Trustee By-Laws

ARTICLE I – NAME AND AUTHORITY

The name of this organization is the Board of Trustees of the Estes Valley Public Library District, Estes Park, Colorado. The Estes Valley Public Library District was established by a vote of eligible voters on November 8, 1988. It succeeds the Estes Park Public Library, a municipal library established by the Estes Park Town Board of Trustees on January 22, 1968 (#1968-2).
The Estes Valley Public Library District (Library) Board of Trustees (Board) operates under the authority of, and according to the duties and responsibilities defined in the Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) Title 24, Article 90, Part 1; CRS 24-6-402 (Open Meetings Law); and other applicable statutes.

ARTICLE II – Board Composition, Term of Appointment, Cause for Removal

The Board shall be composed of seven Trustees, appointed jointly by the Estes Park Town Board of Trustees and the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners for staggered terms of office.
A Trustee term of office shall be four years beginning January 1 and ending December 31 of the final year. Trustees cannot succeed themselves after serving two full, consecutive terms.
Vacancies shall be filled for the remainder of unexpired terms as soon as possible in the manner in which Trustees are regularly chosen.
Appointees to the Board shall be at least 18 years of age and chosen from the residents within the legal service area of the Library.
The Board has been delegated the authority to recommend nominees when there are openings on the Board. The Board shall advertise for and actively seek applicants for filling any vacancy. The Board will select a nominee for each vacancy after interviews with all applicants have been performed. The Board selected nominee’s name will be provided to the Town of Estes Park Board of Trustees and the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners for their approval by a two-thirds majority of each body, except that the failure of a body to act within sixty days upon a recommendation shall be considered a ratification of such appointment.
A Trustee may be removed only by a majority vote of the Town of Estes Park Board of Trustees and a majority vote of the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners. The Board shall recommend removal of a Trustee to these bodies only by an affirmative vote of at least four Trustees, and only upon a showing of good cause as defined in, but not limited to, the bylaws adopted by the Board. “Good cause” for removal means that four or more Trustees have voted to remove:
- A Trustee who misses three consecutive regular monthly Board meetings without adequate excuse.
- A Trustee who disregards the Trustee Duties and Code of Ethics Policy.
- A Trustee who shows a lack of interest in the Library and/or the Board.
- A Trustee who violates a statute or ordinance, which results, or could result, in serious damage to the Library’s property or interest.

The Board may invite other individuals to participate in Board meetings on a periodic or regular basis. These individuals are not members of the Board, but may have responsibilities and expertise deemed useful to the Board. The Board shall define the responsibilities of each invited participant.
The Library Director is asked to participate in all Board meetings.
The Board may also request the regular participation of the Estes Valley Library Friends & Foundation board.
All invited persons may participate fully in Board discussions but are not allowed to vote. Invited persons may not participate in Board executive sessions unless requested to do so by the Board.

ARTICLE III – BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES

The Board has the responsibility for the supervision, care, and custody of all property of the Library, including rooms or buildings constructed, leased, or set apart therefore.
The Board shall adopt such by-laws, rules, and regulations for its own guidance and policies for the governance of the Library as it deems expedient. The Board shall retain a qualified librarian who shall serve as the Library Director. The Board shall prescribe the Library Director’s duties and compensation. Upon the Library Director’s recommendation, the Board shall employ such other employees as may be necessary.
Each calendar year, the Board, with assistance from the Library Director and staff, shall prepare and make an Annual Report to the Estes Park Town Board of Trustees and the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners showing the condition of its trust during the year, the sums of money expended, and the purposes of the expenditures and such other statistics and information as the Board deems to be of public interest.
Each calendar year, the Board shall make a report to the Colorado State Library in the form of a response to a survey to be designed and administered by the Colorado State Library. The report shall contain such other statistics and information as may be required.
The Board shall adopt a budget and make appropriations for the ensuing fiscal year as set forth in part 1 of article 1 of title 29, CRS, and have exclusive control and spending authority over the disbursement of Library funds as set forth in section 24-90-112 (2) (a).
A Trustee shall avoid situations that could bring about a conflict of interest because of their association with the Board. If a conflict of interest arises or might arise in a particular matter before the Board, the Trustee with the conflict shall abstain from participation and from voting on that matter. If, in the determination of at least five Board members, a Trustee has a conflict of interest that cannot be resolved, the Board shall recommend to the appointing officials that the Trustee be removed from office.
Except as otherwise directed by a majority of the Board’s members, official statements of the Board shall be limited to the President of the Board and the Library Director, subject to approval by the Board.
The Board may accept such gifts of money or property for Library purposes as it deems expedient.
The Board shall hold and acquire land by gift, lease, or purchase for Library purposes.
The Board may lease, purchase, or erect any appropriate building for Library purposes and acquire such other property as may be needed therefore.
The Board may sell, assign, transfer, or convey any property of the Library, whether real or personal, which may not be needed within the foreseeable future for any purpose authorized by law, upon such terms and conditions as it may approve, and lease any such property, pending sale thereof, under an agreement of lease, with or without an option to purchase the same. The Board, prior to the conveyance of such property, shall make a finding that the property may not be needed within the foreseeable future for Library purposes, but no such finding shall be necessary if the property is sold or conveyed to a state agency or political subdivision of this state.
The Board may borrow funds for Library purposes by means of a contractual short-term loan when monies are not currently available but will be in the future. Such loan shall not exceed the amount of immediately anticipated revenues, and such loan shall be liquidated within six months.
The Board may authorize the bonding of persons entrusted with Library funds.
The Board shall conduct an annual audit of the financial statements of the Library.
The Board shall hold title to property given to or for the use or benefit of the Library, to be used according to the terms of the gift.
The Board shall do all other acts necessary for the orderly and efficient management and control of the Library.
The Board shall have the authority to enter into contracts.
Under such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary and upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon, the Board may allow nonresidents of the Library District to use Library materials and equipment and may make exchanges of books and other materials with any other libraries, either permanently or temporarily.

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS AND DUTIES

The officers of the Board shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Officers shall be elected annually at the first regular meeting of the Board in January and shall take office immediately following the election. The term of office shall be one year. Where possible for the sake of continuity, two consecutive years’ appointment should be considered for each officer role. Officers may be re-elected; however, no one shall serve more than four full consecutive years in one position, after which at least one year must intervene before they are eligible for re-election to the same position.
The President shall preside at meetings of the Board and appoint members of committees and perform such other duties as are associated with the office.
The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President or in the event that the President is unable to perform the duties of the office. The Vice-President shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President.
The Secretary shall keep a full and accurate record of all meetings of the Board; make public announcements of meetings; maintain records that include policies, by-laws, meeting minutes, and reports; shall be responsible for ensuring that all Board documentation complies with the CRS Open Meeting Law; and shall perform other duties as are assigned by the Board.
The Treasurer shall be the financial officer of the Board and shall perform duties generally associated with that office, including reviewing budget development; preparing for audits; and having primary responsibility for oversight of bills involved with expenditure of Library funds. Any financial funds under direct control of the Board involving a bank account or accounts shall be the responsibility of the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall submit such reports as the Board may require.

ARTICLE V – MEETINGS

The Board shall hold regular monthly meetings. The Board shall designate date, time and location for each meeting.
Special meetings may be held at any time when called by the President or at the request of three Trustees. All Trustees must be notified at least 24 hours in advance of a special meeting. Only items on the announced agenda may be considered at a special meeting.
A quorum of the Board consists of more than 50% of the Trustees appointed. The act of a majority of the Trustees present at a regular or special meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board.
Any Trustee may participate in Board meetings by any means of communication through which the other Trustees can hear and respond verbally during the meeting. A Trustee participating in a meeting by this means will not be deemed to have “missed” the meeting for purposes of Article II, Section 6(a).
The Board will abide by all requirements of Colorado law regarding open meetings and notification.
Regular public meetings of the Board shall include an agenda item for public input, in order to provide a fair opportunity for every person who wishes to address the Board of Trustees. For additional information, see Public Comment Policy for Meetings of the Board of Trustees.

ARTICLE VI – COMMITTEES

The Board may establish standing committees, which shall make regular reports to the Board.
Special committees may be authorized by the Board and appointed by the President with the approval of the Board for special limited purposes, and shall serve only until completion of the assignment.
The Board, at its discretion, may appoint committee members who are not Trustees to standing or special committees.

ARTICLE VII – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

To ensure a respectful discourse, Robert’s Rules of Order, latest revision, shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters or procedures not specifically covered by these Bylaws.

ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS

The Bylaws may be amended by the affirmative vote of at least five Trustees present at a regular, scheduled meeting. Proposed amendments to these Bylaws shall be submitted to the membership at least five days prior to the meeting at which such action is proposed to be taken.

ARTICLE IX – FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year of the Board of Trustees shall begin on the first day of January and end on the last day of December in each year.

Please refer to the Library Governance Policy set for more information.
The Estes Valley Library Board of Trustees By-laws were adopted and approved by the Estes Valley Public Library District Board of Trustees on March 14, 2005 and revised on December 8, 2008, June 20, 2011, January 21, 2013, June 16, 2014 and May 15, 2017, reviewed November 16, 2020 and revised on May 15, 2023.

Lynn Lawson, President John Krueger, Secretary