BELLOWS FALLS — Rockingham Free Public Library trustees voted Tuesday night to reinstate Célina Houlné as library director, the position from which she was fired in 2013.
The 6–2 vote rehired Houlné under the terms of mediation held as part of the wrongful termination suit that she filed against the board and the Town of Rockingham.
Houlné will return to work in the newly renovated library once a new contract is created.
Youth Librarian Samantha Maskell and Reference and Historical Collections Librarian Emily Zervas, the two librarians who have split Houlné's duties following her dismissal, both announced the news via Facebook within moments of each other.
“Never have I been so happy to be demoted,” Zervas posted, to which Maskell promptly agreed.
Reached via text message, Zervas said, “I think our statement to the press is that the library staff is pleased with this outcome!”
She noted that the news will make the library's grand reopening celebration this weekend “extra festive.”
Trustees David Gould, Ray Massucco, Pat Fowler, Doreen Aldrich, Carol Blackwood, and Carolyn Frisa voted to rehire Houlné.
Casting the dissenting votes were Trustees Hope Brissette and Jan Mitchell-Love, the former board chair.
More details will appear on commonsnews.org and in next week's Commons.
For details about this weekend's celebration, visit rockinghamlibrary.org.