[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of East Haddam 6-19-2013. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The East Haddam Public Library System is hereby established. The East Haddam Free Public Library shall be designated as the principal public library, and the Rathbun Free Memorial Library shall be made a part thereof. The East Haddam Free Public Library and Rathbun Free Memorial Library shall constitute one library at two locations and all library services provided the public from said two locations shall be part of one unified library system known as the "East Haddam Public Library System." The library building at 36 Main Street, East Haddam, Connecticut shall continue to bear the name "Rathbun Free Memorial Library" in perpetuity.
The Board of Trustees shall be the only library board operating and existing under the ordinances of East Haddam, and any other board or boards, committees or councils established prior to the date of the first organizational meeting of the Board of Trustees under the ordinances of East Haddam or holding office as elected trustees of the East Haddam Free Public Library for the purpose of overseeing, managing or operating either the East Haddam Free Public Library or Rathbun Free Memorial Library is abolished. The Board of Trustees may create a set of bylaws for its governance and from time to time, in the discretion of the Board, amend its bylaws.
There shall be a Board of Trustees consisting of nine elected trustees whose terms of office shall be six years. Said trustees shall be elected in the manner provided in Connecticut General Statutes § 9-207.
In 2013, nine Trustees shall be elected, three to a term of two years and hence in 2015 to a term of six years, three to a term of four years and hence in 2017 to a term of six years, and three to a term of six years and hence in 2019 to a term of six years. Upon the election of said nine Trustees to the Board of Trustees in 2013 and upon the taking of the oath of office, the Board of Trustees shall be duly constituted under the laws of the State of Connecticut and able to carry out its responsibilities as enumerated below in § 62-6. Any vacancy in the office of Library Trustee created by death, resignation, ceasing to be an elector of East Haddam or removal from the Board of Trustees for any other reason shall be filled by appointment of the Board of Selectmen in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes §§ 9-220 and 9-167a.
The Board of Trustees shall hold an organizational meeting within 30 days of the 2013 election, at which a Chairperson and Secretary shall be elected. Five Trustees present shall constitute a quorum.
The Board of Trustees is authorized under the provisions of this chapter and the laws of the State of Connecticut to carry out the responsibilities of trustees of the system. The Trustees shall be principally responsible, in consultation with the Library Director, for developing appropriate policies for overseeing the management of the system's finances, purchasing, budgeting and accounting systems; maintenance of the buildings, interior and exterior, contents and the grounds, driveways and parking areas; hours and use of the premises by the public; developing a job description for the Library Director and evaluating the performance of the Library Director and staff; promoting gifting and other forms of private donation and fund-raising; and advocating for the system to the public.
All appropriations for the system shall be requested in accordance with the Town’s established municipal budgeting procedures as determined by the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance and adopted at the annual budget town meeting.
The Board of Selectmen shall hire a Library Director, who shall have responsibility for the day-to-day operations and management of the system, including assisting the Board of Trustees in developing appropriate policies for management of the system's finances, purchasing and accounting systems; maintenance of the buildings, interior and exterior, contents and the grounds, driveways and parking areas; hours and use of the premises by the public; evaluating the performance of the staff; promoting gifting and other forms of private donation and fund-raising; and advocating for the system to the public.
The conveyance, transfer and delivery of appropriate documents of title to the physical assets consisting of the real property located at 36 Main Street, East Haddam, Connecticut and the contents and tangible personal property located in the library building situated on said real property by Bank of America, Trustee of the Norris W. Rathbun Trust fbo Rathbun Free Memorial Library, as directed in the decree of the Probate Court, Region #14 Probate District dated January 3, 2013, is deemed a condition precedent to establishing the system and the Board of Trustees under this chapter, and failure or refusal of Bank of America, Trustee, to make said transfer and deliver said physical assets as authorized under the terms of the decree will render this chapter null and void.
