Plattsburgh Library Board of Trustees: Creation of a Strategic Planning Ad Hoc Committee

Creation of a Strategic Planning Ad Hoc Committee

Greetings,

I just signed the following petition addressed to: Plattsburgh Library Board of Trustees.

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Creation of Strategic Planning Ad Hoc Committee

Dear Plattsburgh Library Board of Trustees,

We the undersigned are Plattsburgh residents, taxpayers, library patrons and concerned citizens. We are calling for the trustees to establish a Strategic Planning Ad Hoc Committee to work with the Board of Trustees and the Common Council to develop a public statement that outlines what has transpired over the last four years with the library’s reserve fund and documents the decision making process. Based upon this information, the committee will work with the Library Board of Trustees and the Common Council to develop a strategic plan to address the financial, staffing and programming challenges identified. Another charge of this committee is to develop a series of community forums where residents can learn about what happened with the library, voice their concerns and suggest actions for the future. We propose the committee be comprised of 2 members of the Common Council, 2 members of the Board of Trustees, 1 library staff member and 5 community members. Of the members selected to serve on the Strategic Planning Ad Hoc Committee the following criteria should be used:
• A person with a background developing financial plans for nonprofits, preferably a CPA
• A person with knowledge of the City of Plattsburgh budgeting process
• A person with knowledge of the library system and budget process
• A person with nonprofit legal expertise
• A person with knowledge of human resources law and practice
• A person with nonprofit management and strategic planning experience
We request that an announcement of this to be formed ad hoc committee be made to the public by December 15th and a selection committee comprised of 2 staff members, 2 board members and 4 community members make their selection of Committee members by December 20th. The first meeting of the committee should be scheduled for no later than December 29th, 2011.
We believe our Library is a critical community resource and is vital to the health and well being of our region. We believe that this situation can be resolved in a constructive manner and that lessons learned from this situation can help build a new financial system of check and balances and training for executive staff and board members. Additionally, this process will outline a communication plan for the Library Board of Trustees, Friends of the Library and library staff that provides a forum for open, candid, respectful dialogue about these challenging issues and a funding process that respects the trust that the public gives to the Library Trustees as keepers of our treasured community resource.
Sincerely,




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Sincerely,

[Your name]