Amended minutes

[Guest Scott]

We are a public library, we had an ex employee pay an amount of missing funds but we the case never went to the D.A. However, in our minutes we wrote that she paid restitution. Now her mother is asking that we replace the word with restoration but our board does not. They are asking if we amend the minutes wouldn't it be contradictory as the minutes stating the word restitution have been approved and are public record?

[Tim Wynn]

We are a public library, we had an ex employee pay an amount of missing funds but we the case never went to the D.A. However, in our minutes we wrote that she paid restitution. Now her mother is asking that we replace the word with restoration but our board does not. They are asking if we amend the minutes wouldn't it be contradictory as the minutes stating the word restitution have been approved and are public record?

It's a bad idea to publicly imply the guilt of a person. See RONR(10th ed.), p. 630, l. 32 - p. 631, l. 4.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

We are a public library.

We had an ex employee pay an amount of missing funds but we the case never went to the D.A.

However, in our minutes we wrote that she paid restitution.

Now her mother is asking that we replace the word with restoration but our board does not.

They are asking if we amend the minutes, wouldn't it be contradictory as the minutes stating the word restitution have been approved and are public record?

Are you asking a question about English grammar, vocabulary, syntax, or dictionary meaning?

We don't do that.

Q. What would you replace the word "restitution" with?

• pay back?

• remuneration?

• compensation?

They are all synonyms, as far as I can tell.

Why not strike out "restitution" and insert the simple phrase, "return of stolen funds", and be done with it?

Will that make the mother happy?

[Rob Elsman]

We are a public library, we had an ex employee pay an amount of missing funds but we the case never went to the D.A. However, in our minutes we wrote that she paid restitution. Now her mother is asking that we replace the word with restoration but our board does not. They are asking if we amend the minutes wouldn't it be contradictory as the minutes stating the word restitution have been approved and are public record?

It was inappropriate for the minutes of the board to indicate that the former employee had, or had not, paid restitution or restoration, or whatever. The minutes should record what the board has done at the meeting. See RONR (10th ed.), pp. 451-454.