BYLAWS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OF THE FLOYD MEMORIAL LIBRARY
(Revised November
3,2008)
ARTICLE I: NAME
This organization shall be called "The Board of
Trustees of the Floyd Memorial Library". It is authorized by the
provisions of the Constitution of the Greenport Library
Association.
ARTICLE II: TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
Sect. A.
The Board of Trustees shall be composed of seven members,
selected by the members of the Library Association at regularly, scheduled,
annual public meetings of the Association. Four of the Trustees must reside in the Greenport school district, three
in the Oysterponds school district.
Sect. B.
Each Trustee shall be elected for a term of five years; but
no Trustee shall be elected for consecutive terms, either full or partial,
which total more than 14 years. A Trustee
who has served more than 14 years consecutively shall
not be eligible to serve a further term
until at least one year has elapsed from the end of the last term which he or
she
has served.
Sect. C
If a Trustee has vacated her or his office, the Board of
Trustees shall appoint a replacement to serve the balance of the unexpired
term, subject to confirmation by the
members of the Library Association at their next annual
public meeting.
Sect. D.
The Board of Trustees shall promulgate policy with respect
to the Library's employees and operations. It shall be responsible for the
financial affairs of the Library,
including the preparation of an annual budget and monitoring
the flow of income and expenditures. It shall oversee the Library's operations
and plan for the Library's
future.
Sect. E.
The Trustees shall annually elect from among themselves a
President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, at the first meeting
Each year on the first meeting before the annual public meeting of the Floyd Memorial Library Association, the
President shall
appoint a committee of three trustees to meet among
themselves and nominate candidates for these offices.
At the first meeting of the Board following the
Association's annual meeting this nominating committee shall present its slate
of candidates to the Board and,
after any additional nominations have been made by any of
the members of the Board, the officers shall be elected by secret ballot. The
votes of a simple majority of members
present shall suffice to elect any officer.
The officers of the Board of Trustees shall hold office at
the pleasure of the Board and shall be subject to its rules and direction. They
shall have the usual powers and duties of such officers, and any other powers
and duties with which they may be specifically charged by the Board.
The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of
Trustees. She or he may authorize calls for special meetings, appoint all
committees, execute all documents
authorized by the Board, serve as an ex-officio voting
member of all committees, and, in general, perform all of the duties which are conventionally
associated with his or
her office.
The Vice-President shall assume the duties and functions of
the President in the event of absence or incapacity of the President, or in the
event of a vacancy in that office.
The Secretary shall keep a true and accurate record of all
of the meetings of the Board of Trustees, shall issue notices of all regular
and special meetings, and perform such other duties as are generally associated
with his or her office. In the absence or incapacity of the Secretary, his or
her duties shall be performed by such other member
or members of the Board of Trustees as the Board may
designate.
The Treasurer shall be the disbursing officer of the Board
of Trustees, paying expenses which have been approved by the Board, and
performing those duties which are normally
recognized as devolving upon her or his office. In the
absence or incapacity of the Treasurer, his or her duties shall be performed by
such other member or members of the
Board of Trustees as the Board may designate. Bonding of the
Treasurer, or of any substitute or substitutes, shall be at the discretion of
the Board.
III: MEETINGS
Regular meetings of the Board of Trustees shall be held
monthly at the Library. They shall be open to the public except when
consideration of labor contracts, personnel
actions, or other matters of sensitivity as defined in
public Officers Law of New York State, Article 7, Section 100, et al shall
require executive session.
B. Special meetings of the Board of Trustees may be called
by the President at his or her discretion, or shall be called upon written
request of three Trustees.
C. Notice of the time and place of every regular monthly
meeting of the Board of Trustees shall be 1) provided by the Secretary to the
usual address of each
member of the Board at least 5 days, and not more than 10
days, before the meeting;
2) posted by the Secretary in the lobby of the Library in a
format of at least 8 1/2 by 11 inches, and for at least one week before the
meeting.
Sect. D. Each member of the Board of Trustees shall receive
through normal Library channels of distribution, and in a timely manner, all
available information pertinent to the next meeting of the Board.
Sect. E. A quorum for the transaction of business at any
meeting of the Board shall consist of 4
members of the Board.
Sect. F. The order of business for regular meetings shall
include, but not be limited to, the following which shall be addressed in the
following order insofar as time and circumstances permit:
1) Disposition of the minutes of the previous regular
meeting and of any intervening special meetings
2) Treasurer's report
3) Public expression
4) Action on bills
5) Director's report
6) Committee reports
7) Communications
8) Unfinished business
9) New business
10) Nominations and elections
11) Executive session
12) Adjournment
Sect. G. No action may be taken by the Board while it is in
executive session.
Sect. H. The affirmative vote of a simple majority of the
members of
the Board present shall suffice to approve any action before
the Board.
Sect. I. proceedings of all meetings shall be governed by
Robert's Rules of order unless the Rules conflict with provisions of these bylaws.
Sect. J. Public Expression Guidelines: The meeting of the
Library Board is held in public. The
Public Expression agenda item allows persons wishing to address the Library
Board to make a statement. In the
interest of time, statements should not
exceed five minutes in length. Individuals should not expect to engage in discussion with the members
of the Library Board. The Board
President may or may not respond to statements made. Questions on items of policy and procedure should be submitted in
writing and will be answered in writing.
ARTICLE IV: COMMITTEES
Sect. A. The President shall appoint the following standing
committees:
1) Budget and finance
2) Buildings and grounds
3) Goals and long-term planning
4) Personnel
5) Public relations
The duties of each standing committee shall be such as are
conventionally associated with its name or as may be assigned to it by the
president;-
Sect. B. The President may appoint ad hoc committees for
specific purposes as the business of the Board of Trustees shall require. Each
committee shall be considered to be
discharged when it has completed the purpose for which it
was appointed and after it has made its final report to the Board.
Sect. C. No committee shall have other than advisory powers
unless it is granted specific power by the Board of Trustees.
ARTICLE V: LIBRARY DIRECTOR AND STAFF
Sect. A. The Board shall employ a qualified library director
who shall be the executive and administrative officer of the library on behalf
of the Board of Trustees, and he or she
shall work under the direction and review of the Board.
Sect. B. The Director shall perform the duties customarily
associated with his or her position. In particular, she or he shall recommend
to the Board the employment of other
employees and specify their duties. He or she shall also be
held responsible for the proper direction and supervision of the staff; for the
care and maintenance of Library property; for an adequate and proper selection
of books and other media; for the efficiency of the Library's service to the
public; and for the Library's financial operation within the limitations of the
budget.
Sect. C. Personnel policies and patron circulation policies
shall, by reference, be incorporated as a part of these Bylaws and may be
changed only by action of the Board of Trustees.
ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENTS
Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed at any regular meeting
of the Board of Trustees, but shall become effective only after a favorable
vote at a subsequent regular
meeting of the Board. |