Oconomowoc Public Library Board of Trustees Bylaws

ARTICLE I - IDENTIFICATION

This organization is the Board of Trustees of the Oconomowoc Public Library (“Board”), located in
Oconomowoc Wisconsin, established by the City of Oconomowoc, according to the provisions of Chapter 43 of
the Wisconsin Statutes, and exercising the powers and assuming the duties granted to it under said statute.

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 - Appointments and Terms of Office

Appointments and terms of office are as provided by the relevant subsections of Wisconsin Statutes Sections 43.54 and 43.60.

Section 2 - Meeting Attendance

Members shall be expected to attend all meetings except as they are prevented by a valid reason.

ARTICLE III - OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1 – Officers

The officers shall be a President, a Vice President, and a Secretary.

Section 2 – Nominations

Nominations for Board officers shall be made at the regular monthly meeting prior to the elections of officers. No nominations shall take place until after new appointments or reappointments are made by the Mayor and the County Executive. Nominations from the floor are permitted. All Board members nominated must consent to be placed in nomination.

Section 3 – Election

The election of officers shall be held at the regular June meeting. When there is but one nominee for a position, the President may instruct the Secretary to cast a unanimous ballot.

Section 4 – Assumption of Duties

Officers assume their duties at the conclusion of the regular June meeting. Officers shall serve a term of one year and until their successors are duly elected.

Section 5 - Limits

Board officers shall be limited to two (2) consecutive terms in the same office. No member shall hold more than one office at a time.

Section 6 – Vacancies

Vacancies in office shall be filled by vote at the next regular meeting of the Board after the vacancy occurs.

Section 7 – President

The President shall preside at meetings of the Board, 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 except the Nominating Committee, and generally perform all duties associated with the office of President.

Section 8 – Vice President

The Vice President, in the event of the absence or disability of the President, or of a vacancy in that office, shall assume and perform the duties and functions of the President.

Section 9 - Secretary

The Secretary shall keep true and accurate minutes of all meetings of the Board, shall issue notice of all regular and special meetings, and shall perform such other duties as are generally associated with the office of Secretary. The Library Director or a member of the staff may be designated by the Board to perform any or all of the Secretary’s duties.

ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS

Section 1 - Regular Meetings

The regular meetings shall be held each month unless otherwise determined by the Board.

Section 2 - Special Meetings

Special meetings may be called at the direction of the President, and/or at the written request of three voting members. Except in cases of emergency, at least 48 hours’ notice shall be given. In no case may less than two hours’ notice be given.

Section 3 - Quorum

A quorum for a regular or special Board meeting shall be a simple majority of Board seats filled at the time of the meeting.

Section 4 - Open Meetings

All Board and committee meetings and activities shall comply with Wisconsin Statutes Sections 19.81 to 19.98.

Section 5 - Parliamentary Authority

Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the parliamentary procedure of the meetings, in all cases in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any statutes applicable to this Board.

Section 6 - Public Comments

The agenda for each regular meeting shall include a time for comments from the public. Members of the public making comments must state their name, limit comments to three minutes during public comment only, and abide by the Library’s Code of Conduct. If 10 or more audience members are present, speakers must fill out a comment card, priority will be given to residents of the Bridges Library System, and the public comment period will last up to one hour. The Library Board reserves the right to extend the time to hear additional comments from Bridges Library System residents. Library Board Trustees and Library staff may not respond or discuss public comments during the public comment period.

ARTICLE V - COMMITTEES

Section 1 - Standing Committees

The Library Board shall have four standing committees – Finance, Nominating, Operations, and Planning. The members shall be appointed by the President. The President shall rotate committee members annually whenever possible.

Section 2 - Special Committees

The President shall appoint special committees as needed, with the approval of the Board, to serve until the final report of the work for which they were appointed has been filed. These committees may include staff and public representatives, as well as outside experts.

Section 3 – Committee Powers

Committees shall have advisory powers only.

ARTICLE VI - DUTIES

Section 1 – Legal Responsibility

Legal responsibility for the operation of the Oconomowoc Public Library is vested in the Board of Trustees.

Section 2 – Policies

Subject to state and federal law, the Board has the power and duty to determine the policies governing Library operations and services. Recommended policies will only become Library policies after they have been passed by majority vote at two consecutive Board meetings. The Library Director shall disseminate policies to staff.

Section 3 – Library Director

The Board shall select, appoint, and supervise a properly certified and competent Library Director.

Section 4 – Library staffing and staff compensation

The Board shall determine the duties and compensation of all Library employees.

Section 5 – Budget

The Board shall approve the budget and make sure that adequate funds are provided to finance the approved budget.

Section 6 – Expenditure of Funds

The Board shall have exclusive control of the expenditure of all money collected, donated, or appropriated for the Library, and shall audit and approve all Library expenditures. Three voting Board members shall sign the vouchers and bills to authorize payment.

Section 7 – Facilities

The Board shall supervise and maintain buildings and grounds, as well as regularly review the facility to see that it meets the requirements of the Library.

Section 8 – Legislation

The Board shall study and support legislation that will bring about the greatest good to the greatest number of Library users.

Section 9 – Public Relations

The Board shall cooperate with other public officials and boards and maintain vital public relations.

Section 10 – Annual Report

The Board shall approve and submit the required annual report to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

ARTICLE VII - LIBRARY DIRECTOR

The Library Director shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees and shall be responsible to the Board. The Library Director shall be considered the executive officer of the Library under the direction and review of the Board, and subject to the policies established by the Board. The Director shall act as technical advisor to the Board. The Director shall be invited to attend all Board meetings (but may be excused from closed sessions) and shall have no vote.

ARTICLE VIII - CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Section 1 – Financial Interest

Board members may not in their private capacity negotiate, bid for, or enter into a contract with the Oconomowoc Public Library in which they have a direct or indirect financial interest.

Section 2 – Personal Interest

A Board member shall withdraw from Board discussion, deliberation, and vote on any matter in which the Board member, an immediate family member, or an organization with which the Board member is associated has a substantial financial interest.

Section 3 – Gifts & Gratuities

A Board member may not receive anything of value that could reasonably be expected to influence his or her vote or other official action.

ARTICLE IX - GENERAL

Section 1 – Majority Vote

An affirmative vote of the majority of all members of the Board present at the time shall be necessary to approve any action before the Board. The President may vote upon and may move or second a proposal before the Board.

Section 2 – Rule or Resolution Suspension

Any rule or resolution of the Board, whether contained in these bylaws or otherwise, may be suspended temporarily in connection with business at hand, but such suspension, to be valid, may be taken only at a meeting at which two-thirds of the members of the Board are present and two-thirds of those present to approve.

Section 3 – Amendment

These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Board by majority vote, provided such amendments have been presented in writing at a meeting prior to the one action is taken.

Adopted 4/26/1979
Revised 11/8/1984
Revised 12/10/1986
Revised 2/28/1989
Revised 8/20/1990
Revised 12/14/1994
Revised 6/13/2002
Revised 11/14/2002
Revised 5/13/2004
Reconfirmed 11/13/2008
Revised 11/12/2020
Revised 7/13/2023