Librarian resigns over salary issues

The director of the Burton Memorial Library announced her resignation this week following a denial from the Clarendon Board of Aldermen to raise her salary and that of her assistant.

Librarian Carolyn Blackerby addressed her concerns with city officials during their regular meeting last Tuesday. The discussion was held in open session at her request.

“Am I worth more than I’m getting?” she asked. “I feel like I am. I feel like I have brought the library up to a standard not met by many libraries in the area.”

Blackerby submitted a comparison of other area library director salaries. Clarendon pays $16,640 per year; Dimmitt pays $19,380; Friona pays $24,000; Stratford pay $21,200; and Tulia pays $19,976.

The aldermen all complimented Blackerby and her staff on the work they do and agreed they are underpaid. But Mayor Tex Selvidge and other board members said salary increases should be addressed in three months when the next city budget is prepared.

Blackerby said she had worked at the city for several years and felt she had waited long enough. She also said that she had known she was underpaid but had only recently become aware of what she saw as the discrepancy in her salary compared to that of other city employees.

Blackerby said the city could use money from the library’s savings account to supplement the salary of her and her assistant until the next budget goes into effect, but Selvidge said he did not think savings should be used for salaries.

Blackerby said she had another job offer and would resign if she did not get a raise.

Alderman Bobbie Kidd moved to raise Blackerby’s salary by $1 per hour and that of her assistant by 25½ cents per hour. The other half of the salary increases would have to be approved by the county commissioners since the library is operated jointly by the city and county. Alderman Tommy Hill seconded the motion. Aldermen Knorpp and Mark White voted “no”, and Selvidge broke the tie with a “no” vote. (Alderman Michael Tibbets was absent.)

The board urged Blackerby to stay on until the new budget was prepared. She said she would consider it, but in a letter dated July 14, 2003, she tendered her resignation.

“I feel the Mayor and the City Council broke the trust I placed in the belief that as a city employee I was to be treated fairly,” she wrote.

Blackerby’s resignation becomes effective July 30.