<!--Rick Forgione--><table width="234" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" background="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/images/byline_234x60.jpg" height="60"><tr><td><div align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By Rick Forgione</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:rick.forgione@niagara-gazette.com">rick.forgione@niagara-gazette.com</a></font></div></td></tr></table>
The Niagara Falls Library Board of Trustees has hired Daniel Killian to serve as interim executive director while the search to fill the job permanently continues.
Killian, former library director in North Tonawanda, will start on Tuesday and work about 24 hours a week overseeing the system’s day-to-day operations, board trustee Don King said Tuesday.
“He’s had a lot of experience and knows the library in and out,” King said. “He’s very well respected and a veteran of library processes who is familiar with our system. Hopefully, he can help us identify new processes to put in place.”
The executive director position has been vacant since Betty Babanoury surprisingly resigned earlier this month. In response, library board members reached out to the NIOGA Library system for support in identifying candidates on an interim basis.
King said Killian comes highly recommended by officials from the NIOGA system, which provides services to libraries in Niagara, Orleans and Genesee counties. Killian’s appointment was approved by library trustees during a special meeting on Monday.
In addition to managing the day-to-day operations, Killian will help the board devise a job description to fill the permanent executive director’s position. King estimated that hiring process will take close to four months.
King, who is out of town, said he didn’t know the exact amount of money Killian will be paid but said it is an hourly part-time position.
“He’s very sensitive to the financial challenges we face,” King said.
Also at Monday’s meeting, trustees began piecing together an agenda for a scheduled meeting with Mayor Paul Dyster and Councilman Charles Walker on Dec. 3. King said the board would like to address several topics with city leaders, including safety and security at library buildings and financial challenges.
Dyster budgeted a $1.7 million allocation for the library in 2010. After the budget was released Oct. 1, Babanoury asked councilmembers to increase the amount by $65,664 in order to maintain operations.
Councilmembers did not include any increase from Dyster’s allotment as part of their budget amendments approved last week. On Tuesday, Council Chairman Chris Robins supported that decision, noting there are too many questions surrounding the library right now, including the search for a permanent executive director and a financial audit that is expected to be released in the upcoming weeks.
Another area of concern, he added, is Babanoury budgeted for a projected 10 percent increase in employee health insurance next year but the actual increase is expected to be closer to 3 percent.
Robins said the council and administration will continue to monitor the library’s budget and could approve any additional funds at a later date if needed.
