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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2694 Establishing Role and Functions of the Port Townsend Library BoardOrdinance No. ~ ~ '~ ~/ AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND ADOPTING A NEW CHAPTER 2.30, LIBRARY BOARD, OF THE PORT TOWNSEND MUNICIPAL CODE, ESTABLISHING THE ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE PORT TOWNSEND LIBRARY BOARD CONSISTENT WiTH THE COUNCIL-MANAGER FORM OF CITY GOVERNMENT WHEREAS, the City of Port Townsend has recently completed a change in the form of government from the Mayor-Council to Council-Manager form, operating in accordance with Chapter 35A. 13 RCW; and WHEREAS, the change to the Council-Manager form of government brings with it a required change in the management and control of the Port Townsend Library Board of Trustees. Previously, the Library Board of Trustees operated with substantial autonomy under Chapter 27.12 RCW. Under the Council-Manager form of government, the Library, including the Library Board, operates under the management authority of the City Manager; and WHEREAS, under Chapter 35A. 13 RCW, the Library Board of Trustees will become advisory to the City Manager and the City Council; and WHEREAS, in respect for the substantial expertise and civic commitment of the Library Board of Trustees, and to enable the maximum independence of the Library Board available under Chapter 35A. 13 RCW and Chapter 27.12 RCW, the City Council hereby codifies the role and responsibility of the Library Board. In so doing, the Council intends to establish a new role for the Library Board in a manner which will cause minimum disruption in the activities of the Library and provide the community with the maximum assurance available under Washington law that the Port Townsend Library will continue to operate under its fundamental mission to serve the educational, literary and cultural needs of the community, with minimum political interference, NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Port Townsend does ordain as follows: SECTION 1. A new Chapter 2.30, LIBRARY BOARD, of the Port Townsend Municipal Code is hereby adopted and shall read as follows: Chapter 2.30 LIBRARY BOARD Sections: 2.30.010 2.30.020 2.30.030 2.30.040 2.30.050 2.30.060 2.30.070 Library board established. Appointments. Terms of office. Vacancies. Officers, meetings and rules. Powers and duties. Communication with the city council. 2.30.010 Library board established. A library board is established, to be known as the UPort Townsend library board" to consist of five members. 2.30.020 Appointments. A. All members of the library board shall be appointed by the city manager and shall not be subject to confirmation by the city council. Appointments shall be made without regard to age, race, sex or political affiliation. Members shall serve without compensation. All members of the library board must be residents of the city of Port Townsend. B. The first appointments to the library board created by this ordinance shall be of those individuals who were members of the library board in existence at the time this ordinance is adopted. 2.30.030 Terms of office. A. A member of the library board shall be appointed for a five-year term, unless the appointment is to fill an unexpired term. No member may serve longer than the term or unexpired term to which he or she has been appointed, unless that person is reappointed by the city manager. B. No person shall be appointed to the library board for more than two consecutive terms, provided that a person appointed to fill an unexpired term of less than two years is eligible to serve two consecutive five-year terms; and provided further that a person who is ineligible to serve for having served two terms may again serve after two years have elapsed from the end of the second term. 2 Ord. 2 ,qq C. The members of the library board who obtained membership by reason of their membership on the prior board shall have a term of office coinciding with their term on that predecessor board. 2.30.040 Vacancies. A vacancy shall occur upon the resignation, death, or removal of a board member. A vacancy shall also occur whenever a board member absents himself or herself for three consecutive regular meetings of the board or for an aggregate of five regular and/or special meetings in a single year, unless the absences are excused by action of the remaining board members. 2.30.050 Officers, meetings and rules. A. At the first meeting of each calendar year, the library board shall elect from its members a chair, who shall preside at all meetings of the board; a vice-chair, who shall serve in the absence of the chair; and such other officers as the board may determine. B. The library board shall have a regular meeting each month and may, from time to time, provide for special meetings as may be needed to carry out the proper discharge of its duties. A majority of the library board shall constitute a quomm for the transaction of business, and a majority vote of those present shall be necessary to carry any proposition. C. The library board may adopt rules necessary for the conduct of its business, and shall keep a written record of its proceedings. 2.30.060 Powers and duties. The powers and duties of the library board shall be as follows: A. Policy Advice. The library board shall act as an advisory board to the city manager and city council concerning the operations of the City of Port Townsend Library. B. Administrative Advice. The library board may give advisory opinions to the city manager concerning the following matters: 1. The supervision, care and custody of all property of the library; 2. The annual budget for the operation of the library during the ensuing year; 3. The appropriateness of buildings for library purposes; 4. The purchase of supplies and materials, equipment, and services for the library's operation; and 5. The hours of operation for the public use of the library. 3 Ord. C. Materials Selection Policy. The library board shall develop a policy for the selection of books, periodicals, maps, materials, and information services for the library's operation. The policy adopted prior to the effective date of this ordinance shall continue until such time as the library board amends the policy or adopts a new or revised policy. D. Legislative Actions. The library board may make recommendations to the city council regarding long-range planning of facilities, funding-based proposals (i.e., annexation to the Jefferson County Library District, etc.), and other community-wide general policies which are established by the city council's legislative actions. E. Other Actions. The library board shall engage in such other acts as may be requested by the city manager or city council relating to the orderly and efficient management and operation of the library. 2.:50.070 Communication with the city council. The library board shall forward communications to the city council by separate memoranda, including all rationale, which shall be scheduled as council agenda items. (Ord. ~ § 1, 1999.) SECTION 2. Severability. If any provision of this ordinance or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the ordinance, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force five days after the date of its publication in the manner provided by law. Attest: Golacy, City Cler:C-~ 03/23/99 Ord\{99LibrBd.doc} Adopted by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend, Washington, at a regular meeting thereof, held this /t~ day of Approved as to Form: 'l~i~t~ ' ~c4~itY Attorne: - 4 Ord.