The following are the By-laws of the Board of Trustees of the Fanwood Memorial Library:

Article I: Name
The name of this organization shall be the Board of Trustees of the Fanwood Memorial Library.

Article II: Purpose
It shall be the purpose of the Board of Trustees of the Fanwood Memorial Library to pursue the continuing development of the free public Library, to hold in trust and govern all properties of the Library, to hire the Library director and to approve all full-time staff appointments and to fix compensation for the same, to make proper rules and regulations for the government of the Library, and to do all things necessary for the maintenance of the free public Library services in the Borough of Fanwood, New Jersey.

Article III: Membership
Section 1. The Board of Trustees shall consist of the Mayor or his/her designee, the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee, plus seven citizens appointed by the Mayor, at least four of whom shall be residents of the Borough. Appointments are for staggered terms of five years each, with the consent of the governing body. (see N.J.S.A. 40:54-9) and approved by the Borough Council for 5-year terms, one trustee appointed by the Mayor as Liaison from the Borough Council, and one trustee appointed by the Superintendent of Schools as Liaison to the Superintendent.
Section 2. Vacancies occurring on the Board of Trustees shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment was made.

Article IV: Officers
Section 1. The officers shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.
Section 2. The officers shall be elected yearly at the annual meeting to serve a one-year term. The officers may not serve more than two consecutive years unless there is agreement by a majority of the Board.
Section 3. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Trustees, authorize all committees, serve as ex-officio member of all committees, save nominating; oversee the annual report to the Borough Council, and perform other duties as usually pertain to the office.
Section 4. The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in his/her absence, or at his/her request, and succeed to the office of the President in the event of a vacancy before the end of a term.
Section 5. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Trustees, record the names of the members present and absent at each meeting, see that the minutes are sent to the Board members at least a week in advance of said meeting, maintain a manual of Trustee policy decisions, and conduct the general correspondence of the Board.
Section 6. The Treasurer shall sign necessary vouchers for financial accounts.

Article V: Library Director
The Library Director shall be the Executive Director of the Library operating within the policies adopted by the Board of Trustees. Among the Director’s duties and responsibilities shall be the selection and recommendation for appointment by the Board of the Library staff; the direction, supervision and evaluation of all employees in the performance of their duties; the presentation to the Board of monthly and annual reports; and the recommendation to the Board of such policies and procedures as will promote the efficiency of the Library in service to the community.

Article VI: Meetings
Section 1. The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Fanwood Memorial Library shall be conducted on the second Monday of each month, excepting July and August, at the Library. Alternate meetings may be scheduled at the discretion of the Board.
Section 2. The first meeting of the calendar year (normally January) shall be the annual meeting, during which officers will be elected and annual reports submitted. The regular meeting will follow the annual meeting.
Section 3. Special meetings may be held at any time at the call of the President or the call of any two members of the Board, provided that notice of the meeting and its special purpose be given to all Board members at least twenty-four hours in advance.
Section 4. Four members, at least one of whom shall be an officer, constitute a quorum.
Section 5. An affirmative vote of the majority of the members present is necessary to approve Board action. The President may vote upon, and move or second a proposal before the Board.
Section 6. Order of Business

  • Call to order
  • Statement in accord with NJ Open Public Meeting Law
  • Roll call
  • Minutes of previous meeting
  • Committee reports
  • Director’s report
  • Treasurer’s report
  • Circulation report
  • Young Adult Activities report
  • Children’s department report
  • Correspondence, communications
  • New business
  • Adjournment

Article VII: Committees
Committees will be formed as needed to address issues as they arise.

Article VIII: Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th ed., 2000) shall govern the proceedings of the Board of Trustees in all cases not covered in these by-laws.

Article IX: Amendments
These by-laws may be amended at any regular meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting, provided notice of the proposed amendment has been presented in writing to each member at least a week before the meeting at which it is to be considered.

These by-laws shall be reviewed every five years.

Board of Trustees
Approved: June 8, 2009
Revised: February 8, 2016