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Library board urges charter language restoring board role in director selection
Summary
Noor Public Library board chair Moina Noor asked the commission to restore language in the charter giving the library board a formal role in selecting the library director; commission said it will consult city attorney and consider placing the item on a future agenda.
Moina Noor, chairperson of the Noor Public Library Board of Directors, told the Charter Revision Commission during the public-comment portion that the board wants the charter changed to restore a formal role for the library board in selecting the library director. Noor said the board historically collaborated with the mayor and human resources to identify finalists, with the mayor making the final appointment; she said a 2023 charter revision removed that board role.
Nut graf: Noor urged the commission to restore shared appointment language and to clarify reporting lines and budget-preparation responsibilities so the library board can preserve institutional independence and continuity.
What Noor asked the commission to do
Noor recommended three changes: (1) restore language giving the library board a formal stated role in selecting the library director (she said Section 8.2 currently grants sole appointment authority to the mayor); (2) clarify that the library director reports to the library board on policies while reporting administratively to the city; and (3) formalize that the board works with the director to prepare an advisory budget for submission to the city. Noor said the suggested language aligns with Connecticut library governance practices and cited Fairfield and New Haven as examples.
Commission response
Chair Tyler Fairbairn said the commission received Noor’s memo, will consult with city counsel (Attorney Mednick) about which changes are properly placed in the charter and which belong in ordinance, and will schedule the matter for a future agenda item if appropriate. Noor told the commission she was happy to provide follow-up information.
Next steps
Commission staff will consult with the city attorney to determine whether requested changes require charter amendments or can be accomplished by municipal ordinance; the commission indicated it will place the library governance item on a future meeting agenda if necessary.
