BAYARD TAYLOR: Disagreement over library's architect choice

A contentious discussion over the choice of an architect revealed a sharp split between the new leadership of the Kennett Public Library board and longer-serving members.
At the board meeting on March 17, Susan Mackey-Kallis (board president), Geoff Birkett (vice president), Joan Weber (treasurer) and board members Rosa Quintana and Douglas Thompson supported a motion to back out of an agreement the previous board had made in 2012 with the Lukmire Partnership of Arlington, Va.
They argued that selecting a local architect for the new library would make it easier to raise money and would counter the negative public image that the library board is composed of "outsiders." 
But they were outvoted by board members James Nelson, Barbara Cairns, Jerry Brown, Carol Starzmann, Carolyn Mohr and Karen Ammon (secretary). They said it would be unethical to go back on their word, since they already committed to Lukmire after a thorough search process. Vacillating would compromise the board's reputation and would discourage other architects from even considering bidding on the project, they said.
Ms. Starzmann, who served on the committee that chose Lukmire in 2012, described the lengthy process the board went through to select an architect. They advertised widely, put out a detailed request for proposals, held an information session at the library, received 31 proposals (some from local firms), visited numerous projects designed by the candidates, reviewed each proposal in depth with independent readers and then ranked the finalists. She said Lukmire, who will work with Kennett Square architect Dennis Melton, was the clear winner.
"The proper homework has been done," agreed Ms. Cairns, who also was on the search committee.
Mr. Nelson, an architect himself, said there would be a serious ethical problem if the board backpedaled after hiring Lukmire, especially since he had already started to work on the project.
Ms. Mohr, who is an attorney, said backing out of the deal would open the board to a lawsuit.
Mr. Thompson argued that no formal contract was signed between the board and Lukmire, so the board was free to change its mind.
Ms. Cairns responded that the contract had been put on the shelf, with Lukmire's approval, while the search committee spent time looking at in-town sites.
"They understood where we were," she said. "They've been very patient."
Also at the meeting to support staying with Lukmire were former search committee members Bill Landmesser and Amy Cornelius.