Today’s information on the Salem Public Library Board of Trustees is the ninth and final installment in a series on city committees, who is on them and their role in helping make city policy. Committees are an important part of how city government is supposed to work, and their responsibilities are spelled out in city ordinances.
The Salem Public Library board consists of nine trustees whose appointment and removal is in accordance with Missouri statutes, Sections 182.170, 182.180 and 182.190, RSMo.
The mayor or other proper official of the city, with the approval of the board of aldermen, shall proceed to appoint a library board of nine trustees who serve three-year terms, according to state statute. No member of the city government shall be a member of the board.
Vacancies in the board of trustees, occasioned by removals, resignations or otherwise, shall be reported to the proper official and be filled in like manner as original appointments, except that if the vacancy is an unexpired term, the appointment shall be made for only the unexpired portion of that term.
No member of the board shall serve for more than three successive full terms and shall not be eligible for further appointment to the board until two years after the expiration of the third term.
No trustee shall receive compensation as such, and no person shall be employed by the board who is related either by blood or by marriage to any trustee of the board.
The organization of the Board of Trustees and all other functions shall be done pursuant to the provisions of Section 182 of state statutes.
The librarian shall make, within eight weeks after the end of the fiscal year of the library, an annual report to the board of trustees.
The board shall have exclusive control of the expenditure of all moneys collected to the credit of the library fund, and of the supervision, care and custody of the grounds, rooms or buildings.
Elizabeth Condray, president; Josh Gordon, vice-president; Melody Fortner, treasurer; Rhonda Thompson, secretary; Steven Patterson; Ruth Ann Parker; Wayne Bertz; Joe Brand; and Brett Capps.
The library board holds its regular meeting on the second Thursday of each month at 5:15 p.m. in the North Library basement, unless the board elects otherwise.
The best way to get involved in city committees is to attend meetings as a member of the public and express or demonstrate one’s interest and/or expertise in a given category to the city.
For more information go to Chapter 182 of state statutes.
