The Brownell Library is essentially a hybrid incorporated/municipal library since one-half (five
people) of the members of the Library Trustees are elected by the City residents as defined in
Section 301 of the City Charter, and one-half (five people) of the members are self-perpetuating
"permanent" Library Trustees as defined in Section 705 of the City Charter. In reference to the
permanent members, the Brownell Trust agreement dated May 25, 1925, states “which said
board of library trustees shall be perpetual with power to fill any vacancy therein caused by
death, resignation or otherwise.”
The Brownell Trust agreement dated May 25, 1925 governs the functions of the appointed
Library Trustees; however the City Charter as it applies to "financial and personnel policies"
controls and overrides the Brownell Trust agreement of 1925 based on this sentence from
Section 705 of the City Charter: “Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Library is required to
follow all financial and personnel policies adopted by the City Council (emphasis added).”
Therefore, both elected and permanent Library Trustee members are subject to financial and
personnel policies of the City including the Ethics Policy (as may be amended).
It is understood that any reference in historical documents to the “Village of Essex Junction”
refers to the “City of Essex Junction”, the “Unified Manager” refers to the “City Manager”, and
“Village Trustees” refer to “City Councilors.”
The Library Trustees are a public body as defined by 1 VSA § 310.
Setting Library Policy
In accordance with § 705 of the City Charter, the Library Trustees shall have the authority to
establish any new policy for the operation of the Library or repeal or replace any existing policy
and shall otherwise act in conformance with the Vermont statutes. Notwithstanding the forgoing,
the Library is required to follow all financial and personnel policies adopted by the City Council.
22 V.S.A. § 143, states that the Library Trustees: “adopt bylaws, and policies governing the
operation of the library.”
It is agreed that there is no conflict between the City Charter and Vermont state statutes
regarding Library operations; and therefore, the Library Trustees oversee the general operation
of the Library except where the financial and personnel policies take precedence.
The Library Trustees will work with the Library Director to set policies that are in the best
interests of the residents of the City and that are in compliance with all State and Federal laws
and regulations.
The Library Trustees will set Library hours.

The operation of the Library shall be supervised by the Library Trustees. The Library Trustees
shall adopt bylaws, establish Library policies, and receive, control and manage property that
shall come into the hands of the City for the benefit of the Library or the Library directly by gift,
purchase, devise or bequest.
When there is a vacancy of an elected Library Trustee, the City Council will appoint a person to
fill that vacancy until an election is had pursuant to 24 VSA § 963, and the Brownell Trustees’
Bylaws. The Council will endeavor to fill the vacancy as soon as practicable. The Library
Trustees will provide the City Council with a list of skills needed by the Library Trustees to aid
them as they recruit and appoint new Library Trustees. When a vacancy occurs among the
permanent Trustees, the permanent Trustees will endeavor to fill the vacancy as soon as
practicable.
The Library Trustees shall maintain a Library material selection policy and procedures for the
reconsideration and retention of Library materials that comply with the First Amendment to the
US Constitution, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and State Laws prohibiting discrimination in places
of public accommodation and that reflect Vermont’s diverse people and history. The Library
may adopt as its policy a model policy adopted by the Department of Libraries as allowed by 22
VSA § 69.
Library Closures
The City’s General Rules and Personnel Regulations (title of the personnel policy) currently
states: “214. CLOSING A VILLAGE DEPARTMENT. The Unified Manager may close a Village
Department (including the Library) due to inclement weather, safety, employee funeral, etc. The
Village Trustees shall be notified of all such decisions. If the Unified Manager closes a Village
Department, employees shall receive full pay during normal working hours.” Therefore, the
Library Trustees are not currently authorized to close the library.
The City Council agrees to amend the General Rules and Personnel Regulations to read: “214.
CLOSING A CITY DEPARTMENT. The City Manager may close a City Department due to
inclement weather, safety, employee funeral, etc. The City Council shall be notified of all such
decisions. If the City Manager closes a City Department, employees shall receive full pay during
normal working hours. The Library Trustees, in coordination with the Library Director, also have
the authority to close the Library due to inclement weather, safety, employee funeral, etc. If the
Library Trustees close the Library, Library employees shall receive full pay during normal
working hours”.
Budget Development
Annually the City Council will provide guidance to all City Departments regarding overall budget
parameters, which may include, but not be limited to, work plans and a set percentage increase
or decrease. The Library Trustees shall annually recommend to the City an amount of support
to be sought from the voters at the Annual Meeting for the operation of the Library in the next

fiscal year by submitting annually an Operating Budget for the Library and the building. The
Library Trustees and the Library Director will present their budget to the City Manager and
Finance Director. The City Manager will then present the budget to the City Council, and the
Council will engage the Library Trustees and the Library Director to understand the proposed
budget. The City Council shall make the final decision as to the amount of support to be
recommended to the voters at the Annual Meeting.
Any Library fundraising or donations by the Library Foundation or other like group will
supplement funding from the City’s General Fund rather than supplant it and cannot be used for
any non-library purposes.
The Library Trustees will work with the Library Director to make changes within established
annual budget line items as needs change throughout the year, within the context of the budget
adopted by the voters.
Promoting Library Use
The Library Trustees will develop a 5-year Strategic Plan for the Library in collaboration with the
Library Director, Library staff and the public.
The Library Trustees will serve as representatives of all City residents and will advocate for a
library that meets the community’s current and future needs. This may include but not be limited
to communicating with the community and the City Council in person as well as through letters,
social media and print about the budget needs that the Library deems necessary to continue to
meet the community’s current and future needs.
Library Director and Personnel
In accordance with 22 V.S.A. § 143 (c) “The board may appoint a director for the efficient
administration and conduct of the library. A library director shall be under the supervision and
control of the library board of trustees, unless the employee relationship is otherwise specified in
the municipality’s charter or by written agreement between the legislative body of the
municipality and the trustees.”
In accordance with § 602 (b) of the City Charter, “the Manager shall appoint and, when the
Manager deems it necessary for the good of the service, suspend or remove all City of Essex
Junction employees, including the Treasurer, and other employees provided for by or under this
charter for cause, except as otherwise provided by law, this charter, collective bargaining unit
contracts, or personnel rules adopted pursuant to this charter.”
It is agreed that the Library Director and Library staff are employees of the City and are under
the supervision of the City Manager. The Library Director shall be hired by the City Manager
with the advice and consent of a majority of the Library Trustees. The City Charter allows for the
City Manager to suspend or remove any City employee, subject to the applicable due process.

This includes Library staff. Compensation for the Library Director shall be set by the City
Manager and shall be consistent with the City’s Pay and Classification system. An annual
evaluation of the Library Director shall be completed by the City Manager in consultation with
the Library Trustees.
Library Trustees
It is agreed that both elected and permanent Library Trustees are eligible for the City’s Stipend
Program, the costs of which will be included in the Library budget.
Buildings and Grounds
The City shall be responsible for repairing and making necessary improvements to the physical
structure and grounds of the Library Building. Input from the Library Director and Trustees will
be considered in prioritizing repairs and initiating improvements.
Legal Support
The City shall provide to the Library support on legal matters concerning questions, claims or
suits involving property, casualty, liability and personnel issues. Requests for legal advice or
opinions should be brought to the attention of the City Manager by the Library Director or Library
Trustees. The Manager’s Office shall also be made aware of, as soon as practically possible,
any lawsuits filed against the Library, Library personnel or Trustees except personal civil suits
unrelated to the Library or its operations.
Risk Management
The City shall provide property and liability insurance as it does for all other buildings and
Departments.
It is agreed that this MOU will be reviewed by both entities periodically, and at the request of
either entity, and changes and/or additions will be included as warranted. Further, the City
Council and Library Trustees shall meet at least annually to coordinate and check-in.
Dated the 18th day of February, 2025 (Brownell Library Trustees)
Dated the 12th day of March, 2025 (City of Essex Junction City Council)
___________________________________ __________________________________
Jeanne Grant, Chair Raj Chawla, President
Brownell Library Board of Trustees City of Essex Junction City CouncilJeanne Grant (Mar 14, 2025 14:32 EDT)Raj Chawla (Mar 17, 2025 12:49 EDT)
Raj Chawla