In an unusually public dispute between local elected officials, Round Lake Area Public Library Board Trustee Travis Haley has called on the board’s vice president to resign, sending out a press release “publicly challenging” Sherry Perkowitz and alleging a pattern of bullying and harassment.
The Round Lake Area Public Library serves about 40,000 people in Round Lake, Round Lake Park, Round Lake Beach, Round Lake Heights and Hainesville, and consists of a 29,000-square-foot library in Round Lake.
In a release sent out last week, Haley, a newcomer to the board, accused Perkowitz of “vulgar remarks, harassment and ongoing unprofessional conduct,” and called on her to resign.
“The board risks losing credibility with the very residents it serves,” the release said.
Attempts to reach Perkowitz were unsuccessful.
Public accusation
On his social media, Haley released alleged screenshots of Perkowitz’s comments on his social media posts and text messages. Several make repeated references to business cards, which Haley claimed were in reference to an interaction shortly after joining the board.
“These types of remarks reflect a pattern of behavior that has occurred both during board meetings and in off-board interactions,” Haley said in the release.
Haley also publicly accused Perkowitz of “potential sexual harassment” over a “humiliating” comment that “crossed a serious line,” alleging she had suggested during a board meeting that his underwear might have his name and title stamped on it.
“If anyone said something like this in a professional work environment, they would be fired immediately,” he said in the release. “Nobody said or did anything about her comments; they all just sat there.”
Haley alleged the comment was meant to intimidate him as a newly elected trustee, and said he had reported the matter to the library’s attorney, Gerald Dietz.
“Trustees are expected to serve the public with dignity and respect, not to engage in bullying or harassment,” Haley said. “The residents of Round Lake deserve a board that takes its responsibilities seriously. Anything less is unacceptable.”
Failed referendum
Haley’s release framed the alleged harassment as another issue damaging public trust in the library board. He argued that trust was already strained, pointing to last year’s failed referendum to build a new library building.
The March 2024 spring primary referendum, which was ultimately voted down 830 to 711, or 53.8% to 46.1%, was for $36.4 million to build a new 60,000-square-foot library.
According to library documents supporting the construction of a new building, while in good repair, the existing library is too small for the size of the communities served, leading to inadequate space for readers, shelving, storage, and workspaces, among other issues.
After the referendum failed, board leaders indicated they would try to run the vote again in the future, although the referendum question has not yet appeared in any elections since.
Haley claims a strong connection to the failed referendum, saying he had “campaigned vigorously” against it. In his release, Haley said the defeat “reflected deep dissatisfaction with the board’s leadership and direction.”
This year, Haley successfully mounted a write-in campaign for a trustee seat, receiving 222 votes for one of three full-term seats on the ballot in the April 2025 election. Brittany Kearby and Perkowitz, the only two candidates whose names appeared on the ballot, received 1,254 and 1,120 votes respectively.
“Winning as a write-in is no small task,” Haley said. “It shows residents are paying attention and want change.”