Robert Buggs appeared at the public hearing removing him from the Gary Public Library Board of Trustees

'Just removed from library board without a reason' says Robert Buggs

Contributed By: The 411 News

Robert Buggs wasn’t satisfied with the answer to his question, “Why am I being removed from the Gary Public Library Board of Trustees?”

A GPL board member since 2022, Mr. Buggs appeared Thursday afternoon at a hearing before the Gary Community School Corporation’s Board of School Trustees, the body that appointed him to the library board.

The GPL board has 7 members. Three members are appointed by GCSC. One each is appointed by the Lake County Council, the Lake County Commissioners, the Mayor of Gary, and the Gary Common Council.

Board members are appointed to 4-year terms.

Mr. Buggs said he had received an email from the school board to appear at the hearing to remove him from the library board.

The email from school board member Glenn Johnson stated, “Please allow this correspondence to serve as notice to you that the Gary Community School Corporation Board has scheduled a public hearing on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at 4:00pm regarding the removal of you as a GCSC Board library board appointee.”

In a follow-up call with Mr. Johnson about the email, Mr. Buggs said he learned a complaint had been made against him. “I asked you who complained about me,” Mr. Buggs said to Johnson. “Was it library board members or library staff? You said it was library staff.”

And he didn’t get answers to his next questions during the hearing. Mr. Buggs said he was there to defend himself. He wanted to know who made the complaint and he wanted a copy of the complaint in writing. He also wanted to face and question his accusers.

The school board was firm with their responses.

Mr. Johnson said, “Indiana Code 36-12-2-20(a) states a library board member may be removed at any time by the appointing authority, after public hearing, for cause that interferes with the proper discharge of member’s duties or jeopardizes public confidence.”

“A public hearing is not a trial,” Shelice Tolbert, the school board attorney responded. “A public hearing is a formal open meeting convened by a government agency or legislative body to allow the public to express their opinion, views, or concerns on a specific issue or proposed action.”

“This is not a trial where you are presenting witnesses and you’re questioning anyone,” Tolbert added.

Diana Morrow, director of the Gary Public Library, told the board, “If there were complaints from staff, it was not brought to me. I’ve worked with Mr. Buggs for many years on the library board. He has been an excellent board member. I’d like to see him remain as a board member.”

Linda Collins, a library board member, had an opposite view. Collins was appointed by the school district in January.

Collins said, “After a short stint on the board, I was ready to resign. This is not personal. I’ve seen another side of Mr. Buggs. Seeing him in action on that library board, at executive meetings, and in public sessions has been totally embarrassing. His actions have been unprofessional, very negative, and argumentive.”

Mr. Buggs said the school district didn’t ask him to resign and he was never told of any complaints or concerns. “All I was told was a hearing was scheduled.”

The district’s regular monthly board meeting followed the public hearing. By a vote of 4-0, board members approved the removal of Mr. Buggs from the Gary Public Library Board of Trustees.

In the next item on their agenda, the school board filled the vacancy on the library board with Crystal O’Brien, an employee of the school district.

Story Posted:04/12/2025