Town Manager Robert Simpson said on Wednesday that there have been concerns expressed in these two areas in past years. "Hopefully this sets most of that straight," he said of the amended document.

"This is an effort to make sure everyone is clear in their role and responsibility, particularly in the management of funds," Simpson said later in the week. He said the operation of the library has changed over the years, and the new document simply identifies those changes.

The move is part of the town's continuing effort to update the operation of various departments, according to Simpson. The council already has completed similar documents for the Fire Department and golf course.

The management, care and control of the library had been left up to seven trustees, but the ordinance makes it clear that the trustees now will function in an advisory capacity. It identifies the librarian and staff as employees of the town subject to its rules and policies. The town manager, not the library trustees, is now responsible for the performance evaluation of the librarian.

The ordinance stipulates that an independent audit will be done of all library funds and that authorization for expenditure of town funds will be done exclusively through the town's finance officer or treasurer.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Saturday, November 13, 2004 edition of the Bangor Daily NEWS and is used here with permission."