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TThe Library Trustees of New Bedford, Massachusetts unanimously declined to renew Director Stephen Fulchino's expired contract during a nine-minutelong special meeting Wednesday afternoon, allowing the city to begin a search for a new library chief.
The vote - and a second move to publicly post the director's job - came almost a week after trustees Vice Chairman Carl Cruz placed Fulchino on paid administrative leave following reports that city library cards were used to check out almost 200 books and rack up lost fees for years after the owners' deaths.
"I am greatly concerned about the integrity of the institution. ... The library books are a public good," said Mayor Jon Mitchell, who serves as ex-officio chair of the trustees, before the vote.
The vote, however, did not terminate Fulchino, who remains on administrative leave. Mitchell said that although the investigation remains ongoing, there is "no indication" Fulchino was involved in the theft of library books. The mayor, however, said "the board was not apprised" by Fulchino of...