The tiny village is in an uproar, Mayor Dixie Lee Sacks said, over the firing of a well-liked veteran library employee who closed the library 40 minutes early last week, without permission, because of the threat of tornados in the area.
Theresa Marchione, the 24-year Round Lake Library employee, was dismissed last Friday by Library Director Carol Sheffer for making a decision Sacks called a “no-brainer.”
When the National Weather Service issued a warning last Wednesday evening that tornados may be en route to Round Lake, “(Marchione) got the patrons out and at home, where they should be,” Sacks said.
Sacks added that the library is not an ideal building to take shelter in during periods of extreme weather — it’s old and the heavy, tall bookcases can easily topple.
Sheffer and Marchione did not return a call requesting comment about the firing.
This region is not accustomed to tornados and very high winds, Sacks said, and Marchione had to make a quick judgment call.
Three tornados did touch down in the Capital Region during that storm — one in nearby Vischer Ferry, another in Schoharie County and a third that traveled between Fulton and Schenectady counties.
Sacks is well aware of how devastating a tornado can be, especially after her visit to Joplin, Mo., where entire neighborhoods were flattened by a major tornado in 2011 and more than 100 people died.
Sacks rode out the harsh weather in her daughter’s finished basement.
Word of Marchione’s dismissal spread rapidly through the close-knit village, Sacks said. People in the community will continue to speak out about it, she said, because it feels like “this is against one of us.”
Theresa Marchione, the 24-year Round Lake Library employee, was dismissed last Friday by Library Director Carol Sheffer for making a decision Sacks called a “no-brainer.”
When the National Weather Service issued a warning last Wednesday evening that tornados may be en route to Round Lake, “(Marchione) got the patrons out and at home, where they should be,” Sacks said.
Sacks added that the library is not an ideal building to take shelter in during periods of extreme weather — it’s old and the heavy, tall bookcases can easily topple.
Sheffer and Marchione did not return a call requesting comment about the firing.
This region is not accustomed to tornados and very high winds, Sacks said, and Marchione had to make a quick judgment call.
Three tornados did touch down in the Capital Region during that storm — one in nearby Vischer Ferry, another in Schoharie County and a third that traveled between Fulton and Schenectady counties.
Sacks is well aware of how devastating a tornado can be, especially after her visit to Joplin, Mo., where entire neighborhoods were flattened by a major tornado in 2011 and more than 100 people died.
Sacks rode out the harsh weather in her daughter’s finished basement.
Word of Marchione’s dismissal spread rapidly through the close-knit village, Sacks said. People in the community will continue to speak out about it, she said, because it feels like “this is against one of us.”
The mayor and many residents plan to attend next Tuesday’s meeting of the library board, scheduled for 7 p.m. at Village Hall.
Bill Ryan, who was the mayor of Round Lake for 10 years and has his finger on the pulse of the village, resigned from the library board during an emergency meeting, Sacks said. She said he was very upset over Marchione’s firing and that it continues to trouble him.
Bob Sweet, a 36-year village resident and library volunteer, said Sheffer and Sandra Debus, president of the library Board of Trustees, abused their authority when they dismissed Marchione. Debus, he said, was with Sheffer when she fired Marchione.
Now, he said, other library employees are fearful of losing their positions at the library in a similar fashion. Sweet recently helped the library acquire some new pieces of computer equipment, but he said he won’t be doing any more work until some changes are made.
“My six grandchildren grew up in the story hour with her,” Sweet said of Marchione.
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Bill Ryan, who was the mayor of Round Lake for 10 years and has his finger on the pulse of the village, resigned from the library board during an emergency meeting, Sacks said. She said he was very upset over Marchione’s firing and that it continues to trouble him.
Bob Sweet, a 36-year village resident and library volunteer, said Sheffer and Sandra Debus, president of the library Board of Trustees, abused their authority when they dismissed Marchione. Debus, he said, was with Sheffer when she fired Marchione.
Now, he said, other library employees are fearful of losing their positions at the library in a similar fashion. Sweet recently helped the library acquire some new pieces of computer equipment, but he said he won’t be doing any more work until some changes are made.
“My six grandchildren grew up in the story hour with her,” Sweet said of Marchione.
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