Page 3 - Tim Plass News Today

Dismissing words of caution from Community Library Network directors, a fellow trustee and without advice from library network legal counsel, the board majority unanimously approved drafts of its updated Materials Selection Policy and a new Materials Withdrawal and Reconsideration Policy during a special meeting Thursday at the Post Falls Library.

Litigation may be imminent for the new board of the Community Library Network. Former trustee Regina McCrea submitted a letter Wednesday addressed to the board majority — Rachelle Ottosen, Tim Plass and Tom Hanley — in her official capacity as an attorney.

After much back and forth during a nearly three-and-a-half hour special meeting peppered with point-of-order interruptions Thursday at the Post Falls Library, the Community Library Network’s board majority voted to approve a draft of an updated materials selection policy.

This editorial was published in the Coeur d’Alene Press.

NIC, CLN boards both blow big bucks

During a third special meeting this week, Community Library Network trustees unanimously voted to contract with the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program and Great American Great American Insurance Group rather than letting the network's insurance lapse.

The Community Library Network may not have liability insurance coverage as early as Sunday. Trustees considered their options during a meeting Wednesday, including the possibility of a 24-hour emergency notice to close all libraries in the district if insurance is not in place by the time the library network’s existing policy through the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program expires at midnight Saturday.

It's official: No libraries in the Community Library Network will close Sundays. "If the CLN board of trustees did in fact have a valid approval vote of closing on Sundays, it is now rescinded," Chair Rachelle Ottosen said Thursday morning in a motion during a regular meeting of the board at the Pinehurst Library. The motion was unanimously approved by trustees.

Community Library Network trustees unanimously approved accepting $42,256.90 in urban renewal district funds during a special meeting Friday at the Post Falls Library. At the same meeting, the board majority — Chair Rachelle Ottoson, Vice Chair Tom Hanley and Tim Plass — diminished funding for the network by the same amount, despite objections from Trustees Katie Blank and Vanessa Robinson and several words of caution from Library Director Alexa Eccles.

At root of bad governance is organization that weeds out qualified candidates