Stagger Library Board Members' Terms, Supervisor Says

Upper Saucon Township is in the midst of filling four open seats on the Southern Lehigh Public Library Board of Directors, and one supervisor questioned why all of the seats are being vacated at once.

At the supervisors' May 13 meeting, Jack DeMatos wondered aloud why the terms for the township's library board members aren't staggered to expire in different years.

"It's always been that way," explained township manager Thomas Beil, who told supervisors that seven residents have expressed an interest in being appointed to the library board.

The library board itself has a total of seven members, four of whom are appointed by Upper Saucon Township.

Interviews with the current applicants will be conducted by the supervisors' appointment review committee.

Beil agreed that "it's probably better that they stagger the terms," but said the library would likely have to amend its by-laws to allow for that in the future.

Supervisors agreed that Beil should make that recommendation.

Beil also noted that the library board terms come with term limits.