Atty: Librarian fired for reporting sex
2:04
A former Estancia assistant librarian claims she was fired for reporting two town workers having sex in the children's section.
Tags: news video new mexico krqe news 13
Added: 2 months ago
From: KRQE
Views: 116
[scene opens with a female news anchor speaking directly to the camera, as "Library Sex Scandal" appears on screen]
JESSICA GARATE: An assistant librarian claims she was fired from her job after she told on her boss, the librarian, for having sex in the children's section. News Thirteen's Alex Goldsmith has the story.
[cut to an exterior shot of Estancia's Williams Memorial Library building]
ALEX GOLDSMITH: [in voice over] Friday afternoon, all's quiet at Estancia Public Library.
[cut to a still photograph of the young female librarian (curly brown hair, blue checkered shirt)]
ALEX GOLDSMITH: [in voice over] In August, assistant librarian Jaime Kurz came into work expecting a quiet start to her day, too.
[cut to a man ("Joseph CampBell, Kurz's Attorney") speaking directly to the camera]
JOSEPH CAMPBELL: Went into work a few minutes early. Um, saw that there was two vehicles out in front of the library, one being the car for the other librarian and one being a town maintenance vehicle.
[cut to another exterior shot of the library]
ALEX GOLDSMITH: [in voice over] And didn't think much of it ... until she went inside and heard some strange noises.
[cut back to the lawyer speaking directly to the camera]
JOSEPH CAMPBELL: Turned around and saw, um, the two other town employees engaged in sexual intercourse on the floor in the children's section.
[cut to a still photograph of the (empty) children's section of the library]
ALEX GOLDSMITH: [in voice over] Kurz claims the two culprits were the head librarian and a town maintenance worker.
[cut back to the lawyer speaking directly to the camera]
JOSEPH CAMPBELL: She was told by the maintenance man not to say anything, of course. Everybody ... the two of them were both married, so that would be an issue.
[cut to a still image of the town's website, featuring an image of mayor Sylvia Chavez]
ALEX GOLDSMITH: [in voice over] However, Kurz did say something to the town's library director, and the mayor.
[cut back to the lawyer speaking directly to the camera]
JOSEPH CAMPBELL: The mayor subsequently talked to Jaime about it ... told her that, y'know, it wouldn't have any effect on her job.
[cut to another exterior shot of the library]
ALEX GOLDSMITH: [in voice over] Kurz says neither of the two workers caught in the act lost their jobs ... Instead, she and the library director did.
[cut to a still photograph of a letter]
ALEX GOLDSMITH: [in voice over] A letter from the mayor early last month claims Kurz was being let go for insubordination.
[cut to the reporter standing outside of the library, speaking directly to the camera]
ALEX GOLDSMITH: But Kurz claims it was what she saw here that cost her her job, and now she's looking at legal action.
[cut back to the lawyer speaking directly to the camera]
JOSEPH CAMPBELL: I believe she was fired because she, she brought this issue to light.
[cut to another exterior shot of the library]
ALEX GOLDSMITH: [in voice over] And because the librarian and maintenance man know the mayor.
[cut to a shot of the lawyer speaking to the lawyer]
ALEX GOLDSMITH: [in voice over] Kurz's attorney says he could file a whistle-blower lawsuit against the town soon.
[cut to an exterior shot of the Community Center Town Hall building]
ALEX GOLDSMITH: [in voice over] As for the mayor, we tried to reach her at town hall for comment, but were told she wasn't in today. In Estancia, Alex Goldsmith, KRQE News Thirteen.
[cut back to the news anchor in studio]
JESSICA GARATE: To back up his client's claims, Kurz's attorney played a secret audio recording for News Thirteen. In it, the librarian does not admit to Kurz that she was having sex in the kid's section, but does tell Kurz if she can't handle the situation, she should find another job.
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From krqe.com:
ESTANCIA, NM (KRQE) - It was a morning in August, and Estancia assistant librarian Jaime Kurz was coming into work expecting a quiet start to her day.
"[She] went into work a few minutes early, saw that there was two vehicles out in front of the library," said Joseph CampBell, Kurz's attorney. "One being the other librarian and one being a town maintenance vehicle."
CampBell says Kurz didn't think much of it until she went inside, set her belongings on her desk and heard some strange noises.
"[She] turned around and saw two other employees engaged in sexual intercourse on the floor in the children's section," CampBell said.
Kurz claims it was the town's head librarian and a maintenance worker, who told her to keep quiet. Kurz didn't, and CampBell says she reported the incident to the city library director and ultimately Estancia Mayor Sylvia Chavez herself.
"The mayor subsequently talked to Jaime about it, told her that it wouldn't have any effect on her job," CampBell said.
But after Kurz took leave when the main librarian returned to work claiming a hostile work environment, she was soon let go. The library director was fired, too.
In an October 10 termination letter from Mayor Chavez to Kurz, Chavez claims Kurz refused to turn over the key to the library while on leave.
"Your refusal to turn over Town property upon request and as required to ensure uninterrupted library services shows a lack of cooperation and willingness to work with supervisors," wrote Chavez in the letter. "This behavior constitutes insubordination and jeopardizes the Town's ability to serve its citizens."
CampBell sees it differently, claiming Kurz was let go to try and sweep the incident under the rug and protect two employees who were locals and "close" to the mayor. He says he intends to file a tort claim with the town, which could lead to a whistleblower lawsuit.
CampBell allowed KRQE News 13 to listen to a covert audio recording between Kurz and the main librarian to corroborate Kurz's claims. Although that librarian does not directly admit to having sex in the children's section, she does tell Kurz that if she can't handle the situation, she should find another job.
KRQE News 13 attempted to reach Chavez at Town Hall Friday afternoon. A receptionist there said she was out for the day.
---
From townofestancia.com:
Estancia Public library
Head Librarian: Angela Creamer
Asst. Librarian: Jaime Kurz
The Estancia Public Library is a place for the entire family to enjoy! The library has many adult and children audio and book titles to choose from. The Library offers fax, and copy service also. Take a moment to enjoy your library. We have many seating areas to enjoy the newspaper or a magazine. Young adults can hang out in our teen area and children will enjoy the building blocks, games and puzzles in the children's area. The Library has a Southwest room with a large collection of southwest titles.
The Library has space available to use for your next meeting. Call the Library for more details.
NEWS
* 07 July 2011 - Angela Creamer has been selected as the new Head Librarian at the Estancia Public Library effective July 1.
Creamer earned the promotion from her current job as the Town of Estancia Billing Clerk/Receptionist after an in-depth application and interview process. There were 12 original applicants for the job.
Creamer served as librarian and assistant librarian from 2001-2008 and holds Grade I and Grade II New Mexico State Librarian Certifications.
As part of her plans for the facility, Creamer hopes to build a strong force of volunteers.
"Please come volunteer at the library and share your time and talents," she said. "There is a job waiting for you."
Some of the possibilities include mending, covering and shelving books, helping students and seniors on the computer, reading to preschoolers, helping someone find that special book, teaching a craft to preteens and just like home, there is always cleaning that needs done.
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