Gunter explains abrupt retirement

SANDPOINT — Wayne Gunter is breaking his relative silence about his sudden retirement as director of the East Bonner County Library District.

“My decision to retire as director of the East Bonner County Library District was based on what was, in my opinion, a lack of communication, respect and support from the library board of trustees,” Gunter said in a statement.

Gunter added that health issues resulted from the discord, but he’s now enjoying a “new beginning that retirement brings.”

Gunter’s abrupt and fanfare-free departure ended a 35-year working relationship with the library district. He served as director for 13 years.

It also generated a significant amount of background discussion and even more speculation about what had gone wrong.

Some contended Gunter was either forced or encouraged to resign.

Gunter maintains the decision to step down was entirely his own, although it was influenced by a complete breakdown in communication with the board he served.

Gunter declined to elaborate on the comments in his statement, but said his relationship with the board became too dysfunctional.

“I just couldn’t work with them,” he said, adding that his efforts to diplomatically resolve the impasse were rebuffed.

Trustees have said little about Gunter’s departure, other than to assert that they did not see it coming.

During the board’s meeting on Monday, trustee Marilyn Wudarcki said Gunter’s retirement “was as much a shock to us as it was to his staff.”

“Wayne resigned on his own accord. He wasn’t pushed,” said board chairman Shannon May.

Although the board did not expressly ask for his resignation, some maintain that trustees didn’t have to because they simply created an intolerable situation and then feigned astonishment when Gunter quit.

“I suspect there were one or two ringleaders and two who blindly followed instead of using their votes to keep those one or two on the straight and narrow,” Velta Ashbrook said during Monday’s meeting.

Gunter said Ashbrook’s remarks accurately reflected his take on the situation.

Those with knowledge of the situation contend the disharmony had roots in a rocky working relationship between Gunter and a subordinate who took his complaints to the board instead of through the formal grievance process designed to resolve such disputes.

One of the more serious allegations to arise involves a trustee casually disclosing the contents of Gunter’s confidential personnel file to an employee, a breach that board critics said amounts to unethical and illegal conduct.

Gunter confirmed that his confidential personnel information was improperly disclosed to others.

Wudarcki did not immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment on matters involving Gunter’s departure. An e-mail to trustees also produced no immediate response on Thursday.

Ashbrook said the offending trustee should resign and others should consider resigning.

“We need board members who will work with the director, not against him, and will do their own job and let the director do his without nitpicking and micro-managing,” Ashbrook said.

Gunter said he is not angry about the turn of events, although he admits being a little disappointed and that his retirement is a bit premature. He plans to remain active in the community and hopes to use his reference librarian background to develop a comprehensive web-based resource that helps connect social service programs with the people who need them.

“I know the library will continue to function and serve people well,” he said. “The institution is strong enough because it is supported by the people of this community and always has been.”