Fair. Trusted. Reporting in Rappahannock County and across Virginia’s Piedmont.

Donate

In partnership with the

Rappahannock library official apologizes for removing signs opposing library move

by | Sep 2, 2026

Board member Maureen Harris gave a formal apology at the start of last Thursday’s meeting for removing two yard signs opposing the potential library relocation. Harris said she “should never have done this,” and that she removed the signs out of concern for traffic safety. (Photo/Ireland Hayes)

‘I never should have done this’

The Rappahannock County Public Library trustee who removed two yard signs opposing the library’s proposed move apologized last Thursday during a trustee meeting.

The trustee, Maureen Harris, 83, claimed, as she did to the Rappahannock News earlier last week, that she removed the signs out of concern for traffic safety. She said she apologized directly to Christine Smith, a former Rappahannock County supervisor who designed and distributed the signs, and brought the signs to the meeting for Smith to take.

“I never should have done this,” said Harris, reading from prepared notes as audience members interjected periodically. “I should have found out who mounted the signs and contacted them and had them move the signs to a more appropriate location.”

Smith, who attended the board meeting, said she immediately gave the signs to another attendee and that “they are back on proud display spreading our love for our library.”

Two members of the audience demanded Harris be disciplined or removed from the board. The board took no action on Harris’ conduct, and she did not step down.

“If nothing is done,” said Castleton resident Rod Osborne, “I’ll be seeking the board of county supervisors to replace her with a credible member.”

Harris’ apology led off a crowded and tense board meeting, where a mostly skeptical audience criticized the board’s perceived lack of transparency in lease negotiations with Rush River Commons over the library’s proposed move. The board said a lease could be released to the public as soon as this month, followed by a public comment period.

“Hang in there,” library board president Victoria Fortuna told Harris after the meeting.

Author

  • Ireland Hayes

    Ireland joined Foothills Forum as a full-time reporter in 2023 after graduating from the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication with a degree in journalism and minor in music. As a student, she gained valuable experience in reporter and editor positions at The Red & Black, an award-winning student newspaper, and contributed to Grady Newsource and the Athens Banner-Herald. She spent three years as an editorial assistant at Georgia Magazine, UGA’s quarterly alumni publication, and interned with The Bitter Southerner.
    Growing up in a small town in Southeast Georgia, Ireland developed a deep appreciation for rural communities and the unique stories they have to tell. She completed undergraduate research on news deserts, ghost papers and the ways rural communities in Georgia are being forced to adapt to a lack of local news. This research further sparked her interest in a career contributing to the preservation of local and rural news.
Republish License

Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our website. AP and Getty images may not be republished. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of any other photos and graphics.

By Ireland Hayes

Read more articles by Ireland Hayes
Ireland joined Foothills Forum as a full-time reporter in 2023 after graduating from the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication with a degree in journalism and minor in music. As a student, she gained valuable experience in reporter and editor positions at The Red & Black, an award-winning student newspaper, and contributed to Grady Newsource and the Athens Banner-Herald. She spent three years as an editorial assistant at Georgia Magazine, UGA’s quarterly alumni publication, and interned with The Bitter Southerner. Growing up in a small town in Southeast Georgia, Ireland developed a deep appreciation for rural communities and the unique stories they have to tell. She completed undergraduate research on news deserts, ghost papers and the ways rural communities in Georgia are being forced to adapt to a lack of local news. This research further sparked her interest in a career contributing to the preservation of local and rural news.