By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — The Westport Library Board of Trustees met Wednesday for the first time since announcing its decision to leave a 1998 fundraising mosaic mural — known as the “River of Names” — out of its new building.

That decision — reversing previous promises to find a home in the rebuilt library for the 26-foot-long, 6-foot tall creation honoring donors and depicting scenes from local history — was announced Dec. 9, citing “historical inaccuracies” and a “lack of representation.”

The decision sparked debate on several hot-button issues.

But Wednesday, if there was an elephant in the room, it had no footprint on the agenda, and trumpeted no discussion during the meeting.

The board zipped through its standard agenda of financial and fundraising reports.

Board meetings do not include an opportunity for public comment.

The River of Names was a fundraising project from a quarter century ago. The community cause helped fund the Westport Library’s reconstruction and acknowledged the donors, interspersed with tiles depicting the town’s history and landmarks.

The mosaic wall was mothballed to a climate-controlled warehouse for the latest library overhaul a few years ago, with promises that it would return.

And then there was the announcement it would not return.

“The decision was reached after the Library consulted with the Westport Arts Advisory Committee and the Westport Museum for History and Culture, which reviewed the content of the Tile Wall to determine if it depicted the town’s history in an accurate and inclusive way. Both organizations independently expressed concerns about historical inaccuracies and the lack of representation of diverse people who played a significant role in Westport’s history,” the statement said.

The trustees further explained their stance with another statement last week, with additional details about unsuccessful efforts to find the wall a new location — but no reversal of the decision.

Thane Grauel, executive editor, grew up in Westport and has been a journalist in Fairfield County and beyond more than three decades. Reach him at editor@westportjournal.com. Learn more about us here.