OCPL Bylaws
Bylaws
Revised
November 2003
Section 1. Purpose
This organization is and shall be known as the Onondaga County Public Library (OCPL) as
established by Resolution #522 adopted by the Onondaga County Legislature December 3, 1973,
and under a provisional charter December 13, 1974, and absolute charter granted December 14,
1979, by the Board of Regents of New York State; to assure, expand and improve library service
in the area served by the member libraries and in other sections of Onondaga County which do
not now have library service, and to provide library materials and information services directly to
the residents of Onondaga County.
Section 2. Board of Trustees
Library Policies including general oversight, fiduciary responsibility and employment and
evaluation of the Executive Director is under the authority of the Onondaga County Public
Library Board of Trustees. The Board shall possess all powers, duties, privileges and
responsibilities accordance to Trustees of public libraries and library systems by New York State
Public Library Law, Rules of the Board of Regents and Regulations of the Commissioner of
Education. The Board shall be comprised of eleven Trustees appointed by the county Executive,
subject to confirmation by Onondaga County Legislature.
The term of office of a Trustee shall be five years and shall run from January 1 to December 31.
The terms of office of the Trustees shall be such that every year the terms of office of two
Trustees expire except that every fifth year the terms of office of three Trustees expire. No
Trustee shall hold office consecutively for more than two full terms plus an initial partial term, if
any. No staff member of the OCPL or of any library served by it shall be eligible for the office
of OCPL Trustee.
Section 3. Appointment of Trustees
Trustees whose terms will expire December 31 of a given year shall serve until their successors
have been appointed by the Onondaga County Executive and confirmed by the Onondaga
County Legislature. The Board president shall inform the County Executive 180 days and again
in 90 days in advance of the expiration of the terms of Trustees. All trustees must be residents of
Onondaga County throughout their terms of service; anyone who permanently leaves the county
forfeits her/his position on the Board.
Section 4. Absenteeism
Trustees are expected to attend the Regular Board meetings. If any Trustee shall fail to attend
four Regular meetings within a twelve-month period without excuse, she/he shall be deemed to
have resigned, and the vacancy shall be filled, unless the Board excuses the absences. Absences
may only be excused by a majority vote of the Board and are generally limited to medical and
family emergencies.
Section 5. Officers
The officers of the system shall be a President, a Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, all of
who shall be elected annually by the Trustees and shall hold office at the pleasure of the
Trustees. Any officer may be removed from office in accordance with New York State Public
Library Law. Vacancies occurring among any of the foregoing offices shall be filled by the
Trustees, except that the Vice President shall automatically be President if the presidency
becomes vacant. Anyone filling a vacancy will only do so during the unexpired portion of the
term of the person who occupied the office. The Board shall appoint such other officers and
employees with such other officers and employees with such powers and duties as it shall deem
necessary.
Section 6. President
The President shall preside at all meetings of the Trustees. The President shall cast only one vote
each time the Board takes action on resolutions, motions and elections. The President and
Executive Director shall be responsible for the submission of long-range OCPL goals to the
Board, and shall recommend to the Trustees such modifications and revisions as are necessary
during the President’s tenure of office. The President shall act as or designate the official
spokesperson for the Board. The President shall appoint committees as may be required with
approval of the Board.
Section 7. Vice President
The Vice President shall in the absence or disability of the President exercise the powers and
performs the duties of the President. The Vice President shall also perform such duties as shall
be prescribed by the Trustees.
Section 8. The Secretary
The Board Secretary or designee shall keep the minutes of all proceedings of the Trustees.
Minutes shall indicate how each Trustee votes.
Section 9. Financial Officer
The Financial Officer shall have such duties and responsibilities as directed by the President.
Section 10. Executive Committee
An Executive Committee shall be comprised of the President, Vice President, Secretary, and
Financial Officer and, if she/he remains on the Board, the immediate past President, the majority
of whom shall constitute a quorum. The President shall appoint Trustees to fill any vacancies
that may occur in the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall be empowered to
act on behalf of the OCPL only where emergency action is required in intervals between
meetings of the Trustees, reporting such action to the Board for approval or disapproval at its
next regular meeting. The Executive Committee cannot initiate and implement new policy on
behalf of the OCPL.
Section 11. Committees
The President, with the advice and consent of the Board shall appoint standing and special
committees. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.
Section 12. Regular Meetings
Regular meetings will be held the second Wednesday of each month at such times as the Board
may determine.
Section 13. Organizational Meeting
The organizational meeting shall be the first Regular meeting of the calendar year.
Section 14. Special Meetings
Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President, and must be called upon the
requests of three members. Notice of special meetings shall be provided to each Trustee by law.
Section 15. Conduct of Meetings
Proceedings shall be conducted in the manner usual in deliberative bodies and, when not
contrary to these By-Laws, according to the latest edition of Roberts’ Rules of Order. A majority
of the Board membership shall constitute a quorum. A roll-call vote on any action requiring
voting must be held upon request from a member of the Board. A majority of the Board
membership shall be required to adopt all resolutions and motions and to elect officers.
Section 16. Executive Director
The Board of Trustees shall appoint the Executive Director. The Executive Director shall
faithfully execute OCPL Board policy, administer the OCPL, and otherwise oversee all library
operations. The Executive Director shall attend all meetings of the board unless excused by the
President.
Section 17. Election of Officers
The President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Board shall be elected at the
December meeting for a one-year term from the slate selected by the President and presented at
the November meeting, as well as from candidates who may be nominated by other Board
members at the December meeting. The slate shall be circulated by mail or fax to all Board
members at least ten days prior to the December meeting.
Section 18. Fiscal Year
The Fiscal Year of the OCPL shall begin January and end December 31.
Section 19. Investments
The private funds of the OCPL shall be invested and withdrawals authorized in accordance with
Board policy.
Section 20. Budget
A budget designed to further the OCPL mission shall be presented to the Board prior to the June
meeting for their adoption and approval.
Section 21. Proposals, Motions, etc.
Any proposal or motion brought before the Board that involves major OCPL policy must be
tabled until the next regularly-scheduled meeting, or until a special meeting is called for the
purpose of acting on the particular proposal or motion in question, thus giving the Board
members time for due consideration or the proposal or motion. A copy of the proposal shall be
sent to each Board member with the minutes of the meeting at which it was proposed at least five
days before the meeting at which action is to be taken.
Section 22. Amendments
These by-laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Board, by a two-thirds vote of the
current board members, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at the
previous regular meeting.
Section 23. Effective Date
These By-laws will become effective immediately upon adoption by the OCPL Board of
Trustees. (The By-laws were adopted by the Board on February 15, 1978; revised November
21, 1984 ; August 16, 2000; and November 2003).
Last updated December 7, 2010