About the Board of Trustees

There are 12 Board of Trustee positions, 4 in each district of Brewerton, Cicero and North Syracuse. The positions are elected by registered voters who are residents of the NOPL district. The Board of Trustees meets once every month to review and approve library finances, vote on changes or additions to the libraries, and establish policies.

President: Wayne Chase
Vice President: Lisa Melara
Secretary: Trisha Nelson
Treasurer: Karen Crandall

Trustees:

Wayne Chase
Tina Gauthier
Randy Lacelle
Lisa Melara
Scott Montani
Trisha Nelson
Terri Redhead
Corey Robeson
Joe Santimaw
Rob Santucci
Kelly Steckel
Jennifer Wolf

2026 Board Meeting Calendar

Meetings occur in person on the 4th Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. with the occasional date change possible, which will be posted. The meetings are tentatively scheduled to be held as outlined below. Visit our Events Calendar to confirm dates/locations. If you would like to comment at a Board Meeting, please view the Public Comment policy on our Policies page.

Q1
Jan 26 – North Syracuse – Cancelled due to weather
Feb 23 – North Syracuse
Mar 23 – North Syracuse

Q2
Apr 27 – North Syracuse
May 18 – Brewerton
Jun 22 – Brewerton

Q3
Jul 27 – Brewerton
Aug 24 – Brewerton
Sep 28 – Cicero

Q4
Oct 26 – Cicero
Nov 16 – Cicero
­­Dec 14 – Cicero

Board Meeting Minutes

Current By-Laws

Three NOPL Board of Trustee seats are expiring on December 31, 2026: one for North Syracuse, one for Brewerton, and one for Cicero. The election for these seats will be held on October 7, 2026. The terms for these trustee seats are four years and begin in January 2027.

The deadline for submitting a petition for candidacy for the above seats is September 1, 2026. See below for more details. 

How to Become a Trustee of the Northern Onondaga Public Library

Are you passionate about your community and interested in contributing to the future of the Northern Onondaga Public Library? We are always looking for dedicated individuals to serve on the NOPL library Board of Trustees. Trustees are elected by the residents of our library district (Town of Cicero and Town of Clay minus the Baldwinsville, Liverpool, and Phoenix School District) in an election held annually in October. This is an unpaid position. Here is how you can get involved:

Step 1: Understand the Role

Library trustees play a crucial role in guiding the library’s mission, policies, and financial decisions. As a trustee, you will:

  • Attend regular board meetings
  • Participate in committee work and library events
  • Advocate for the library in the community
  • Help shape the library’s strategic direction

Step 2: Meet Eligibility

To be eligible to run for a trustee position, you must be:

Step 3: Review the NOPL Trustee Information Sheet

Step 4: Get a Petition Form

Contact the NOPL Administrative Office at 315-699-2534 to arrange to pick up a form (or have it emailed to you) and to learn about important deadlines.

Step 5: Gather Signatures

Interested individuals need to collect at least 10 signatures from registered voters within the library district in which you reside (Brewerton, Cicero or North Syracuse) to appear on the ballot. It is suggested to get more than 10 signatures in case one or more signers are not registered voters.

Step 6: Submit Your Petition Form

Submit your completed petition by the deadline of September 1, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.

*E-mail to: mvaughn@nopl.org, drop off at any NOPL branch (NOPL Brewerton, NOPL Cicero, or NOPL North Syracuse), or mail to: Northern Onondaga Public Library, 8686 Knowledge Lane, Cicero, NY 13039

Step 7: Once your petition is approved:

  • Campaign: Share your vision and goals with the community. Attend local events, speak to residents, and use social media to reach out to voters.
  • Election Day: The election for 2027 open board positions and the annual NOPL budget (2027) will be held on October 7, 2026 at each NOPL location: NOPL Brewerton, NOPL Cicero, and NOPL North Syracuse. Encourage community members to vote and participate in the election process.

Join us in shaping the future of the Northern Onondaga Public Library!