City of Salem to Appoint New Library Board of Trustees; Old Settlers Reunion this Saturday to Include a Tour of the Crew Public Library and Information Session for Potential New Board Members
At the City Council Meeting of August 2, the Council adopted Resolution 2021-4 recognizing that the existing Library Ordinance was invalid in that it had never been approved by a ballot measure. A new ordinance will be submitted to the voters on November 2, ballot, the same ballot for City Elections.
The Council subsequently adopted Resolution 2021-5, recognizing that all sitting members of the Library Board of Trustees had not been appointed according to a valid ordinance nor in accordance with State Code, which requires the Mayor to make such board appointments. As a result, the resolution dissolved the existing Library Board of Trustees, and, having no supervisory body, closed the Library until a new Board of Trustees could be appointed.
Any member of the Salem community who is interested in applying for a position on the Board of Trustees is encouraged to do so; applications are available from the City Clerk. As part of the Old Settler’s Reunion, at 2:00 this Saturday, August 28, Cathy Helman and Mary Hoyer will be available to give a tour of the Crew Public Library and to answer questions prospective Trustees might have about serving on the Board. Helman was part of the original committee responsible for building the new Crew Public Library; Hoyer currently serves on the City Council of Salem.
“Salem is one of the oldest towns in Iowa, and certainly one of the most historically significant due to its role in the Underground Railroad”, Helman remarked. “We have a beautiful library, one that everyone in the community should be proud of and familiar with.” Hoyer agreed, saying that the Council is hoping to attract a diverse board that can work together to fulfill the mission of the Library, reflecting the needs and wants of the City itself, and the larger community that the Library serves.
Applications are due at City Hall by September 1, 2021. Any questions, please contact Haylee Stecker, Salem City Clerk at 319.258.4531.