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Library Worker Returns Wednesday—But Not in Warren

Larry Sapienza fought for his job after he was terminated, but only got a partial victory.

By John Patten
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July 31, 2012

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Lawrence Sapienza (at right) with supporters, wearing buttons saying "Bring Larry Back!"

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Lawrence Sapienza (at right) with supporters, wearing buttons saying "Bring Larry Back!"

Credit John Patten

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Larry Sapienza, the former circulation supervisor at Warren Public Library fired in April and re-instated after a public outcry, returns to work Wednesday with the Somerset County Library System.

But don't look for him at the Warren branch.

If you want to see Sapienza and wish him well, you'll need to go to Hillsborough.

"Mr. Sapienza will be returning to work on Aug. 1 in the position of system-wide volunteer program coordinator," Library System Director Brian Auger said. He said the position is assigned to the Hillsborough Public Library, but did not provide further details about the job duties and how the now position came about before this article was posted.

Sapienza, a Bridgewater resident, confirmed his return to work on Wednesday, but declined further comment.

He and Warren Branch Manager Elaine Whiting had been dismissed in April after a new policy regarding volunteers was put into place. Miscommunication between library managers, volunteers and administrators caused confusion among the volunteers, leading to Sapienza and Whiting's dismissal.

But Sapienza filed an appeal of his termination, and found many supportive library patrons and others, who packed library commission meetings to demand his re-instatement.

In June, the Somerset County Library Commission ruled the termination was "more severe than necessary," and modified it to an unpaid suspension.

Many of those supporting Sapienza's reinstatement expressed surprise and disappointment in his new post. Peter King, a volunteer in the Bridgewater branch, said he thought it strange Sapienza was terminated for allegedly mishandling the implementation for the volunteers and then given a job overseeing them.

"The Library System apparently does not understand the meaning of the verb 'to reinstate'," he added. "The dictionary defines it as being returned to a previous position or condition. Shamefully, this has not occurred."

Related Topics: Larry Sapienza, Somerset County Library System, and Warren Township Library

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sean oriley

7:25 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Not back at WTL ??? WTF ????

Fretz

7:29 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

If you want to express your opinion on this matter, Brian Auger is supposed to be at the Warren Library at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 1. However, expect him just to say "it's a personnel matter, I can't discuss it".

But you are taxpayers, you demand an explanation for this! This is just one more way they are trying to get at Larry and exercise their "power" and corruption.

In the meantime, we have been monitoring all of this and have kept Larry's fundraiser open. Because this keeps dragging on, so do his legal bills so we are trying to help him out.
Here is the link if you are interested.

http://fnd.us/c/bJzd3

sean oriley

7:29 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Let the games begin ! All we need is some queen jumping out of a helicopter

Mary Troianello

9:08 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

The Warren Township Library needs Larry to be back in his former position. As of yet, it is unfilled and is waiting for his return. To Mr Auger, I understand the difficulty of your position, but you must reinstate Larry to his job. Warren Township Library needs him.

Ron London

10:57 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Apparently many of the commenters didn't read or listen to what the Library Commission said - they only made a recommendation but left it to the Director to decide if, how and where to place Sapienza. I think we should do like the Commission did and leave management of the library to the director.

sean oriley

6:57 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Well Mr.London, I would love to read what the Library Commission said, but unfortunately the minutes have not been posted on the library website..perhaps you have a copy? And it would seem the September 2012 Library Commission has been cancelled ? Who knows if, when and how we will get to know the Commission's intentions, especially since there is no way to reach them other than through the library administration. Seems like having to talk to the fox about the missing hens in the henhouse, wouldn't you say ?

Keith McCoy

7:34 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

The September 5 meeting of the Library Commission will be held, as scheduled, at 7 pm at the Bridgewater Library.

sean oriley

7:16 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

I guess its time to bring in the freeholders on this one, with elections coming up perhaps justice will prevail, albeit out of self serving motives. As Karen Kessler of "Evergreen Partners" says (Evergreen Partners being the new PR firm the Library Commission voted in at a vote of 3-0,with 6 Commission members?) , its time to get up their butts like a proctologist. Such a lovely lady, such a lovely PR firm, such a waste of taxpayer dollars at $4700 monthly.

Fretz

7:37 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

The Commission "recommended" it but Auger does not seem to be able to manage the library. Alcohol selling at the library? Alcohol on the premises of the library? Jobs posted and filled without proper protocol? The unjust firing of Larry? The need for a "crisis management" PR firm? (Might I add that is paid for partially, if not all, with tax payer money, yet the Commission feels its that it is "none of your business" when asked by the public about this...and seriously what LIBRARY needs a CRISIS MANAGEMENT firm....that's sad!)

Sounds like maybe Brian Auger shouldn't be left up to ANY decisions....because this is what the library looks like when he DOES make them!

Rich Welsh

9:00 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

I agree with Mr London. Let management do their job and let us move on. Larry Sapienza was quoted two days ago in the newspaper saying that he was excited to start his new job. Let him enjoy a change in his life, maybe he will do great things for him and others where his going. Don't spoil this new opportunity for him.

Skippy P. Nutbutter

6:16 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Of course you agree with Mr. London. You probably ARE "Mr. London."

P.S. - I'm not really Skippy P. Nutbutter either

sean oriley

6:47 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

To Rich Welsh :Spienza said he was happy to go back to work, who wouldn't be after 4 months chopped out of a 20 year career! And I'm pretty sure the guy can't say to the media that he's unhappy about being removed from Warren and the folks that love him !!! Gett real! Auger is talking the guy up now like he's the best thing since slIced bread and 4 months ago he threw him in the trash! And trashed his reputation as well.We taxpayers are gonna be paying the bill when this guy sues for retaliation,and unjust firing, and his case just keeps getting stronger.

sean oriley

6:51 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

What's up with this alcohol selling at the libraRy? Dis I miss something ?

Skippy P. Nutbutter

8:59 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Mr. London - I think you need to go back and listen to what the Library Commission said. They did not leave it to the Director to decide "if, how and where to place Sapienza."

Here is what the resolution, as read that night, said in pertinent part (after the introductory language about how the Commission did not find any "wrongdoing" in Mr. Auger's termination of Larry):

"However, the Commission believes that the penalty was more severe than necessary under the circumstances and recommends that the director reconsider the discipline imposed and modify it to an unpaid suspension from April 10, 2012 to July 31, 2012 and issue an appropriate disciplinary warning to Mr. Sapienza; and, pursuant to the express terms of the grievance procedure, this decision is final and binding on the Library and Mr. Sapienza and it ends the appeal of the termination of his employment; and, this resolution shall take effect immediately."

So the recommendation was for an unpaid SUSPENSION. When you are suspended from your job, you return TO YOUR JOB once the suspension is over. That is the obvious and clear implication of what the Commission had in mind. (continued)

Skippy P. Nutbutter

9:00 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

And since the Resolution makes clear that "this decision is final and binding on the Library and Mr. Sapienza," it would seem that the Library should be bound by what the Commission recommends, meaning that Larry should be returned to his same position. The fact that Mr. Auger has chosen to ignore the clear mandate of the Commission essentially amounts to a slap in the Commission's face, because that is clearly not what the Commission had in mind in adopting its Resolution.

And since the Commission supposedly oversees how the Library operates, and supposedly oversees the actions of the Director (otherwise, why does it even exist), it should now act to insure that its Resolution is enforced to accomplish what it clearly intended. Yea, they said it was a "recommendation." But do you really think they imagined that Auger would ignore them and just say no? Plueeeze!!

Frankly, I think that Mr. Auger should be fired, along with Mr. McCoy, because they are turning the county library system into an absolute embarrassment. Who are these cowboys who come riding into town and start firing excellent 20-year employees?? I say send them back to where they came from and get a Director and AD who actually know how to run things without creating a complete and absolute stinking mess every time they do something. (continued)

Skippy P. Nutbutter

9:01 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

The whole underlying volunteers fiasco that led to the firing of Larry and Elaine was enough of an embarrassment. And it was their doing in the first place. It was all their idea. McCoy admitted that.

Now there's this??

Indeed, the Freeholders need to get involved. They appoint the Commissioners who supposedly are overseeing Library operations. When you oversee something, you have the power to see that things are run the way you want things run.

Is this what they want from their County Library?

I for one will be at the September meeting and supporting Larry's return to the position he had before his suspension.

P.S. - Maybe I should sign this as "Mr. Tolstoy" huh?

Biglove

1:05 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012

mr. rarebit sure seems to got a hard on for skippy...almost like augie for sapz?? caws me paws............

Gail Madak

2:08 am on Friday, August 3, 2012

Retaliation against Larry by refusing to "reinstate" him to his position at the Warren Library is misuse of administrative power to suit Mr. Auger's personal agenda. Established protocol of posting new positions with key accountabilities outlined so employees can apply and be interviewed by committee has been overlooked. Assistants need to unionize; perhaps Larry can organize the support staff now that the need is so apparent.
Larry will be fine wherever he works, but another disturbing mistake is spending my hard-earned taxpayer dollars on Evergreen Partners. Wow! Scary! Step aside or be trampled.
Must all library work be centralized? Will each branch be identical? Where is there room for individuality? The libraries will be like the Home Depot or Toys R Us, each one just the same. We will be the Stepford Library System. Or the Levittown Library System. I am living in a science fiction nightmare.