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Danvers trustees distribute director evaluation; discussion set to review process next month
Summary
Chair and vice chair circulated a written director-evaluation form prepared for submission to town hall; some trustees asked to put evaluation-process participation on the next agenda to consider changing bylaws to involve the full board.
The Peabody Institute Library trustees received a written evaluation of the library director prepared by the chair and vice chair and were told the form would be submitted to town hall. Some trustees raised concerns about the process for preparing the evaluation and asked to place a discussion of evaluation procedure on the next meeting agenda.
The chair said the evaluation instrument has been used for several years and that the chair and vice chair jointly prepared the director’s evaluation this year. The chair distributed copies to trustees in the meeting packet and said she would collect them at the end of the meeting. The chair also noted the evaluation had been submitted to town hall because the director needed a completed evaluation before consideration of any potential raise.
Trustee Charles asked about the opportunity for the broader board to participate. He said that he had not been involved in the evaluation and asked whether the whole board had been given a chance to consult. The chair responded that the evaluation is prepared by the chair and vice chair but offered to meet with any trustee in person. Trustees agreed to add a discussion of the evaluation process to the next meeting agenda, and the chair said she would note the request.
Why it matters: The trustees’ bylaws assign the board responsibility to select and review the library director. Trustees signaled interest in revisiting whether the current practice — limited to the chair and vice chair — should change to allow wider board participation.
Context and next steps
- Chair and vice chair prepared the evaluation form and shared copies with trustees at the meeting; the form will be returned to the chair after the meeting for submission to town hall. - Several trustees said they would like to consider a process that allows all trustees to contribute individual evaluations and meet collectively. The chair agreed to place the evaluation-process discussion on the next agenda.
No formal vote was taken on changing the evaluation procedure at this meeting.
