Library Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes

Library Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Monday, March 14, 2022

PRESENT:
Frank Brady, Kathleen Capelli, Heather Crocker, Carol Daggs, Terence Diggory, Jean Fei, Janet Lindner, Issac (Ike) Pulver, Eric Blackman, Catherine Brenner, Jennifer Ferriss, Don Flinton, Kelly McCombs, Ric Taras, Denise Feltes

ABSENT:
Jennifer Ogrodowski

Meeting Called to Order at 5:02 PM

I. CALL TO ORDER: 5:02 pm

II. Approval of Minutes – Action Required

Terry made a motion to approve the February 2022 Regular Meeting minutes, the February 2022 Executive Session minutes, and the March 2nd Special Budget Meeting minutes. Katie seconded. All in favor. All minutes are approved.

III. Approval of Expenditures - Action Required

Katie made a motion to approve the February Pre-Paid Checks 69788 to 69789 totaling $429.75 and the March Warrants 69790 to 69867 totaling $116,174.89. Frank seconded. All in favor. Motion carries.

IV. Approval of Financial Reports - Action Required

Janet made a motion to approve the Financial Reports including February Pre-Paids and March warrants, the Budget Report and the Income Report. Katie seconded. All in favor. The Financial Reports are approved.

V. President’s Report: None

VI. Public Comment:

Terry received a phone complaint about the masking policy. A father and son were barred from the library on President’s Day for not wearing a mask. Frank also received the phone complaint. He left a message, but had no further follow-up with the father and son.

Frank also received an email complaint regarding our masking policy on the day we lifted the requirement.

VII. Correspondence & Communication: None

VIII. Director’s Report:

A. Director’s Written Report: Due to the updates provided by the CDC for optional mask wearing, there has been much less conflict within the library. Some patrons have expressed concern regarding the easing of the masking requirement, but are far fewer in number. Mask wearing in the library is approximately 50:50.

Great interaction with the public around the library van at the Saratoga Rotary Home and Lifestyle Show on March 3rd and 4th.

Two candidates for the Trustee Election on April 7 are Jean Fei and Nancy Luther.

An imminent change to the open meetings law is expected shortly which will require us to return to in-person meetings. We are planning the April 4 Budget Hearing and the April 11 Board Meeting to be in-person.

B. Department Reports:

Circulation & Technical Services: The Repair Café on March 19th requires an additional meeting room to accommodate the demand along with a waiting list. We plan to continue the Repair Café on a regular basis due to the high demand.

Katie asked if the Advanced Reader copies of books were depleted in order to possibly hand them out during Captain in the summer. Jen confirmed that they have been depleted since book companies have gone to electronic delivery of the Advanced Reader copies.

Youth Services: Ric and his staff have been working on fixing and painting the Treehouse Room while Youth Services staff have been reviewing and updating books and toys.

Adult Services: Drumming with Saratoga Bridges is enjoyed by many of the participants and observers. Terry asked about the Ancestry Statistic going from 699 to 6970. Ike explained that the statistics come after the Board Meeting so 699 may be an under reported figure with 6970 being the accurate figure since Ancestry is the most popular database the library has.

Operations: The cost of supplies is increasing dramatically, but due to our inventory, we should be good until the end of our fiscal year. Frank thanked Ric and his staff for the work in the Children’s Department.

Human Resources: Mineral, previously ThinkHR, is able to auto populate our Employee Handbook with new mandated policies from the State and Federal agencies. The main benefit is that Mineral will keep us up-to-date and warn us when a new mandate needs to be addressed. Sensitive topics will still need to be discussed with our attorneys and our board will still need to approve new policies.

IX. Special / Committee Reports: None

X. Old Business: None

A. Reopening Status: See the Director’s Report

B. Budget Vote & Trustee Election: Our regular board meeting will follow the Budget Vote this year. National Library Week is earlier this year due to religious holidays.

XI. New Business:

A. Request to Appoint – Action Required

Frank made a motion to appoint Henry Fernau, Computer Clerk (P/T) effective February 22, 2022; to appoint Lucas Collins, Cleaner (P/T) effective March 4, 2022; and to appoint Michelle Isopo, Archivist (F/T) effective April 4, 2022. Heather seconded. All in favor. Appointments are approved.

Meeting Adjourned at 5:37 pm

Respectfully submitted by:
Denise Feltes, Senior Account Clerk