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WATERTOWN FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY
By-Laws of the Board of Trustees
Article I Name
This organization shall be called"The Trustees of the Watertown Free Public Library" -
exercising the powers and authority and assuming the responsibilities delegated to it under
Article 4 Section 4-2 of the Watertown Nome Rule Charter,
Article If Officers
Section 1. The officers shall be a Chair,a Vice Chair,a Secretary and a Treasurer,elected
from among the Trustees at the first meeting in January.
Section 2. Officers shall serve a term of one year from the meeting at which they are
elected until the next years election of officers.
Section 3. The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Board,authorize calls for any
special meetings,appoint all committees,and generally perform all duties associated with that
office.
Section 4. The Vice Chair,in the event of the absence or disability of the Chair,or of a
vacancy in the office,shall assume and perform all duties and functions of the Chair.
Section 5. The Secretary shall keep a true and accurate record of all meetings of the Board
and shall perform such other duties as are generally associated with that office.
Section 6. The Treasurer shall be the disbursing officer of the Board,shall approve all
invoices,and shall perform such duties as generally devolve upon the office. In the absence or
disability of the Treasurer,the Chair shall perform her/his duties.
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Article III Meetings
Section 1. The regular meeting shall be held once a month at a date and time to be posted
in accordance with the Open Meeting Law. At the discretion of the Board,the date and time
may be changed at any regular meeting.
Section 2. The order of business,or agenda,for regular meetings shall include,but not be
limited to,the following items which shall be covered in sequence shown so far as
circumstances will permit:
a) Call to order
b) Public Forum
c) Disposition of previous meeting's minutes
d) Financial Report
e) Chair's Report
f) Committee Reports
g) Director's Report
h) Unfinished business
i) New business
j) Adjournment
Section 3. Special meetings may be called by the secfee"S etary at the
discretiond#eetien of the c'�-.,a4fma^^^^Chair;or at the request of two members in writing to the
ehair+tranChair,for the transaction of business as stated in the call for the meeting.
Section 4. A quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting shall consist of four(4)
members of the Board present in person.
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Section 5. Conduct of meetings: Proceedings of all meetings shall be governed by Robert's
Rules of Order.
Section 6. All meetings of the Board shall be subiect to the Ooen Meeting Law,MGL C39
Sect. 23A-C. including all reauirements for advance public notice. Meetings may be held in
executive session only as permitted under the Open Meeting Law.
Section 7. All minutes and records of meetings shall be available for public inspection in
accordance with and subiect to the provisions of the Public Records Law.MGL 66,Sect. 10,
Section 8. In the event of an anticipated absence a Trustee should notTv the Library
Director's office before the meeting-in cuestion. Should a Trustee miss more than three
meetings in a vear.the Chair or his/her designated oroxv will address the issue with that
Trustee.
Article IV Library Director and Staff
The Board shall appoint a qualified library Dtrectorwho shall be the executive
and administrative officer of the library on behalf of the Board and under its review and
direction. The Director shall be responsible for the anoointment,supervision.and removal of
other emplovees under Article 4 Section 4-2(b)of the Watertown Home Rule Charter:The
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reSPORSible fE)F th.........eF diFe6ti.. aAd 661pe�islanof the staff for the care and maintenance
of library property,-for-an adequate and proper selection of books and other resourcesbeeks
in keeping with the policy of the Board;-for the effle:eFIG Of fibiwaFysepoleemaintainina a high
standard of customer service;to the labibliG_and forits-financialsryer-at clministrationwithin
the limitsatieas of the-budgeted appropriations.*40-ca�
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^^ ��^a�.^�•^ �.hau,kaue,iaYer+ra.aaLher+iy�ze,aNps'. .jljae.Tepa' T ^iag=The
cbirector shaltalso prepare-an annual reportto be,presented'at:a meet4ig'specified by .
Board. ....- - bdmmentesl[QT1]:Change brdelere7- _,- 1
Article V Committees
Section 1. The Chair shall appoint committees of one or more members each for such
specific purposes as the business of the Board may require from time to time. The committee
shall be considered to be discharged upon the completion of the purpose for which it was
appointed and after the final report is made to the Board.
Article VI General
-� Section 1. An affirmative vote of the majority of all members of the Board present at the
time shall be necessary to approve any action before the Board. The Chair may vote upon and
may move or second a proposal before the Board. No matter may be voted upon unless
specifically included on the agenda,unless-except by a unanimous vote of those present.
Section 2. The by-laws may be amended by the majority vote of all members of the Board
provided written notice of the proposed amendment Chas been included
in the packet for the mPe+ing at which such action is proposed to be taken.
Section 3. Any rule or resolution of the Board,whether contained in these by-laws or
otherwise,may be suspended temporarily in connection with business at hand,, but such
te be valid,way be tRkPR GRly at a meeting atif aouroved by majority vote of a
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approve
The above by-laws were unanimously adopted by the Board of library Trustees,May 13,
1974.Amended January 5, 1984.