HomeMy Public PortalAboutmay16bylawsWATERTOWN 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 Home Rule Charter.
Article 11 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 year's 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.
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 Comment
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) Public Comment
k) Adjournment
Section 3. Special meetings may be called by the Chair, or at the request of two members
in writing to the Chair, 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.
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 subject to the Open Meeting Law, including all
requirements 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 subject to the provisions of the Public Records Law.
Article IV Library Director and Staff
The Board shall appoint a qualified library Director who 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 appointment, supervision, and removal of
other employees under Article 4, Section 4-2(b) of the Watertown Home Rule Charter; The
won .for-thelareper--altreetion-anci-supe-PAtion of 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;7 for the-eft€i
maintaininga high
standard of customer service--e-the-puiali&_and for its -financial operation administration within
the limitsataees of the -budgeted appropriations. -f n the eastr'd,,f par[,TilYae-�?Y koi'pppr?ry
employees, the
flrevide
dDirector shall also prepare an annVahrepprt to tie pr sgnfefl gt a meetipgspec�fied Eby the
Boardt�
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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,aaless-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 haha e -be^^ ^' ^dhas been included
in the packet for the meeting 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
uspcnsion to be valid, may be taken only at a meeting at if approved by majority vote of a
quorumwhich two thirds (1) of the trustees shall be present and 3 of those present ,hall -se
approve.
The above by-laws were unanimously adopted by the Board of Library Trustees, May 13,
1974. Amended January 5, 1984.