Board of Trustees

Edwin Grant – President
Michelle Reiser-Memmer – Vice President
Catherine Marhenke – Secretary
Debra Boutin – Treasurer
Elizabeth Bentley, Bill Bower, Joseph DeTraglia, Sarah Gaetano, Gary Holeck, Judy Kowalczyk, Matthew Lacey, and Miriam Moore

Board Meetings

Board meetings are open to the public and occur on the fourth Thursday of every month excluding July and August. Meetings start at 6:30 pm.

The Public is welcome to attend in-person trustee meetings as long as they follow existing library protocols (masks must be worn at all times while in the library building). Should a board meeting be held remotely via Zoom, please contact the library to receive the invitation to the meeting.

2024 Meeting Dates

  • January 25 (annual meeting)
  • February 29
  • April 18
  • May 23
  • June 27
  • September 26
  • December 5

Materials for Upcoming Meetings

Meeting Minutes

Bylaws of the Kirkland Town Library

ARTICLE I          NAME

This Association shall be called the Kirkland Town Library Association.

ARTICLE II         PURPOSE

Its objective shall be to maintain a circulating library and such branches in the Town of Kirkland as may seem advisable.

ARTICLE III       GOVERNANCE

Section 1               Board of Trustees

All governing powers shall be vested in a Board of Trustees numbering at least ten (10) and no more than fifteen (15).  Members of the board shall reside, work, have children who attend(ed) Clinton Central School or pay property taxes in the Town of Kirkland.  The current number of trustees on the board is thirteen (13).

Section 2               Nominations and Elections

Nominating Committee

The President shall appoint the chairperson of the nominating committee and one additional member at least 3 months prior to the annual meeting.

The nominating committee shall present a slate of candidates to the Board one month prior to the annual meeting

No incumbent officer shall serve on the nominating committee.

Elections

The Board shall elect officers and new members at the annual meeting.

Section 3               Terms of Office

Members of the Board shall be elected to three (3) -year terms and at least two (2) Trustees and no more than five (5) Trustees shall be elected each year.  No individual shall serve more than three (3) consecutive full terms as a trustee.

Section 4               Vacancies

Vacancies shall be filled by election one month after the nominating committee has presented a slate of candidates to the Board.

ARTICLE IV       OFFICERS

Section 1               Titles

Officers of the Board shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Section 2               Nominations and Elections

Procedures prescribed in Article III, Section 2, shall be followed.

Section 3               Terms of Office

Officers shall be elected to one-year terms.

Section 4               Vacancies

Following consultation with the Board, the President shall appoint a member of the Board to fill a vacant office.

Section 5               Duties of Officers

The President shall be the chief executive of the Board and an ex-officio member of all committees.

The Vice-President shall assume duties of the President if the President is absent or the office of the President if it becomes vacant.

The Secretary shall record the proceedings of the Board, present at each meeting the minutes for the preceding meeting, and be responsible for all records and correspondence.

The Treasurer shall oversee the receipt and disbursal of the Library’s funds and present a financial report at each meeting.

ARTICLE V         MEETINGS

Section 1               Regular Meetings

At least six regular meetings shall be held per year at a time and day agreed to by the Board.

Section 2               Annual Meeting

The annual meeting shall be held in January.

Section 3               Quorum

One-half of the membership of the Board shall constitute a quorum.

Section 4               Attendance

Members of the Board should notify the President if s/he cannot attend a meeting.  If a member misses four meetings in a year, s/he will be asked to resign.

ARTICLE VI       COMMITTEES

Section 1               Committees of the Board

The following committees shall be committees of the board, each consisting of three or more directors:

  1. The officers of the Board of Trustees and such additional members as may be appointed from time to time by the President shall constitute the Executive Committee. The appointment shall be made by a majority of the entire board. The Executive Committee shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Board in all matters arising between regularly scheduled meetings of the Board to the restriction that any action taken or authorized by the Executive Committee.
  2. Finance Committee. The Finance Committee shall prepare and submit to the Board an annual plan proposing receipts and expenditures and shall oversee all financial transactions of the library including investments and all necessary forms to be filed with the IRS.

Section 2               Committees of the corporation

The committees listed in this Section 2 shall be committees of the corporation. No such committee shall have the authority to bind the board. Members of such committees of the corporation, who may be non-trustees, unless otherwise designated below, shall be appointed by the President.

  1. Facilities Committee. The Facilities Committee shall assess projects for the exterior and interior of the building annually and prioritize the list of projects with expense estimates.  The committee shall oversee the maintenance and construction projects of the library building, its furnishings, and grounds.
  2. Advancement Committee. The Advancement Committee will create and incorporate the development and stewardship functions within the library’s structure and collaborate with the Friends of the Library Committee.  It shall assess the long range philanthropic needs of the library. Shall increase visibility and awareness for the library and its programs and services by fostering partnerships with community organizations, local media and other influencers.
  3. Human Resources Committee. The Human Resources Committee shall oversee personnel policies and terms of employment.  The committee will regularly assess the staffing needs of the library and plan to implement those needs.
  4. Policy Committee. The Policy Committee shall create, implement and maintain policies for the effective governance of the library.
  5. Friends of the Library Committee. The “Friends of the Library Committee” shall operate to promote outreach, fundraising, and awareness in the Library’s area of service.  The Committee shall include members who are non-Board members, the selection and operations of which shall be governed by Committee Rules adopted and revised from time-to-time by the Board.
  6. Additional Committees. The President, with approval of the Board, may appoint additional ad hoc committees as may be appropriate.  Non-Board members may serve on such committees.

ARTICLE VII      DIRECTOR OF THE LIBRARY

Section 1               Appointment

The Board of Trustees shall appoint the Director of the Library.

Section 2               Duties

The Director, under the general oversight of the Board, shall be responsible for operating the Library and its branches. Duties include, but are not limited to, maintaining the collections of the Library; supervising the Library staff; supervising the activities and programs of the Library; maintaining coordination with the Mid-York Library System; and reporting periodically to the              Board. The Director shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.

Section 3               Salary and Benefits

Salary

The Board shall set the salary of the Director of the Library.  Payments shall be made at two-week intervals throughout the year.

Benefits

The Director shall be entitled to benefits as decided by the Board.

Termination of Employment

Two months’ notice of termination shall be given by either the Board or the Director.

ARTICLE VIII    LIBRARY EMPLOYEES

The Director shall appoint employees of the Library, who will work under the direction and the supervision of the Director.

Employee benefits are defined in the Board-approved personnel policy.

ARTICLE IX       PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of meetings of the Kirkland Town Library Board of Trustees.

ARTICLE X         AMENDMENTS

Bylaws may be amended by majority vote of the Board after one month’s notice has been given.

Revised by the Board of Trustees; resolution adopted Nov. 10, 2005, March 12, 2009, Feb. 27, 2014, June 22, 2017, Feb. 22, 2018, April 25, 2019, April 27, 2023