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Friends of the Library ask commissioners to remove board member; county attorney says bylaws and statute limit county role
Summary
Representatives of the Friends of the Library told the commission a library board member emphasized non‑fiction over youth programs and behaved unprofessionally; Deputy County Attorney Jennifer Kirk said the commissioners do not have statutory authority to remove board members and that the board bylaws remain unclear.
Representatives of the Friends of the Library attended the June 3 meeting to request that the county intervene to remove a library board member they said had undermined youth programming and behaved unprofessionally at a recent meeting.
V. Davis described the Friends’ support for youth programming and said attendance has increased. The group said a current library board member’s focus on non‑fiction materials and a demeanor they described as unprofessional during a board meeting have harmed the Friends’ ability to support youth services. The Friends said they are not a formal 501(c)(3); they have a treasurer and secretary and maintain a checking account for program support.
Deputy County Attorney Jennifer Kirk responded that she had discussed the matter with the library board and that the board bylaws were still unclear on removal authority. Kirk said the county commissioners are not statutorily empowered to remove library board members, though she added that depending on final bylaws there may be some narrow circumstances where the county could assist.
Commissioner Bruce Jolley thanked the Friends for their work and clarified that the library board itself generally holds authority over board membership and removals. No formal county action to remove a board member was recorded in the minutes.
