Library Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes

Library Board of Trustees
Board Meeting
Monday, December 14, 2020

PRESENT:
Frank Brady, Kathleen Capelli, Heather Crocker, Terence Diggory, Janet Lindner, Minita Sanghvi, Issac (Ike) Pulver, Eric Blackman, Tara Chhabra, Laura Clark, Jennifer Ferriss, Don Flinton, Jennifer Ogrodowski, Ric Taras

ABSENT:
Kristen Dart, Carmen Vasquez

Meeting Called to Order at 5:02 PM

Approval of November 9, 2020 Meeting Minutes:
Motion by Minita Sanghvi, second by Terry Diggory. All in favor, motion carries.

Approval of Expenditures:
Motion by Kathleen Capelli, second by Minita Sanghvi, approved the November Pre-paid Checks # 68418 - 68419 totaling $563.08, the December Warrants / Checks # 68420 - 68491 totaling $147,430.48, and reallocation of funds requests: $20,000 from Books to Electronic Resources and $20,000 from Salaries to Professional Services. Extra money in salaries is available because the library is open fewer hours and closed on Sundays, saving on premium pay. All in favor, motion carries.

Approval of Financial Reports:
Discussion:

• Income of $202,500 is 90% of the reimbursement for HVAC upgrades.
• Property taxes increased.

Motion by Terry Diggory, second by Kathleen Capelli, approved the following financial reports as presented:

• December Warrant Summary Sheet
• Budget Report
• Income Statement

All in favor, motion carries.

President's Report:
None

Public Comment:
None

Correspondence and Communication:
The Community Foundation informed the library that this year's distribution from the endowment fund is $4038.47. The Board had the choice of whether to re-invest it as has been done in previous years. A motion to re-invest was made by Janet Lindner, second by Kathleen Capelli. All in favor, motion carries.

Director's Report:
Criteria for cluster zones in New York State have changed. If this area is declared to be in a Yellow, Orange, or Red micro-cluster zone, it is likely necessary for the library to return to an earlier phase of the original reopening plan. The Board discussed whether to revise the original plan or to stick with it. The infection rate has been growing quickly since Thanksgiving and hospital capacity has now been added to the criteria. There is a lack of clarity as to the exact implications and expectations for implementation of the new criteria, although the concern is that hospital data is a lagging indicator, and that we should not wait too long to protect staff and the public but should err on the side of prevention. Libraries in Schenectady and Albany already made the decision to close to the public again when they were at rates of infection lower than our current rate.

The Board will meet again on Friday, December 18, 2020 at 5 pm, at which time we hope to have obtained additional information and guidance and have more data on the current situation in this area.

Strategic planning focus groups started and will continue through Friday afternoon.

Circulation has increased to 2/3 of where we were before the shutdown. Digital circulation is much higher. The library's Facebook page has received quite a bit of interest from outside the country, contributing to an increase of 524% in traffic.

Special / Committee Reports:
None

Old Business:
Reopening Status and Strategic Planning were discussed in the Director's Report.

New Business:
None

Meeting Adjourned at 5:41 pm

Respectfully submitted by:
Janet Lindner, Board Secretary