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Library board hires new CEO

Kirk Weaver, a former director of community and corporate planning with Niagara Region, will take over as the new chief executive officer of the Pelham Public Library on Jan. 5. Pelham Public Library Board announced the selection on Friday.
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Kirk Weaver, a former director of community and corporate planning with Niagara Region, will take over as the new chief executive officer of the Pelham Public Library on Jan. 5.
 Pelham Public Library Board announced the selection on Friday. Weaver fills a vacancy created when former CEO Stephanie Stowe left in September 2013,
While Weaver has a master of business administration, he has no library experience. 
Library board chair Maxine Gaylor said Monday Weaver with his financial management and leadership abilities has a skill set the board was looking for in a CEO.
“We have an excellent team to back him,” she said. 
She referred to the librarian skills of Amy Guilmette, who served as acting CEO for the past year, and the technical skills of Jo-Anne Teeuwsen, who was acting deputy CEO.
Gaylor said the board wants someone who understands how municipal administration works, and, how the library and town can best work together.
It sought someone for long-term planning including services for Maple Acre library and for library patrons in general.
“We are very pleased to announce this appointment,” said Gaylor.  
“Kirk brings leadership and fresh ideas to the library and a deep sense of commitment to public service in our community.  He has served the Region at the executive level and has a wide variety of experience in planning, budgeting and performance measurement.” 
Weaver worked for more than 15 years with the region.
Gaylor said the board has chosen someone who can carry the library into the future.
She praised the way the library’s staff handled a year short a regular CEO.
“We know they were getting at little thin.”
While the library board oversees the operation of two branches in Fonthill and Fenwick as well as its programs, the town owns the buildings and provides funding under provincial legislation.