PLACEMENT: Board and Committee Appointments
TITLE:
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LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPOINTMENT
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
executive summary
After solicitation of applicants due to a member resigning, the Board is asked to make the necessary appointment to the Library Board of Trustees.
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DEPARTMENT: Administration
PREPARED BY: Name: Donna Gordon
Title: Administrative Services Program Coordinator
REQUESTED BY: Jennifer Salas, Library Director & Staff Liaison
PRESET:
PROCEDURES: None
BACKGROUND/RELATED STRATEGIC GOAL:
The Library Board of Trustees shall have the following duties, functions, and responsibilities: to serve in an advisory capacity to the Board of County Commissioners and the County Administrator through the Library Director as follows:
• Should the Library Director position become vacant, the County Administrator will provide the Trustees with the top three candidates being considered, the County Administrator will solicit comments from the Trustees and discuss possible rankings of the candidates prior to making a final determination. The final decision will be the responsibility of the County Administrator with confirmation by the Board of County Commissioners;
• Develop library policy with the advice and counsel of the Library Director, especially concerning library hours, book selection, use of meeting rooms, etc.;
• Make continuing studies of all existing and future needs of the County in respect to public facilities and services;
• Review the financial position of the library system and make reports and submit recommendations regarding sound and feasible budgeting financing;
• Keep constantly aware of public library standards, trends, regulations, and legislation; and
• Formulate or recommend actions to raise the quality of service and utilization of financial assistance from State, national, and other sources.
The Library Board of Trustees shall consist of nine members who are residents of the County, appointed at large by the Board of County Commissioners for three years each (after initial appointment). They shall not be public office holders, nor shall they be employed in the County library, nor be related to a library employee. Members may be reappointed upon completion of a full three-year term, in addition to serving the balance of an unexpired term appointment. Members shall be required to attend two-thirds of the regularly scheduled meetings in any 12-month period, or they shall be dropped from membership.
The Library Board of Trustees meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 4:00 PM at the Blake Library or various libraries throughout the County. Their agendas are published to the County’s web site in a timely manner.
On September 16, 2025, the Administration Staff received a letter of resignation from Nathaniel Osborn who has served on the Library Board of Trustees since April 2020. Per previous Board direction, Administration Staff sent Mr. Osborn a Certificate of Appreciation and a letter thanking him for serving which were signed by the Chair.
An Information Release soliciting applicants was emailed via Constant Contact to the Outreach Martin and Local Media email lists which includes local Chambers of Commerce, local businesses, and citizens. The Information Release was also posted to the County’s web page under News.
The Administration Staff will advise all applicants of the Commission’s decision which will include Sunshine Law, conflicts of interest law, and public records law to the appointed individual.
ISSUES:
The Board is asked to appoint one individual to the Library Board of Trustees for a term to begin immediately and end April 20, 2026 (to complete Mr. Osborn’s term). A voting sheet is attached.
Kathleen Bossinger Matthew Brooks
Kathraine T. Gunther Roxanne Johnson
Clara Kim Tyler James Obenauf
Terri Shermett Lieselot K. Whitbeck
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW:
To the extent this item contains legal issues, it has been reviewed for legal sufficiency; however, it is primarily a matter of Board policy.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECOMMENDATION
A. Move that the Board appoint one individual to the Library Board of Trustees for a term to begin immediately and end April 20, 2026.
B. Move that the Board authorize the Chair to sign the Resolution of Appointment.
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Direct staff accordingly.
FISCAL IMPACT:
RECOMMENDATION
None
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
None
DOCUMENT(S) REQUIRING ACTION:
☐Budget Transfer / Amendment ☐ Chair Letter ☐Contract / Agreement
☐Grant / Application ☐Notice ☐Ordinance ☒Resolution
☐Other:
This document may be reproduced upon request in an alternative format by contacting the County ADA Coordinator (772) 320-3131, the County Administration Office (772) 288-5400, Florida Relay 711, or by completing our accessibility feedback form at www.martin.fl.us/accessibility-feedback <http://www.martin.fl.us/accessibility-feedback>.