And

with the dispute over finances between library trustees and the

foundation still unresolved, elements of the fight appear to be flooding

into the arts center proposal.

But Wood said contrary to what Stahr believes, he hasn’t even started

fund-raising yet.

“The allegation is totally without validity,” Wood said. “We’re six to

nine months away from starting fund-raising. [Besides] I’m a terrible

fund-raiser.”

He added that he’s only mentioned the center at various library events to

inform the community.

Still, the fight between the library board and the foundation managed to

bog down a recent council meeting.

The ad hoc committee proposing an Arts and Education Center next to the

Newport Library declined to give its presentation at the council meeting

last night because of acrimony spilling over from the dispute brewing in

the library.

And although Mayor John Noyes feigned ignorance at the meeting as to the

reason for the action, he later admitted to having a hand in the

last-minute decision.

“I did have a conversation with Jim Wood,” Noyes said. “They’ve got a

situation going on with the Library Foundation and my thinking was we’d

better resolve that.”

Noyes added that the reason for his silence was because he felt “if

you’re not going to discuss an item, then you shouldn’t discuss it.”

Stahr’s letter eventually landed in Burnham’s lap. The city attorney is

expected to come to some legal conclusion this week, Stahr said.

However, even if Stahr is correct in her assessment, Councilman Gary

Adams said there is a provision that would allow the council to make an

exception by allowing Wood to serve on both committees.

“I don’t see it as any big deal. [The allegation] may or may not have

merit,” Adams said.

Despite the roadblocks facing the Arts and Education Center, Noyes said

he believes there is strong support for the idea in the community. He

added that he is going to recommend the group meet with other committees

in the community to garner more support for the proposal.

“What you’ve got is good folks trying to do good work,” Noyes said.