Library Governance

County Administrator Cancels Library Board Meeting as Vacancies Pile Up

The Board of Governance hasn’t met since April 20, and the county has no library director.

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Escambia County Administrator Wes Moreno has canceled the Sept. 28 meeting of the West Florida Public Libraries’ Library Board of Governance (BOG). The board has not met since April 20.

• The county’s explanation. County Director of Communications Kaycee Lagarde says, “We are continuing to evaluate vacancies on the BOG.”

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No Library Director

The West Florida Public Libraries system has been without a library services director since Aug. 10.

• Moreno didn’t contact the BOG about the resignation. On Aug. 12, I reported that BOG Chair Dr. Blaine Wall wrote the county administrator, requesting that he schedule a special board meeting to discuss his plan for the interim leadership of the system. Wall also asked Moreno and his HR department to reestablish the director search process outlined in the BOG bylaws. No response.

The county’s website doesn’t list an interim director. When Todd Humble announced his resignation, Moreno named Christal Bell-Rivera as interim, and she was listed on the website.

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A Familiar Pattern

Familiar Pattern: Moreno refused to hold the special meeting, which has been his pattern since he took over the governance system that has been in place since 2015.

Moreno Pattern:

• May 21: Wall asked when two vacant BOG seats, open for appointment since applications were solicited in late 2025 and available since January, would go before the Board of County Commissioners. No response.
• June 23: After the BOG’s summer meetings were canceled, Wall asked under what authority County administration could cancel meetings the board itself is required to schedule. No response from Moreno’s office or County Attorney Alison Rogers.
• June 25: A subsequent request for a special meeting of the BOG, which Wall notes he has explicit authority to call under both Resolution R2013-17 and the current Bylaws. No response.
• Aug. 12: Request for a special meeting. No response.

Read Library Board Chair Calls Out Moreno’s Pattern of Silence.

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Empty BOG Seats

Moreno has refused to present any nominations for the county’s two empty BOG seats. The county closed the application period in January and hasn’t reopened it. John Bullock, who was eligible to serve another term, was told not to apply.

Who appoints the board? The Board of County Commissioners appoints the positions, not the county administrator.

What is Moreno waiting for? In early June, he told PNJ reporter Mollye Barrows he wanted more time to meet with applicants, learn why they wanted to serve, and what they hoped to accomplish on the board.

“I haven’t seen all of them yet and may even do some interviews before I recommend somebody to go on that board because I want to make sure they have a clear understanding of what the duties are and what they are not.”

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Let’s Give the Commissioners More Choices

I have no faith in Moreno’s choices for the two open BOG positions. The commissioners need more names to consider.

If you want more background on the library controversy, I have all the records available here.