Article I
Identification
The name of this organization is the Board of Trustees of the Kraemer Library & Community Center, located in Plain, Wisconsin. It was established by the Wisconsin municipality of Plain, 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. The Library Board of the Kraemer Library & Community Center shall consist of seven (7) members, six (6) of whom shall be appointed by the Village President with the approval of the Village Board. The seventh (7th) member shall be the superintendent of schools or his or her representative. Appointments and terms of office are as provided by the relevant subsections of Wisconsin Statutes Sections 43.54.
Section 2. Meeting Attendance. Members shall be expected to attend all meetings except as they are prevented by a valid reason.
Article III
Officers
Section 1. The officers shall be a president, a vice president, a secretary and a treasurer, elected from among the appointed trustees at the annual meeting of the Board. No member shall hold more than one office at a time. Vacancies in office shall be filled by vote at the next regular meeting of the Board after the vacancy occurs.
Section 2. Officers shall serve a term of one year from the annual meeting at which they are elected and until their successors are duly elected.
Section 3. 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, co-sign all checks drawn on funds held by the library independently of the village, and generally perform all duties associated with the office of president.
Section 4. 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 5. The secretary shall keep a true and accurate record 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 above duties.
Section 6. The treasurer shall co-sign all checks drawn on funds held by the library, sign all vouchers for disbursements from the library fund, and perform such duties as generally devolve upon the office. The treasurer shall make monthly reports to the Board showing in detail the amount and investment of, and income and disbursements from, the funds in his or her charge.
Article IV
Meetings
Section 1. Regular Meetings. The regular meeting shall be held on the Last Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Kraemer Library & Community Center.
Section 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting, which shall be for the purpose of the election of officers, shall be held at the time of the regular meeting in May of each year.
Section 3. Agendas and Notices. Meeting agendas and notices shall indicate the time, date, and place of the meeting and indicate all subject matters intended for consideration at the meeting.
Section 4. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called at the direction of the president, or shall be called at the written request of two (2) members, for the transaction of business as stated in the call for the meeting. Except in cases of emergency, at least 48 hours notice shall be given.
Section 5. Quorum. A quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting shall consist of a simple majority. Wis. Stats. 43.54 (1)(e).
Section 6. Open Meetings Law Compliance. All Board meetings and all committee meetings shall be held in compliance with Wisconsin’s open meetings law (Wis. Stats. Sections 19.18 to 19.98).
Section 7. Parliamentary Authority. The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order, latest revised edition, 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.
Article V
Committees
There shall be no standing committees. Committees for the investigation and study of special problems may be appointed by the president, with the approval of the board, to serve until the final report of the work for which they were appointed has been filed.
Article VI
Duties of the Board of Trustees
Section 1. Legal responsibility for the operation of the Kraemer Library & Community Center is vested in the Board of Trustees. Subject to state and federal law, the Board has the power and duty to determine rules and regulations governing library operations and services.
Section 2. The Board shall select, appoint and supervise a properly certified and competent library director, and determine the duties and compensation of all library employees.
Section 3. The Board shall approve the budget and make sure that adequate funds are provided to finance the approved budget.
Section 4. The Board shall have exclusive control of the expenditure of all moneys collected, donated or appropriated for the library fund and shall audit and approve all library expenditures.
Section 5. The Board shall supervise and maintain buildings and grounds, as well as regularly review various physical and building needs to see that they meet the requirements of the total library program.
Section 6. The Board shall study and support legislation that will bring about the greatest good to the greatest number of library users.
Section 7. The Board shall cooperate with other public officials and boards and maintain vital public relations.
Section 8. The Board shall approve and submit the required annual report to the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning, and the Village Board.
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 office 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 attend all Board meetings (but may be excused from closed sessions) and shall have no vote.
Article VIII
Conflict of Interest
Section 1. Board members may not in their private capacity negotiate, bid for, or enter into a contract with the Kraemer Library & Community Center in which they have a direct or indirect financial interest.
Section 2. 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. 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. 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. 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 (3) of the members of the Board are present and two-thirds (2) of those present so approve.
Section 3. These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the board, or at any special meeting, provided the proposed amendment was stated in the call for the meeting.
Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Kraemer Library & Community Center on the 29th day of September 2003.
The Board of Trustees amended Article II, Section 1 on the 29th day of March 2004.
The Board of Trustees amended Article IV, Sections 1 on 12th day of August 2013.