MASSENA – The Massena Public Library now has five new members on its board of trustees, enough to once again conduct normal business

In a special meeting Wednesday, the Massena Town Council appointed Robert Manning, Emily Hutchison, John “Jack” Baines, Linda McDonald and Mark Englert to varying terms on the library’s board of trustees.

“The Town Council was very fortunate to have a large pool from which to choose our library trustees,” Massena Town Supervisor Joseph Gray. “We had over 20 names to consider of people who had volunteered and/or been recommended by other people.”

Some of the names initially considered included a handful of people who live outside the Town of Massena, but New York State education law demands that library trustees must be town residents to be trustees, Gray said. Some people who were asked declined the position.

“In the end, we had background information from more than a dozen people. These are good, quality people who would have benefited our town and library through their services. Unfortunately, there are only five seats on the library board,” Gray said.

The new trustees will meet with the town council to review their obligations as board members, and will be asked to establish policy for the library, hire and manage a new library director, manage the library’s budget, and assure services delivered to the public, among other duties.

The term of new trustee Manning runs through Dec. 31, 2016, Baines 2015, Hutchison 2014, Englert 2013 and McDonald 2012.