The seven interim board members of the Belleville Area District Library were officially sworn in on Saturday and then went to work getting the district library details in order.
The event marked the official severing of ties with the Wayne County Library System and the establishment of the local district library as an independent entity on its own for the communities of Belleville, Van Buren, and Sumpter.
Belleville’s appointed representative is Mary Jane Dawson; Sumpter’s representatives are Mike Boelter and Joy Cichewicz; and Van Buren’s representatives are Christina Brasil, Elaine Gutierrez, Paul Henning, and Joe Monte.
The board’s organizational meeting followed the swearing in and picture-taking and celebrating. The meeting was about an hour and a half long and took care of a host of basic, housekeeping items.
First, officers were elected: Chairperson Mary Jane Dawson, Vice Chairperson Mike Boelter, Secretary Christina Brasil, and Treasurer Elaine Guiterrez. All votes were unanimous and candidates nominated had no opposition.
Brasil reminded fellow board members that they had just taken an oath to uphold the Constitution and so they should add the Pledge to the Flag to the agenda, and they did.
The board voted unanimously to accept the new bylaws; accept volunteers on six board committees; approved eight existing policies and an updated personnel policy; approved salary ranges; hired John Day as interim attorney; hired present Director Deb Green as director (with a contract to be negotiated); authorized the director to hire, fire promote, demote, supervise, and discipline staff; approved Green’s appointment of present deputy director Mary Jo Suchy to that position; and approved a sheaf of other legal documents.
One of those documents was an agreement with the City of Belleville to lease the present library site for $1 until Dec. 31, 2012, or until the library is able to relocate into a new facility. If the library site is part of a development agreement with the City of Belleville (landlord) or the Belleville Downtown Development Authority (such as a former Kroger plan), the city shall notify the district library and give it time to move.
After many discussions and official actions, the board concluded its agenda and members and library officials made comments about the historic day.
* Library Director Green: “After 23 years, I have a new job and it’s kind of scary … I’m thrilled to have a library board, a chair and officers … We never had it before … I didn’t realize I had a low-level anxiety until the state approved [the Belleville Area District Library] last Tuesday … I felt something had lifted off my shoulders and I could almost fly…”
* Vice Chairman Boelter: “This is a great day … and there’s a lot of work to be done…”
* Board Treasurer Guiterrez: “It’s been a long journey, but I’m glad we’re here today…”
* Board member Joe Monte: “Yes, a long journey… more like 27 years. There’s a lot of work to be done. Everyone seems so motivated…”
* Board member Joy Cichewicz: “Has anyone mentioned the Friends [of the Library]? We are thankful for the Friends… The next meeting we’ll be working on millages, bonds, buildings, and budget. Take a deep breath…”
* Secretary Brasil: We want to thank all three communities for finally coming together … to have a library that represents everybody…”
* Board member Paul Henning: “I want to say what a fine job the three communities did in selecting this board … The members fit together so well and are community-minded people … It’s been a cooperative effort led by the director and deputy director..” Director Green added, “… and Rick Dawson,” referring to the city councilman who pushed for the tri-community cooperation that made the district library a reality.
* Board Chairperson MJ Dawson: “The communities working together … that’s been phenomenal… There have been instances in the past where the communities didn’t get along, but here they have gotten together…” Dawson named the committee members from the three communities and gave credit also to the three municipal attorneys involved, “with John [Day] leading the pack.”
* Belleville Councilman Rick Dawson, to the board: “Thanks for stepping forward…You had the library and citizens at heart … We need to provide services and a library is the most important thing a community can have, especially in these hard economic times…”
* Attorney John Day: After commenting on how he worked on the concept of the district library by putting words on paper, now he can see “a living breathing thing. I can’t tell you how proud I am today … to see the enthusiasm … I’m proud of my small part…”
* Belleville Councilman James Shrove, to the board: “You’ve taken on a tremendous job. There’s a great cohesiveness for all three communities, now and in the future.”
Councilman Dawson added that Green and Suchy kept the project together while living through cuts from Wayne County and budget cuts from the local communities.
The five people left in the audience broke out in applause.
“We’re librarians,” Suchy replied with a smile. “It’s in the code.”
The board then went into closed session to discuss the consideration of the purchase or lease of real property, as allowed under the Open Meetings Act. Chairperson MJ Dawson invited Councilmen Dawson and Shrove and attorney Day to take part in the closed session.
Under state law, the first election of the permanent board will be held within 140 days of the appointment of the first provisional board member. This election will be held at this November’s General Election on nonpartisan ballots. Residents of the tri-community at large will be eligible to run for office. Some or all members of the interim board are expected to seek permanent status by election, as well.
The district library board will be meeting in public session at the library on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. Regular meetings will be held: May 11, June 8, July 13, Aug. 10, Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 9, and Dec. 14. Special meetings will be posted at least 18 hours before the meeting.
The budget is among items to be considered at the May meeting.