[Ord. of 11-19-1973, § 2]
The Board of Trustees of the Belfast Free Library shall consist
of five members. The City Council shall make appointments of trustees
of the Belfast Free Library as provided in this division.
[Ord. of 11-19-1973, § 2]
All residents of the City who are eligible to vote shall be
eligible for appointment to the Board of Trustees of the Belfast Free
Library, except employees of the Belfast Free Library and their immediate
families, defined as parents, children or relatives residing in the
home of employees.
[Ord. of 11-19-1973, § 2; Ord.
No. 19-1991, 8-6-1991; Ord. No. 19-2006, 12-5-2006]
(b) Applications for Trustees shall be submitted to the council in writing
and shall include the applicant's qualifications, his reasons
for interest in serving and his signature. The trustees may also recommend
candidates for the Board of Trustees, and these candidates shall meet
the requirements set forth in this division for an applicant. Appointments
must be made from the list of applicants. An attempt should be made
to select trustees representing the diverse aspects of the City, provided
they are in accordance with serving in the best interests of the Belfast
Free Library.
[Ord. of 11-19-1973, § 2]
Appointments to the Board of Trustees of the Belfast Free Library
shall be made for a term of three years. Trustees may be reappointed
to one consecutive three-year term. After two consecutive three-year
terms they may not be reappointed until three years has lapsed. The
three-year terms shall staggered.
[Ord. of 11-19-1973, § 2]
Interim vacancies occurring on the Board of Trustees of the Belfast Free Library shall be filled by the City Council no later than the second regular meeting of the City Council following the occurrence of the vacancy. For purposes of reappointment the unexpired term shall be counted as a term when it exceeds 18 months. Such appointment may be made from past applications on file, by advertising as in the regular annual procedure described in section
26-53, or from a list requested from the remaining trustees. Such list would include the qualifications and signatures of the candidates.
[Ord. No. 19-1991, 8-6-1991]
Any trustee of the Belfast Free Library who fails to attend more than four regularly scheduled monthly meetings of the board during any one calendar year without being excused by the chair shall be disqualified from further service as a trustee, and the City Clerk shall be notified that a vacancy exists. Procedures for appointment of a new trustee shall be those set forth in section
26-55 for the filling of unexpired terms.
[Ord. of 11-19-1973, § 3]
The trustees of the Belfast Free Library, at their first meeting
held after the City Council has made the annual appointment of trustees,
shall elect from their number a president, vice-president, secretary
and treasurer. However, the current librarian may act as secretary
if the trustees so vote. The treasurer is to serve only in relation
to funds administered entirely by the trustees. In case of a vacancy
in any of these offices the trustees shall elect a successor for the
unexpired term.
[Ord. of 11-19-1973, § 4]
Stated meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Belfast Free
Library shall be held once a month. Special meetings may be called
by the president, or, in case of his disability or absence from the
City, by the vice-president, or by the written request of three members
of the board, by giving reasonable notice thereof to each member of
the board.
[Ord. of 11-19-1973, § 5]
The trustees of the Belfast Free Library shall have the management
and control of the library and the building, and the grounds. The
trustees shall employ a librarian and other necessary employees. The
librarian shall be an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees without
a vote. The trustees shall make all needful rules and regulations
for their own government, and set the library policy with respect
to service, personnel and materials as well as the use of the library
by the inhabitants of the City, and all other requirements for proper
library operation. The trustees shall, having agreed on these policy
objectives, put them in writing and make them available to the City
government and the general public. These written policies shall be
reviewed from time to time, at least biennially, to see when and how
revision is needed. The trustees shall direct the expenditure and
investment of Belfast Free Library funds, which consist of monies
donated to the library trustees. All bills presented to the City manager's
office for payment of expenses incurred in operating and maintaining
the Belfast Free Library shall be signed by three of the trustees.
At the end of each fiscal year the trustees shall make to the City
Council a detailed statement of their official acts and of the financial
condition of the library.