The Fontana Regional Library Board of Trustees shared a lengthy discussion about the kinds of policy and budget changes that the system will need to make as Jackson County undergoes the year-long process of withdrawing from the interlocal agreement it shares with Macon and Swain counties.
The board kicked off the July 8 meeting at the Nantahala Community Library by introducing new trustees Kathy Smith from Macon County and Cheryl Taylor from Swain County. The board also approved new officers, with Cynthia Womble retaining her position as board chair, Tony Monnat of Swain County becoming vice-chair and Bill McGaha becoming secretary.
In response to Jackson County’s decision to withdraw from the FRL, Womble acknowledged the receipt of the letter informing the library of the county’s intent to withdraw. Womble noted that Jackson County Commissioners have explored the option of hiring a consultant to manage the withdrawal process, and proposed the trustees establish two new committees to help the FRL navigate Jackson’s withdrawal.
The first committee is a finance committee that will seek to address new trustees’ questions about the FRL budget and important changes to the FRL’s budget and finances once Jackson County leaves. Among these are a roughly $110,000 shortfall in income and financial costs that come from laying off the 27 FRL employees that currently work in Jackson County libraries.
“When we become a two-county system as of July 1, 2026, we need to be prepared for what changes need to be made in our budget,” Womble said.
“There are some big expenditures … that we have to be prepared for in the next fiscal year related to terminating FRL employees who currently work for FRL but in the Jackson County libraries,” Womble said.
Womble also recommended a personnel committee be formed to examine existing human resources policies to ensure that FRL remains in compliance throughout the next year and to make sure that as FRL becomes a two-county system, its new policies are what the board wants them to be. Womble added that the committee will also examine the position descriptions for the FRL director and finance officer positions to ensure they are up to date.
“I recommend as the chair that we form one because we do have some personnel actions that we’re going to need to be taking this fiscal year in preparation for next fiscal year starting July 1 and we want to make sure that we do those in compliance with all the applicable laws and regulations … next is looking at the positions at the headquarters with our headquarters staff —currently our director and finance officer — to figure out what that looks like after July 1, 2026, and making sure that those position descriptions are correct and accurate,” Womble said.
“The 27 staff … are really anxious,” FRL Director Tracy Fitzmaurice said. “They have worked, some people there, 25, 26 years and I expect people to start looking for other jobs and that will impact service.”
“Unfortunately that can’t be avoided,” Womble said. “It’s unknown and we have no say in what happens … as Jackson County moves forward. But obviously, the sooner Jackson County makes a decision and could let people know what positions they intend to retain and start a hiring process to fill those positions, that would certainly help with reducing the stress.”
Marsha Moxley proposed that the committee also examine ways to encourage these staff to stay on as long as possible to ensure that the FRL can continue to provide services.
As part of a “year of demonstration,” Fitzmaurice said, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties will all have to demonstrate that they are capable of funding the library system. Fitzmaurice said that this would be easier for Macon and Swain counties due to them already being a part of FRL and not needing to reapply to N.C. Cardinal and fill out other paperwork. Fitzmaurice said the board would find out on March 1, 2026, if Macon and Swain counties are eligible for state aid and will continue receiving state aid in July if they remain eligible, making it easier for the FRL to provide internet at its libraries.
Fitzmaurice added that FRL would have to modify contracts with some of the performers in Jackson County libraries’ 2026 summer reading programs to stipulate that Jackson County would cover the costs of the performers’ fees after July 1 if Jackson County withdraws.
The current FRL interlocal agreement will also need to be adjusted to account for a shift to a two-county system.
Raymond Large, the FRL’s pro-bono attorney, said he would no longer be able to offer his services starting in August, and recommended the FRL seek legal counsel with the qualifications to address questions likely to come up between then and July 2026.
“My biggest piece of advice at this point would be about legal counsel,” Large said. “You guys as a board have a lot of issues that normally an attorney that would be representing a library board would not address. There’s a lot of municipal law and constitutional law that you guys would need to be advised on.”
Committee assignments
The board’s nine trustees established five new ad hoc committees, including the aforementioned finance and personnel committees, for members to review policy and make recommendations to the board at its coming meetings. This brings the total number of ad hoc committees to six. As the director, Fitzmaurice sits on all committees.
The circulation policy committee was the only one in place ahead of the July meeting. It seeks to review and make recommendations to the library’s circulation policy. Members are Lori Richards (chair), Bill McGaha and Cynthia Womble.
The ethics statement committee seeks to review, and potentially recommend changes to, the existing FRL ethics statement. Members are Marsha Moxley (chair), Kathy Smith, Lori Richards and Cynthia Womble.
The collection development committee seeks to review, and potentially recommend changes to, the existing FRL collection development policy. Members are Kathy Smith (chair), Marva Jennings and Cheryl Taylor.
The public comment procedures committee seeks to review proposed changes to the FRL’s public comment procedures, chiefly to clarify language and definitions to the changes the library’s pro-bono attorney thought would be too vague to be effective. Members are Marva Jennings (chair), Lori Richards and Kathy Smith.
Finance committee members are Bill McGaha (chair), Tony Monnat, Cheryl Taylor and Lynn Cody. The personnel committee members are Deborah Smith (chair), Cynthia Womble, Bill McGaha and Lynn Cody.
The board, which has seen seven new members since September 2024, agreed to look for time to have a retreat in September to receive reports and training from library staff to familiarize the new members with ongoing projects and the FRL structure in general.
“The retreat, just like what county commissioners and other public organizations do where there would be no public and there would be no work done, it would purely be for training and making sure that we all as a board have the information that we need and a baseline to be able to make informed decisions as board members,” Womble said.
The board closed out after voting to ensure that the director’s report and all committee reports are posted online through the FRL’s website no later than five days ahead of each meeting. The board’s next meeting will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the Macon County Public Library.
- Shelby Powell
reporter@thefranklinpress.com