Carmel library trustees elect Williams president, Gorham vice president and Jett treasurer; Murphy resigns

The Carmel-by-the-Sea Library Board of Trustees elected Mary Jo Williams as president, Marie Claire Gorham as vice president and Donna Jett as treasurer in a unanimous roll-call vote.

Trustees conducted the annual officer elections under board bylaws that limit service in an office to no more than two consecutive years. The board discussed recent membership changes: John Kryscher and Phil Pardue had termed off the board, and the board announced the resignation of trustee Susan Murphy. The chair said Murphy will continue to work with the Friends of the Library but is scaling back volunteer activities; her vacancy will need to be filled.

During the officer-election discussion the board clarified service lengths. A trustee corrected an earlier remark, saying she and Marie Claire Gorham had served in their current roles for one year, not two. The board noted that because of recent departures it currently has three seated trustees, which constitutes a quorum for routine business, and discussed maintaining a regular monthly schedule to process routine items such as the check register.

The board also approved routine business earlier in the meeting, including minutes from the May 28, 2025 regular meeting and the check register for May 2025; both motions passed by roll-call votes with the same three trustees voting yes. The board outlined several items for future agendas, including end-of-year reconciliation in July, the 2023–24 audit report, completion of the 2024–25 audit, policy updates, quarterly strategic-plan check-ins (September, January, March), and a standing project update item to track community engagement and communications related to the Harrison Memorial Library restoration.

Trustees approved the slate of officers by roll call (three yes votes). The board will coordinate with city staff about timing to fill Murphy’s vacancy and adjust meeting schedules while the membership is reduced.