Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Volunteer Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Muskego library trustees reject community-service waiver and decline separate indemnification form
Summary
At its Oct. 21 meeting the Muskego Public Library Board of Trustees voted down a proposed community-service waiver for volunteers and separately declined a stand-alone indemnification and insurance form for meeting-room users; the consent agenda was approved earlier in the meeting.
Muskego — The Muskego Public Library Board of Trustees voted on Oct. 21 to decline a proposed community-service waiver that would have covered volunteers performing court-ordered or otherwise directed community service, and later rejected a separate indemnification and insurance provisions form for meeting-room users.
The votes followed extended discussion about the library’s exposure when nonstaff volunteers — particularly minors or court-ordered youth — work in library spaces. Trustees also approved the consent agenda, which included minutes and the August and September 2025 financial statements.
Board members debated whether existing insurance and meeting-room language already protect the library and whether collecting waivers or requiring background checks would be practical or fair for small, informal volunteer groups such as scout troops or short-term school projects. Trustees noted the city’s position that revenue and some administrative functions are handled by City Hall, and that the city attorney had advised caution but recognized the library is a public building used by the community.
Board members also raised concerns about cost and scope: one trustee said a districtwide background-check contract was quoted at roughly $7,900 for six city buildings, and others said many libraries do not use blanket volunteer waivers. Trustees discussed whether younger, nonviolent court-referred minors could be accommodated through supervised, low‑risk tasks such as shelving and whether the judge had contacted the library to place those minors.
After discussion, a motion to adopt the community-service waiver failed. Later, trustees discussed a proposed indemnification and insurance form intended for meeting-room users, entertainers and performers; trustees concluded the meeting-room policy already contains similar provisions and voted against adopting the separate form.
Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (minutes for Aug. 19 and financials for Aug. 25 and Sept. 2025): approved. - Motion to adopt community-service waiver for volunteers: motion failed (not adopted). - Motion to adopt stand‑alone indemnification and insurance provisions form for meeting-room users/performers: motion failed (not adopted).
The board chair said the library staff will follow up with the city and the Friends of the Library on background-check and volunteer practices. Trustees recommended the staff revisit the Friends group to discuss voluntary screening or insurance for events that involve minors or performers.
