Apr 9, 2015 2 min read

The doors to Chartiers-Houston Community Library aren’t open quite as often these days, the result of Chartiers-Houston School District’s withdrawal of its $50,000 in annual support. It’s still a popular spot for learning and community activities, however, and can continue in that capacity for some time if its other sources of revenue, including private donations, grow or at least do not shrink.

But the library cannot operate without proper governance – something it doesn’t have right now because it has no board of directors.

Officials from Houston Borough, Chartiers Township and the school district voted recently to remove their representatives from the board, essentially dissolving it. The library is operating on cruise control, with no responsible parties overseeing its operation and protecting its assets.

Those assets, by the way, are not insignificant.

The former library board president, Demo Agoris, noted in an article in Wednesday’s Observer-Reporter the library had $143,000 in certificates of deposit, savings and checking accounts as of March 24.

The library can’t expect to keep its tax-exempt status without the management and oversight promised in its charter, and without tax exemption it will die a quick death.

Internal Revenue Service guidelines state:

“The Internal Revenue Service encourages an active and engaged board believing that it is important to the success of a charity and to its compliance with applicable tax law requirements. Governing boards should be composed of persons who are informed and active in overseeing a charity’s operations and finances. If a governing board tolerates a climate of secrecy or neglect, we are concerned that charitable assets are more likely to be diverted to benefit the private interests of insiders at the expense of public and charitable interests. Successful governing boards include individuals who not only are knowledgeable and engaged, but selected with the organization’s needs in mind (e.g. accounting, finance, compensation, and ethics).”

We suggest Chartiers-Houston area residents take every step to preserve this valuable community asset, and that first step is restoring a board of directors.