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Board names Phyllis Stafford interim Westmoreland director; hiring process policy adopted
Summary
The board approved Phyllis Stafford to serve as interim director at Westmoreland and adopted a clarified policy for director hiring; the board discussed pay for interim appointments and the committee-based hiring workflow.
The Sumner County Library Board voted on Jan. 8 to appoint Phyllis Stafford as interim director at the Westmoreland branch and approved a policy clarifying the library director hiring process.
Why it matters: The appointment fills an immediate leadership gap at Westmoreland and the hiring-policy vote formalizes how the personnel committee will handle candidate screening and how the broader board will receive applicants and final recommendations.
The board chair asked for and received a motion to accept Phyllis Stafford as interim director. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Staff documents provided to trustees said Stafford has served as operations manager and previously acted as interim during prior leaves; she already holds county purchasing card authority and handles day-to-day operations.
Aboard discussion clarified that the interim appointment does not automatically include a pay adjustment. A board member asked whether the interim role carries an immediate pay change; the chair said no pay adjustment is in effect “as it is right now.” The board noted a separate agenda item will be required to change compensation.
The board also debated a proposed hiring-policy document that delineates how the personnel committee will interview candidates, how applicant packets will be prepared and when the full board will see materials. Trustees discussed transparency concerns — some members asked that the full board be able to view all resumes so no candidate is overlooked — and committee autonomy. After discussion the board approved the hiring policy as a board policy (rather than a bylaw amendment) so committees can follow a consistent process while the bylaws remain unchanged.
Board members described the intended workflow: the personnel committee will screen and interview candidates, narrow the pool, and present a recommended finalist and packet to the full board for final consideration. Trustees emphasized that the final hiring vote remains a full-board responsibility and that the policy’s packet will become public record when presented for a board agenda.
Ending: The board approved Stafford’s interim appointment and the hiring policy; staff will schedule interviews under the revised process and bring candidate packets to the board when the personnel committee forwards its recommendation.
