Russell Library Board of Trustees

RUSSELL LiBRARY A great place to be. 123 Broad Street, Middletown, CT 06457 Hubbard Room of the Russell Library Tuesday, January 16, 2018 Present: Trustees Becker, Berlind, Hadley, Markot, Murdock, Nelson, Norwood, Russell, Thazhampallath,Wisneski,Zakarian;DirectorofYouthandFamilyLeamingandlnterimAssistant DirectorBillingsley,DirectorofFinance&HRAdministrationHarlow,AdministrativeAssistant Collins, staff member in Smith and several other staff members from AFSCME Local 1303-085 Excused : Trustee Zawisky 1. Call to Order: Acting President Markot called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.in. 2. Public Session/Comment: iin Smith spoke for Cathy Ahem on behalf of Russell Library staff members about the prolonged union negotiations. Staff are concerned about the impasse relating towagesandjobsecurity.Sheaskedthatthenegotiationsrespectthelibraryandstaffwhocarry out the library' s mission and sustain its value to the community. 3. Approval of Minutes: It was moved (Trustee Norwood) and seconded (Trustee Wisneski) to approve the RegularTrusteesMeetingMinutesofNovember28,2017,withacorrectionofthe spelling of "Ahem." The motion passed unanimously. 4. Administrative Report: Director of Youth and Family Leaming and Interim Assistant Director Billingsley reportedthefollowingitemsonbehalfoflnterimLibrarydirectorandCEODoyle: • The 2nd floor reconfiguration is near completion. All major furniture has been moved - check out the space at the top of the stairs, which has opened up beautifully and will be flooded with light when sunshine returns to Middletown. You will notice a coffee machine in the nook across from the Career Center, around which we plan to create a cafe-inspired atmosphere. A cold beverage machine was also installed on the lst floor, so ourpatronsnowhaveavarietyofmeanswithwhichtoquenchtheirthirst! • AFSCME Local 1303-085 Union negotiations are ongoing, though we hope to conclude them in the near future. • We have two items on the February 5th common council agenda. You are welcome and encouraged to attend in support of them. 1 . Our resolution to combine two PT Librarian positions into one FT Digital Literacy Librarian position, which was approved by the Finance and Government Committee on November 29. 2. The proposed lighting project which the Board voted to support at our November meeting will be presented for Council approval. The City's Energy Coordinator, Michael Harris, intends to pursue LOCIP funding for the project. • Our city Budget is due on February 21St. Lynn, Jerm and I (Brandie) have started crunchingnumbersandplantoresumeinearnestwhen1retumfromvacation. • The community Foundation ofMiddlesex county has granted $3,500 to the veterans' Writing Group. • Juvenile chapter books are being re-classified for the new series section. • Youth & Family Leaning had 6 programs for teens with 29 attending. • A year-end statistical report is being prepared. • Estimates for E-rate funding for wireless improvement are being sought.  • The Lynda.com data base is being highlighted. • Trustee Norwood asked about the drop in circulation of young adult materials; attendance has improved, and the drop in circulation as a whole was discussed. 5. Executive session: It was moved (Trustee Becker) and seconded (Trustee Nelson) to enter executive session at 6:45 p.in. The motion passed unanimously. It was moved (Trustee Norwood) and seconded (Trustee Thachampallath) to exit Executive Session at 8: 10 p.in. The motion passed unanimously. 6. New Business: a. It was moved (Trustee Nelson) and seconded (Trustee Becker) to approve the transfer of $50,000 from the endowment fund to the Russell Company budget. The motion passed unanimously. b. It was moved (Trustee Norwood) and seconded (Trustee Zckarian) to add to the agenda a motion to elect Trustee Markot as President. The motion passed unanimously. c. It was moved (Trustee Norwood) and seconded (Trustee Nelson) to elect Trustee Markot as president and Trustee Thazhanpallath as Vice President. The motion passed unanimously. 7. Committee Reports and Recommendations: a. Finance & Audit committee Report: i. Trustee Becker reported on the Finance Committee meeting held on January 5, explaining the need for an additional $50,000 to be withdrawn from the endowment to cover hiring Keister & Associates, paying for prolonged legal representation on budget negotiations, and extra funding for the accountant to convert to non-profit Quickbooks. ii. It was moved (Trustee Becker) and seconded (Trustee Berlind) to add to the agenda a motion a raising the limit on the check amount that requires two signatures. The motion passed unanimously. It was moved (Trustee Thazhampallath) and seconded (Trustee Becker) that the check amount that requires two signatures be raised from $1,000 to $2,500. The motion passed unanimously. b. Policy Committee: President Markot announced that a new chair of policy is needed as the former chair is now president and serves ex officio on the committee. c. Facilities and House Committee: Trustee Nelson commented on the greatly improved library appearance and better use of space. d. Human Resources Committee Report: The search for a new director continues with Keister & Associates. 8. Adjournment: It was moved (Trustee Wisneski) and seconded (Trustee Norwood) to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 p.in. The motion passed unanimously. The next regular board Meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 20. Respectfully Submitted, wonri`i r*2,u£`,fe\ Wendy Berlind, Secretary