ARTICLE 135

Bethlehem Area Public Library *

135.01 Appointment of Library Board of Directors.
135.02 Library Tax.

CROSS REFERENCE

Free Libraries in Municipalities - See 24 P.S. 4401 et seq.

135.01 APPOINTMENT OF LIBRARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

(a) The Board of Library Directors shall consist of fifteen members. (Ord. 3425 - Passed 8/6/91.)

(b) Nine members of the Board shall be citizens of the City and shall be appointed by Council, on recommendation of the President of Council. Three of these members shall serve for three years, three for two years and three for one year. Annually thereafter, appointments to fill the places of those whose terms have expired shall be made for the term of three years. Vacancies occurring for any cause shall be filled by Council. The City shall at all times maintain a minimum of a three member majority over members of the Board from contracting municipalities. (Ord. 3196-Passed 6/7/88; Ord. 3425-Passed 8/6/91; Ord. 4117-Passed 12/18/01.)

(c) One member of the Board shall be appointed by the governing bodies of the following municipalities: Fountain Hill, Freemansburg, Hanover Township (Northampton County), and Lower Saucon Township. Bethlehem Township shall have two members appointed by its governing body. Each member of the Board shall have one vote. Each of these members shall be appointed for a term of one year by their municipality. Vacancies occurring for any cause shall be filled by the municipality which appointed the member whose term has not been completed. (Ord. 3196-Passed 6/7/88; Ord. 3425-Passed 8/6/91; Ord. 4117-Passed 12/18/01.)

(d) No member of the Board shall receive any salary for his service as such. The organization of the Board shall take place and its duties shall be performed as provided in the Act of June 14, 1961, relating to free libraries in municipalities.

ARTICLE 135 2

(e) Should a neighboring municipality contract for use of the Library, the governing body of the municipality shall appoint a resident to the Board. This member will have one vote; and,
the City of Bethlehem shall receive one additional vote when the
membership of the Board is increased by the addition of a contracting municipality.

(f) Should an existing contracting municipality end its contract, the size of the Library Board will be reduced by the number of members from the contracting municipality ending its affiliation and one from the City. (Ord. 3052-Passed 12/17/85; Ord. 3425-Passed 8/6/91.)

(* Name changed from Bethlehem Public Library - Ord. 3075 - Passed 6/17/86.)

135.02 LIBRARY TAX.

A tax of no more than three (3) mills upon the assessed valuation of the City is established, to be levied annually, and the proceeds thereof to be appropriated annually for the use of, and directed to be paid to the Treasurer of the Bethlehem Public Library in monthly installments, or in a payment schedule mutually agreeable to the Treasurer of the Bethlehem Public Library and the City of Bethlehem.
(Ord. 2988-Passed 4/2/85.)

BILL NO. 58 - 2001

ORDINANCE NO. 4117

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE 135 OF
THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF
BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, ENTITLED
BETHLEHEM AREA PUBLIC LIBRARY.

THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BETHLEHEM HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. That Section 135.01(a),(b) and (c), which read as follows:

135.01 APPOINTMENT OF LIBRARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

(a) The Board of Library Directors shall consist of [thirteen] members. (Ord. 3425 - Passed 8/6/91.)

(b) [Eight] members of the Board shall be citizens of the City and shall be appointed by Council, on recommendation of the President of Council. Three of these members shall serve for three years, three for two years and [two] for one year. Annually thereafter, appointments to fill the places of those whose terms have expired shall be made for the term of three years. Vacancies occurring for any cause shall be filled by Council. The City shall at all times maintain a minimum of a three member majority over members of the Board from contracting municipalities. (Ord. 3196-Passed 6/7/88; Ord. 3425-Passed 8/6/91.)

(c) One member of the Board shall be appointed by the governing bodies of the following municipalities: Fountain Hill, Hanover Township (Northampton County), and Lower Saucon Township. Bethlehem Township shall have two members appointed by its governing body. Each member of the Board shall have one vote. Each of these members shall be appointed for a term of one year by their municipality. Vacancies occurring for any cause shall be filled by the municipality which appointed the member whose term has not been completed. (Ord. 3196-Passed 6/7/88;
Ord. 3425-Passed 8/6/91.)

be amended to read as follows:

135.01 APPOINTMENT OF LIBRARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

2. B/58/01
Ord. 4117

SECTION 2. All Ordinances or parts of Ordinances inconsistent with the provisions of this Article are hereby repealed.

Sponsored by /s/ J. Michael Schweder

/s/ John B. Callahan

PASSED finally in Council on the 18th day of December, 2001.

/s/ Robert J. Donchez
President of Council
ATTEST:

/s/ Cynthia H. Biedenkopf
City Clerk

This Ordinance approved this 21st day of December, 2001.

/s/ Donald T. Cunningham, Jr.
Mayor