Title: Hartford Board of Library Trustees v. Town of Hartford

State: vermont

Issuer: Vermont Supreme Court

Document:

Hartford Board of Library Trustees v. Town of Hartford (2002-207); 
174 Vt. 598; 816 A.2d 512

[Filed 21-Nov-2002]

                                 ENTRY ORDER

                      SUPREME COURT DOCKET NO. 2002-207

                             OCTOBER TERM, 2002


  Hartford Board of Library Trustees	}	APPEALED FROM:
                                        }
                                        }
       v.	                        }	Windsor Superior Court
                                        }	
  Town of Hartford	                }
                                        }	DOCKET NO. 21-1-01 Wrcv

                                                Trial Judge: Alan W. Cook

             In the above-entitled cause, the Clerk will enter:

       This appeal concerns a dispute between the Hartford Board of Library
  Trustees and the Hartford Town Manager over who has the authority to set
  the level of compensation for the town librarian.  The Board appeals the
  superior court's ruling that Vermont statutory law authorizes the Town of
  Hartford, and in particular the town manager, to exercise control over the
  librarian's employment, including her salary and benefits.  We conclude
  that Vermont law, as applied to the facts of this case, gives library
  trustees the final say over such matters, and therefore reverse the
  superior court's decision.

       The West Hartford Municipal Library is a town library governed by an
  elected board of trustees.  See 22 V.S.A. §§ 101-146 (distinguishing
  between incorporated and municipal libraries).  The present dispute arose
  when the Hartford Select Board and town manager (hereinafter the Town)
  reduced the librarian's salary after the Board of Library Trustees had
  given her a raise.  The trustees believed that the Town had usurped the
  Board's authority, not only by lowering the librarian's salary and reducing
  her vacation days, but also by processing library requisitions through the
  town treasurer and negotiating bulk utility rates that predetermined which
  phone company and fuel dealer would serve the library.  In January 2001,
  the Board filed a declaratory judgment action asking the superior court to
  determine the relative authority of the Town and the Board with respect to
  the operation of the library, and in particular the salary and benefits of
  the librarian.  On April 12, 2002, following a January 2002 evidentiary
  hearing, the court ruled that Vermont statutory law gives the Town the
  authority to exercise control over the details of the librarian's
  employment, including her salary and benefits.

       On appeal, the parties debate the primacy of separate statutory
  schemes concerning the respective powers of the Town and the Board.  Our
  review of these statutes and the question of law determined by the superior
  court is nondeferential and plenary.  See Thompson v. Dewey's S. Royalton,
  Inc., 169 Vt. 274, 276,