AGENDA #4L

 

                                                              MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

           

SUBJECT:       Ordinance to Increase Library Board Membership

 

DATE:             November 11, 2002

 

 

The attached ordinance would increase Library Board membership from eight to nine (9) members, to include eight (8) Town appointed members and one (1) member appointed by the Orange County Board of Commissioners.

 

BACKGROUND

 

On June 24, 1996, the Council enacted an ordinance amendment that authorized seven Town appointments on the Library Board of Trustees and one Orange County Board of Commissioners appointment to the Library Board for a total of eight members (Attachment 1).   

 

On September 30, 2002, the Library Board submitted a recommendation to the Town Council that “the Library Board membership be expanded from eight to nine members in order to avoid tie votes and to be better able to gain a quorum”  (Attachment 2). 

 

DISCUSSION

 

Enacting the attached ordinance would increase Library Board membership from eight to nine as requested by the Library Board of Trustees. 

 

In reviewing the Library Board’s request, we found inconsistent wording in the Town Code originating in 1996 when the Town Council added the Orange County representative to the Library Board.  It appears that appropriate wording changes were made to the Town Code’s Section 2-142, regarding Library Board appointments and vacancies.  However, similar appropriate wording changes were not made to Section 2-141, regarding membership.  As a result, one section correctly identifies the total number of Trustees as being eight.  The other section identifies the total number of Trustees as being seven.  Enacting the attached ordinance would include consistent wording for Sections 2-142 and 2-121. 

 

If the Council chooses to enact the attached ordinance, it could proceed to fill the current Library Board vacancy this evening.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Library Board Recommendation:  That the Library Board membership be expanded from eight to nine members in order to avoid tie votes and to be better able to gain a quorum.

 

Manager’s Recommendation:  We believe that this is a policy matter for discussion by the Council.

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

1. Town Council memo of June 24, 1996:  “Changes to Board Membership,” (p.4).

2. Library Board petition of September 30, 2002:  “Library Board Composition,” (p.7).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 2-141 AND 2-142 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES (2002-11-11/O-6)

 

BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill as follows:

 

Section 1.  The first paragraph of  Section 2-141 of the Town Code is hereby revised to read as follows:

 

“The library board of trustees shall consist of seven (7)  nine (9) appointed members as hereinafter provided. Their terms of office shall be four (4) years or until their successors are appointed and qualified.”

 

Section 2.  Section 2-142 of the Town Code is hereby revised to read as follows:

 

“Sec. 2-142.  Appointment; vacancies.

 

Seven Eight members shall be appointed by the mayor and council.  One additional member shall be a resident of Orange County appointed by the Orange County Board of Commissioners.  Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as original appointment.”

 

Section 3.  This ordinance change shall become effective upon adoption. 

 

This the 11^th day of November, 2002.