“It kind of matches up with other boards of the city,” Eckerman said.
Commission member Fred Suhler said the boards shouldn’t operate like others in the city.
Library operations, he said, should rise above the political discourse that can come into play with other city departments, and the park board has its own unique governance, which he pointed out city residents recently supported through a tax referendum.
“I guess I don’t see the reason why we need to make these changes,” he said, calling the proposal a “radical change.”
Larry Mortensen, who was recently appointed to the commission and had served eight years on the park board, said he believes the proposed changes reflect how that board operates, adding that he can’t comment on library operations.