Manny Removed

Indiana library director fired, removed by police. (nwi.com, 3/17/2011)

Excerpt:     Police removed the former director of East Chicago's library from the building after four board members voted to fire him due to alleged financial improprieties and convictions last year on misdemeanor charges.

Manuel "Manny" Montalvo, who has been library director since 2005, told police that the dispute would be "straightened out in court" within a few days as he was escorted from the library Wednesday. He instructed library staff to place the librarian chosen as his replacement on administrative leave, take his keys and disable his computer, but the order was apparently not carried out, The Times of Munster reported.

Four library board members voted to fire Montalvo on Wednesday while three others met separately to discuss board members' health care benefits. The board split after the replacement of two members by the mayor and school board last week. The two new members were among the four who voted to fire Montalvo.

The new appointments are being contested over alleged Open Door violations and other legal errors by Montalvo and former board attorney Carmen Fernandez, whose contract was voided Wednesday. That led to the competing meetings, The Times said.