APPOINTMENT
Motion/Request:
title
MOTION to appoint Ms. Wendy Hellekson (D) 14L Lakeside Drive, Ledyard, to the Library Commission to complete a two (2) year term ending November 7, 2026 filling a vacancy left by Ms. Nash.
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Background:
Ms. Hellekson is currently employed as a Media Specialist at the Gallup Hill School. She has master of Library/Information Science with K-12 Certification from Kent State University, Ohio, a Master of Teaching in TESOL with Public School Certification, from The School for International Training now SIT Graduate Institute Brattleboro, Vermont, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, from Northeastern University, Boston Massachusetts.
Ms. Hellekson also has a Certification from Connecticut Profession TESOL; Connecticut School Library-Medial Specialist (in process of recertification (2/7/2025).
Ms. Hellekson is a second-generation librarian and believes in town libraries. As a school librarian she feels that she can add a different lens to the town library.
Ms. Hellekson is an active member of the community currently serving as the Democratic Town Committee Chair. (see attached resume’)
Administrative Notes:
Ms. Rebecca Nash has submitted her resignation from the Library Commission effective 11/7/2024 (see attached)
With Ms. Nash’s resignation the Library Commission has one vacancy. (see attached roster).
Nominating Committee Recommendation:
9/19/2024 - The Democratic Nominating Committee endorsed the appointment of Ms. Hellekson to the Library Commission. (see attached).
Minority Representation - CGS 9-167a:
In accordance with Chapter IV; Section 8 of the Town Charter “Except as otherwise provided for in this Charter, the Town Council may appoint members to fill vacancies in other offices, boards, and commissions established by this Charter and by ordinance as vacancies may occur, and appointing members to such offices, boards, and commissions as may be created in the future. Such appointments shall be made by the Town Council for such terms and upon such conditions as provided in the respective ordinance”.
Chapter IV, Section 9: “In making appointments and removals, the Town Council shall act by the affirmative votes of at least a majority of all its members.
All members of boards, commissions, and committees contained in this Charter, or subsequently created under this Charter, except members of the Building Code Board of Appeals, the Fire Marshal, and the Deputy Fire Marshal(s), shall be electors of the Town at the time of their appointment and during their terms of office.”
Connecticut General Statutes
Sec. 9-167a. Minority representation. (a) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the maximum number of members of any board, commission, legislative body, committee or similar body of the state or any political subdivision thereof, whether elective or appointive, who may be members of the same political party, shall be as specified in the following table:
|
Total Membership |
Maximum from One Party |
|
3 |
2 |
|
4 |
3 |
|
5 |
4 |
|
6 |
4 |
|
7 |
5 |
|
8 |
5 |
|
9 |
6 |
|
More than 9 Two-thirds of total membership |
(2) The provisions of this section shall not apply (A) to any such board, commission, committee or body whose members are elected wholly or partially on the basis of a geographical division of the state or political subdivision, (B) to a legislative body of a municipality (i) having a town meeting as its legislative body or (ii) for which the charter or a special act, on January 1, 1987, provided otherwise or (C) to the city council of an unconsolidated city within a town and the town council of such town if the town has a town council and a representative town meeting, the town charter provides for some form of minority representation in the election of members of the representative town meeting, and the city has a city council and a body having the attributes of a town meeting or (D) to the board of directors and other officers of any district, as defined in section 7-324, having annual receipts from all sources not in excess of two hundred fifty Thousand dollars.
(b) Prior to any election for or appointment to any such body, the municipal clerk, in cases of elections, and the appointing authority, in cases of appointments, shall determine the maximum number of members of any political party who may be elected or appointed to such body at such election or appointment. Such maximum number shall be determined for each political party in the following manner: From the number of members of one political party who are members of such body at the time of the election or appointment, subtract the number of members of such political party whose terms expire prior to the commencement of the terms for which such election or appointment is being held or made and subtract the balance thus arrived at from the appropriate number specified in column II of subsection (a) of this section.