BY MILES LAYTON

EDENTON — The issue of a recent decision not to reappoint a member to the Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library’s Board of Directors came up during Monday’s meeting of the Chowan County Commission.  

And let’s not forget – the budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 was unanimously approved – no tax increase.  

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Vicki Sherbs of Edenton condemned the Commission’s decision not to reappoint Sherrone Battle to the Library’s Board of Directors. 

Board Chairman Bob Kirby defended the Board’s actions, saying the decision was transparent for the reasons given and not punitive in nature. Commission was unanimous in its decision not to reappoint Battle.

If you need a recap, click here – or here – but as most folks know, Commissioner Anthony Shaffer said Battle was not reappointed because he said she did not support veterans’ programming while she was serving on the Library’s Board. Battle denies that assertion.    

Let’s start with Sherbs’ remarks supporting Battle.

“This group of men (Commission) was elected to protect and lead the citizens of our county,” she said. “Sherronne Battle has been put into a position, by this group of men, to defend her honor and integrity in our community. I am here to stand up and be counted as a member of the community who knows Ms. Battle to be steadfast in her devotion to the truth, resolute in her service to our community – especially young people, and honest and honorable in her dealings. The Commissioners treatment of Ms. Battle was nothing less than punitive and underhanded, as well as shameful and shoddy.”

Sherbs continued, “Removing her from the Library Board without notice nor public input and against the recommendation of the Library Board lays waste to any claim this Board of County Commissioners might try to make regarding transparency or fairness.”

“It seems the local news folks have reported some discoverable discrepancies in the statements regarding this issue. No discrepancies have been found regarding Ms. Battle’s words nor deeds.”

“I implore you to revisit this issue and try to reclaim some level of respect from your community.” 

Later, as protocol permits, Kirby addressed Sherbs’ assertions during the timely and important matters portion of Monday’s meeting.  

“From the speaker (Sherbs) discussion about ulterior motives and punitive action by this Board – I think our record shows that we don’t work that way and we also don’t do things in secret.”

Kirby said the only time the Board does anything in secret is to discuss certain items, permitted by state law, during executive session – contracts, employment decisions, etc. 

“I want to make sure that’s on the record for the press and the people that spoke,” he said.  

Moreover, Battle was not in attendance during the meeting when her reappointment was up for discussion.  

Referring to Sherbs’ comments, Commissioner Ellis Lawrence explained why he voted against Battle’s appointment.   

“I don’t have a problem with you saying the things you are saying, but if you don’t show up to the meetings and then tell me what I did or didn’t say — these people – they are not here and they weren’t here then (referring to meeting where Battle’s appointment was discussed). I’m getting phone calls – as far as I’m concerned, if you had an opinion, you should have been here to present your case.”

Worth noting, June 2’s meeting agenda – agenda provided at the end of the story – included an item about appointments to the Library Board. 

“There was a statement during public comment about ‘no notice’ being provided with respect to our meeting to discuss the Library Board’s membership,” Kirby said. 

Kirby asked Clerk to the Commission Susanne Stallings, for the record, if an item was included on that agenda.

Stallings answered, “It was on the agenda.”  

For the record – here is that item:

Shepard Pruden Memorial Library Board of Trustees Three appointees to the Library Board of Trustees are eligible for reappointment and recommended for reappointment by the Board of Trustees. 

The members are: – Faison Winborne – Sherrone Battle – Jenny Wells

Commission agendas are usually emailed to commissioners and the public on the Thursday before Monday’s regularly scheduled meeting – so if anyone was out there wanting to say something, they could’ve attended the meeting, maybe to say something during the public comment portion.

“At that meeting, we did have an opportunity for the public to speak,” Kirby said. “I just want to make sure – I don’t want to miss anything – we did have an opportunity for the public to speak during that meeting.”

After the meeting, Kirby and Sherbs talked — he explained the matter in a little more detail and she thanked him for his Commission service.

Moving on, the Commission approved FY 2025-26’s budget is just shy of $25.7 million with a property tax rate at 69.5 cents. Congrats! 

“This Board of Commissioners worked very hard to come up with no tax increase while at the same time giving the school system a considerable amount of money, more than what was proposed in the County Manager’s budget. Our school system got a considerable amount of money to work with. I think I speak for everyone here – I feel that an education is very important and that’s reflected in the numbers that we have in this budget,” Commission Vice Chair Larry McLaughlin said.  

Been a long day – more Commission news will appear in a future story. 

Below is the agenda from June 2nd that lists the Library Board appointment.