Franklin council authorizes negotiations to lease library librarian as village employee

The Franklin Village Council on Jan. 12 authorized the village administrator and the village attorney to negotiate a contract with the Franklin Public Library that would make the library’s full‑time librarian an employee of the village, with the library reimbursing salary, benefits and a small administrative fee.

Staff described the arrangement as a common intergovernmental staffing lease used elsewhere: the village would employ the librarian, manage payroll and benefits administration, and the library would reimburse the village for compensation and administrative costs. Council members asked for clear contract language addressing reporting relationships, indemnification, whether retirement or 401(k) participation would be included, and how discipline and performance reviews would be handled.

A staff presenter described the goals as both supporting the library’s administrative capacity and helping the village reach thresholds that reduce insurance costs for small employers. Trustees directed staff to bring the negotiated agreement to the HR committee for review and then to return it to council for final approval. The motion to authorize negotiation passed by voice vote.

Trustees emphasized legal and HR review before finalizing benefits and reporting terms; staff said they would prepare an employment agreement and a lease/statement‑of‑work addendum describing duties, supervision and reimbursement terms and would aim to present a complete contract to the HR committee and council next month.