Community Library Network Board installs officers, approves policies

HARRISON — Trustees of the Community Library Network were in sync Monday as they unanimously approved policies and installed officers for the coming year during their annual meeting, held at the Harrison Library.

Nominated by Trustee Tim Plass, Rachelle Ottosen was again elected as chair. When asked by Trustee Vanessa Robinson if she was happy to stay in that role, Ottosen replied she wasn't happy about it, but "I can get through another year," she said.

Also nominated by Plass, Tom Hanley will remain vice chair.

"I don't mind retaining vice chair at this time," Hanley said.

Plass will serve as clerk. Newcomer Yasmin Harris, who narrowly lost her bid to Jimmy McAndrew for a Coeur d'Alene School Board seat in the November 2023 election, will replace Julie Saad as treasurer.

Trustee Katie Blank was not present following her immediate resignation from the board Sunday. Library Director Alexa Eccles, whose last day with the board is July 7 following her resignation, was also not present. Assistant Director Lindsey Miller-Escarfuller served in her stead.

Ottosen declared the board vacancy left by Blank.

"Trustee Blank spent 10 hours a month, which is what the trustee manual says is average," Ottosen said. "Trustee Blank spent 4,800 hours over four decades volunteering for the library. I'm not sure how long she was chair, but that takes extra time, so I'm sure it was considerably more than 4,800 hours. Anyway, so we just want to thank her for her service to the library."

The Materials Selection and Acquisition Policy was approved after many months of drafts, edits and discussion. The new version updates the Materials Selection Policy that was approved by the previous board Nov. 4, 2022.

The Materials Withdrawal and Reconsideration Policy, a second policy formed out of the Materials Selection Policy, was also approved.

The Public Comment Policy draft from May 6 was approved as well. An update to this policy changes the line, "Public comment will be addressed at the next regularly scheduled board meeting," to, "Public comment may be addressed ..." This updated policy emphasizes how the board's work and the experience of the audience and public commenters must not be disrupted.

"Public comment policy is all about disruption," CLN board attorney Colton Boyles said. "I know that there's been some discussion related to restricting what commenters can say, and almost all of those assertions are based on content or a viewpoint that is impermissible for a public board. Even the concept of personal attacks."

He said personal attacks are typically for someone or against someone else and are inherently based on viewpoints.

"Unless it causes a disruption, it's highly unlikely that a blanket prohibition of personal attacks would survive constitutional scrutiny," he said, adding that he would encourage the board to make sure any decisions related to the public comment policy are rooted in disruption.

The board spent more than an hour in an executive session before addressing the "succession planning" agenda item, a discussion that was allotted five minutes. No public discussion was held. Hanley moved to authorize the chair to proceed as directed in executive session, which was yet another unanimous vote of approval.

The board will hold a special meeting from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at the Post Falls Library. Clay Ritter, public library consultant and state data coordinator with the Idaho Commission for Libraries, will provide training on Open Meeting Law and fiscal and record policies and procedures. A special budget meeting will be from 2 to 4 p.m. June 27 at the Hayden Library.

Info: communitylibrary.net

    Tim Plass and Rachelle Ottosen participate in the annual meeting of the Community Library Network board Monday at the Harrison Library.