Relates to the membership and duties of the board of trustees and the oversight of the executive director of the Brooklyn Public Library

1 Co-sponsor

• Leroy Comrie

Title of bill

An act to amend chapter 606 of the laws of 1902 relating to the incorporation of the Brooklyn public library and limiting and defining the powers thereof, in relation to membership and duties of the board of trustees and oversight of certain executive personnel

Purpose or general idea of bill

Alters the terms by which the Brooklyn Public Library Trustees serve from five years to three, provides for the removal of Trustees for misconduct, incapacity, neglect of duty, or where it appears to the satisfaction of the appointing party that the Trustee has failed or refused to carry into effect its educational purpose. Also, reforms the committee structure by which the Board of Trustees oversees the executive director and other library personnel.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 of the bill amends Section 2 of chapter 606 of the laws of 1902 relating to the Brooklyn Borough Public Library by requiring that any trustee appointed to a new term or filling a vacancy on or after June 1, 2015 must be either a resident of Brooklyn or own or operate a business in Brooklyn. The new section also establishes guidelines for removing a trustee who does not fulfill for various reasons the Library's intended educational purpose. This section also clarifies that the Brooklyn Public Library shall be subject to Article 6 of the Public Officers Law.

Chapter 606 of the laws of 1902 is amended by adding four new sections 4-a and 5-a, 8-a and 8-b to (1) require the Board of Trustees to hold annual public budget hearings, provide a thirty day public comment period prior to adoption of the budget, and report revenue sources; (2) allow the testimony to be presented in writing or orally; (3) require the executive director and key library personnel to comply with financial disclosure requirements when public money is used to fund staff salaries; (4) require the Board of Trustees to appoint an audit committee which shall oversee the library's accounting financial reporting processes and annual audits; (5) require the Board of Trustees to adopt by-laws limiting the type and extent of employment in which the executive director and any key library executive personnel may engage, as well as policies for hiring and providing compensation for key personnel, and ensuring policies to prevent persons demonstrating a conflict of interest from serving in various capacities.

Justification

This bill is modeled after a 2014 law authored by Senator Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) that addressed oversight and other related issues impacting the Queens Borough Public Library. Good governance and a well administered Board of Trustees are crucial to an efficient and transparent library system. The reforms detailed in this bill will enhance the Board's oversight and governance of the institution moving forward by restructuring the board of trustees and its main governing committee, as well as other "best practice" reforms.

Prior legislative history

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

None to the State. EFFECTIVE DATE : This act shall take effect immediately.