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Russell Library executive committee approves minutes, agrees to present incumbent officer slate; trustee nomination withdrawn
Summary
The Russell Library Executive Committee approved prior minutes (3–0, 1 abstention), agreed unanimously to present the incumbent slate of officers to the full board, and withdrew a motion to nominate Laurie Douglas pending further outreach to a city appointee. The director’s annual review will proceed at the June board meeting.
The Russell Library Executive Committee met in June, called to order at 5:05 p.m. by Zeman Wisniewski. The committee approved the minutes from the Sept. 3, 2024 meeting after a motion by Andy and a second from Sarah; the vote was 3 in favor with one abstention (Shanae).
The committee discussed posting governance documents on the library’s website. Jennifer and the governance committee prepared a package; committee members agreed public-facing policies already on the site remain posted and that the committee will move forward with adding additional governance material, including the certificate of incorporation and possibly bylaws after review. Director Ramona Wicker said public-facing policies are already available online and offered to add the certificate of incorporation once the committee confirms details. “I can drop that link in the chat too,” Wicker told the committee, referencing the folder of monthly reports and materials she maintains for board review.
On nominations, the committee heard that current officers indicated they are willing to continue. The committee agreed unanimously to present the incumbent slate of officers at the next full board meeting after Sarah made the motion and Shanae seconded it.
The committee reviewed trustee vacancies. Company-side nominees include Andrew White, who will begin a first full term, and Sarah Schulberg, who is slated to begin a second term. On the city side, members discussed Greg Harris and James Phelan; committee members reported difficulty reaching Phelan. The committee moved and seconded a nomination for Laurie Douglas as a potential city-side nominee but later withdrew the motion to allow further outreach to Phelan and coordination with the mayor’s office. As Andy put it, the group decided it was better to inform Phelan by email rather than “nominate somebody else over him” without contact.
Zeman reported several new company membership nominees who will be considered at the upcoming company meeting, including Tess Goodman, Ronnie Arbo, Karen Warren and Sarah Upton; one name as recorded in the transcript appears as “Inabot Yalimova.” A member asked the chair to circulate the candidate list so spelling can be verified ahead of the company meeting, which the chair said will be live and in person on Monday.
The committee confirmed the process for the library director’s annual review. Wisniewski said he circulated Ramona Wicker’s self-evaluation earlier in the day and reminded members that the substantive performance review will be conducted during the executive session that follows the June board meeting. Wicker offered to share a link to her folder of monthly reports for members to review in advance.
The committee considered an executive-session item to discuss strategy but decided it was not necessary at this meeting. Andy moved to adjourn, Sarah seconded, and the committee voted to adjourn.
The full board will receive the officer slate at its next meeting; trustee nominations will be finalized after further outreach to the mayor’s office and the candidate who has not responded.
