Russell Library Board of Trustees

Governance Committee of the Russell Library Board of Trustees Regular Meeting, September 14, 2022, 5:00 PM (Online meeting via Zoom) Approved Minutes Present: Jennifer Billingsley (Head of Youth and Family Services), Ramona Burkey (Library Director), Brandie Doyle (Assistant Director), Jennifer Hadley (recorder), Gregory Harris, Thomas Russell IV, Cynthia Sanders (Chair) 1. Call to Order: Trustee Sanders called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm and reviewed the dialogue guidelines. 2. Approval of Minutes a. MOTION: The minutes from the June 1, 2022 Governance Committee Meeting were unanimously approved. 3. Public Comment: No public present. 4. Unfinished Business a. Submit Unattended Children’s Policy to Board for signoff Jennifer Billingsley recommended one change, removing the word “directly “in #2. This clarification would help staff a lot. The change was approved unanimously. The policy will be listed in the Board packet for signoff. 5. New Business a. Whistleblower policy Assistant Director Doyle’s intention had been to follow up on making changes based on feedback she had received on the policy. However, since contract negotiations are still under way, she recommends waiting until they are completed, hopefully by the end of the calendar year. Trustee Sanders suggested in the meantime we might want to think about 1) who would be the best person to serve as a compliance officer, 2) how the policy would fit with the community, 3) drafting the form 4) consider whether the obligation “if you see something, say something” will help ease angst, 5) about the library director’s power to either move forward or stop the process. The topic was tabled. Assistant Director Doyle will keep working on the policy. We might look at having an outside person receive the reports. Trustee Russell asked about other examples to use as models. Director Burkey replied that other policies were reviewed in creating the current draft. The committee will revisit this next month to see where we are. b. Schedule of policy review The review schedule had to be changed to address some immediate needs. We must make some adjustments to Circulation policies, e.g., the library cannot restrict borrowing to only Middletown residents according to state law. Also the library no longer issue e-cards only full cards. Assistant Director Doyle is in the process of making these edits, and the draft will be ready for the next meeting. Changes also need to be made on the Computer/Internet Use policy to make sure they are accessible. c. Personnel policy compilation Discussion tabled until after the contract negotiations are completed. 6. Discussion of Items to Be Placed on Next Agenda under New Business Whistleblower Computer/Internet use Circulation The CT Labor Board has dismissed the case brought by the unionand approved the Board’s modifications to the progressive discipline policy. 7. Announcements Condolences to Lynn Harlow on the passing of her mother. Trustee Hadley announced that Trustee Harris would be reading the amendments during a performance of a musical setting of the “Bill of Rights” at Wesleyan on Constitution Day, September 17. 8. Open Forum/General Good and Welfare 9. Additional Public Comment: None 10. Executive Session to discuss strategies and negotiations about pending claims or pending litigation involving the agency or a member: Not needed. None 11. Meeting Adjournment: Trustee Harris moved and Trustee Hadley seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 5:28. Next meeting: October 5, 2022 Respectfully submitted, Jennifer Hadley