Local News in Brief : Ousted Library Board Wins

The Monterey Park City Council overstepped its authority when it replaced the community’s library board with a less powerful advisory commission, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has ruled.

Judge Ricardo A. Torres ruled in favor of the Friends of the Monterey Park Library and three ousted board members who complained that the change would make the library subject to political interference, jeopardize its administration and perhaps influence book selections.

The change was made in October after Councilman Barry L. Hatch said the council should have more control over the $1 million spent annually on the Bruggemeyer Memorial Library. Under the commission system, the council and the city manager made some of the decisions previously made by the board.