Arlington City Council approved the appointment of a resident who called for Library Director Norma Zuniga鈥檚 firing following a contentious discussion Tuesday evening.
Melodie Morris was one of multiple people who called for Zuniga鈥檚 resignation last spring after challenged books that depicted graphic illustrations were not considered pornographic. The conversation was on the heels of a broader debate about LGBTQ+ Pride Month book displays in public libraries.
Morris was nominated by at-large District 6 council member Long Pham. Pham said during the afternoon meeting that Morris was a resident when she made the comments, and that only City Manager Trey Yelverton can hire or fire department directors.
鈥淚f you don鈥檛 like somebody who works for the city and you tell me to go fire the person, I would never talk to you again because that鈥檚 not my job,鈥� Pham said.
Arlington City Council tabled Morris鈥� appointment during a June meeting to allow time for council members to speak with Morris.
Mayor Jim Ross said he had a pleasant conversation with Morris, who also applied for the and . Morris could serve on any other committee, Ross said, but needed to face accountability for her comments.
鈥淲hen you stand up and say, 鈥榊ou need to fire the library service director because whatever the reason is and then you come back and say, 鈥業 want to be on the library board,鈥� part of being held accountable for your actions, in my book, if you should鈥檝e thought about that before you demanded us to fire her.鈥�
He said during the afternoon session that Zuniga opposed Morris鈥� appointment.
Morris did not apologize for calling for Zuniga鈥檚 resignation last year, but said she no longer wants Zuniga to be fired. Morris said she has told Zuniga that she would like to work with her, and that her and others鈥� comments were 鈥渄esperate鈥� because they felt unheard.
鈥淒o I apologize for asking you all to consider firing her at the time? No sir, I don鈥檛. We couldn鈥檛 get you to listen, and you鈥檙e not taking that into consideration,鈥� she said Tuesday evening.
Morris said she would represent all residents if appointed and asked for 鈥渉ealing and restoration.鈥�
鈥淲e are very much into restorative justice, and you鈥檙e not giving me the opportunity for restorative justice here,鈥� Morris said to Ross.
Council approved Morris鈥� appointment by a 5-3-1 vote. Mayor Jim Ross and council members Andrew Piel and Barbara Odom-Wesley voted against her appointment. Council member Mauricio Galante abstained.
As council members deliberated on the heels of Yelverton鈥檚 2025 budget presentation, Piel questioned whether appointing someone who called for a director鈥檚 resignation would send the wrong signal to both Zuniga and prospective municipal employees.
鈥淚f we did this, I wouldn鈥檛 be surprised if Norma resigned,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he may just quit, and then we have to go hire a new library director, and then it gets out that Arlington is willing to put somebody who said in public 鈥業 want this department head fired鈥� on the committee. I think that means less people would apply for the job and we鈥檇 have a harder time finding people.鈥�
Yelverton said he would protect his department head from inappropriate behavior.
鈥淚 do think it creates challenges, but we鈥檒l do whatever you all want. It鈥檒l be more difficult, but I鈥檒l manage it,鈥� he said.
Council member Rebecca Boxall argued that working with people who disagree with city employees is part of Zuniga and other department heads鈥� jobs.
鈥淚 would think it would be incumbent on you to try to work with that person or the public,鈥� Boxall said.
Raul Gonzalez said people deserve second chances. He said council members offered one to former Library Advisory Board Chair Cat Serna-Horn, who was ultimately removed from the board over comments made in a private Facebook group.
鈥淲e gave the chair a second chance, the second chance didn鈥檛 work, I think that we should give (Morris) a second chance. If it doesn鈥檛 work out, it doesn鈥檛 work,鈥� Gonzalez said.
Galante, who was elected to his first term in May, suggested delaying the vote to give Morris and Zuniga a time to meet and possibly make amends.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really one person said, another person said,鈥� Galante said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e kind of assuming that she鈥檚 鈥� not going to like your appointment there.鈥�
The Library Advisory Board , except for July and August.
Got a tip? Email Kailey Broussard at kbroussard@kera.org. You can follow Kailey on Twitter
四虎影院 is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider Thank you.
