Library Board

MORGANTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY Approved 2021.05.20 Minutes of the Regular Meeting April 15, 2021 Present: Absent: Also Present: Others Present: Sue Carpenter Sarah Palfrey Brian Dean, Linda Durfee Kelly Funkhouser United Bank Meredith Hartery Judy Panagakos Penny Pugh Call to order The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Morgantown Public Library convened via Zoom Video Conferencing on April 15, 2021. The meeting convened at 9:01 am, Judy Panagakos, President presiding, Kelly Funkhouser, secretary. Approval of the Minutes  March 18, 2021 - The minutes were approved as presented. Sue Carpenter moved. The motion passed unanimously. PUBLIC FORUM  United Bank Presentation – Brian Dean from United Bank said that he has been talking with Judy Panagakos regarding the consolidation of assets to United Bank. This consolidation will reduce equity fees from our current of 1.25% to 0.9% and make it easier to facilitate. Once the assets are transferred, Brian will do a portfolio analysis. Kelly Funkhouser will evaluate liquidity need and sweep balances at end of month by contacting Brian Dean or Jacquie Stanley. Brian is based in Morgantown. The Investment Policy document is slated to be voted on in May and an investment committee will be formed. CORRESPONDENCE AND COMMUNICATIONS  None REPORTS OF COMMITTEES/OFFICERS A. President – Sarah Palfrey reported that staff appreciation responses are good. Most have responded. B. Treasurer – ○ Approval of Checks - Financial statements were distributed via email. Kelly Funkhouser will send corrected statements today. They will include retirement. Meredith Hartery moved to approve checks as presented. The motion passed. REPORT OF THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR & BRANCH UPDATES  Sarah Palfrey received an email and a phone call from a Keystone Buckeye Energy, LLC, a gas company in Pennsylvania, wanting to purchase four acres that we purportedly inherited from the Ladwig Estate. Sarah is researching this.  Sarah Palfrey spoke with City Manager when he stopped in for an update on the Morgantown Public Library’s sewer issue. The City Manager will be talking with the new manager at the Morgantown Utility Board.  Age related plumbing issues are cropping up. The original piping is cast iron. A small section was replaced. The pipes have been flushed/cleaned so that the full 6” are available and no longer blocked with debris. Public bathrooms have been closed about a week.  A new pressure regulator was installed and needs pressure adjusted. This was found because of excess pressure in the water heater. Board Minutes – April 15, 2021 – Page 2  The elevator is having age related issues. The door is opening and closing regularly when not in use. Sarah Palfrey is looking into proposals to upgrade the control mechanisms of the elevator.  The West Virginia Library Commission email server is failing. Options for email were discussed. A meeting is scheduled for next week.  Everything has been put in place for the Capira app.  Summer Reading Program planning is well on its way. Brag tags (plastic tags that fit on a chain) have been ordered for prizes this year.  There is a new Book Trail at Krepps Park. Cathy McMaster is doing a great job coordinating these and is networking to establish contacts. The 2021 Book Trails are sponsored by the Shelley A. Marshall Program.  Circulation, physical and digital, is improving all the way around  The Public Service Manager position interviews are ongoing and Sarah Palfrey hopes to make the decision soon.  Corina Chang is still on maternity leave until May. She will work from home and return to the building in June.  Sarah Palfrey has been asked to become a part of the committee for the Monongalia County Schools Levy.  Sarah Palfrey has been having individual branch supervisor meetings before the full branch meeting to address individual location needs.  The West Virginia Library Commission has not yet made a decision on a blanket waiver for maintenance of effort spending. UNFINISHED BUSINESS  COVID-19 plan – 1. The Morgantown Public Library and the Cheat Area Public Library would like to return to opening all of their computers and would place plexiglass sheets between the stations. The cost is approximately $60 apiece. The Board agrees with this. 2. The Morgantown Public Library book sale was discussed. The Friends group is willing to start the book sale again. This will be discussed more at the May Board meeting. 3. Vaccine update – Only 2 people system wide have not started receiving their COVID-19 vaccine.  Investment Policy – Judy Panagakos will ask for a vote on the Investment Policy at May Board meeting. Judy Panagakos requested that the board come to the May meeting with recommendations for outreach for the investment committee. Penny Pugh requested an updated policy be sent for review. NEW BUSINESS  Rotation of Officers – 1. Sue Carpenter’s term as a board member expires June 30, 2021. She has agreed to serve an additional 5 year term. Sarah Palfrey will contact the City of Morgantown. 2. The rotation of officers was discussed in preparation of the May Annual Meeting.  FY22 Budget – Sarah Palfrey presented the proposed budget. This is a requirement of the West Virginia Library Commission, due May 3, 2021. The presented budget includes a cost of living adjustment of 2%, a 5.5% increase to the Monongalia County Library Levy receipts with 5% distributed by per capita and 0.5% distributed to meet the minimum $10/hour goal. Discussion followed. Sue Carpenter moved to approve the proposed budget for FY22 as presented. The motion passed. BOARD COMMENTS  Judy Panagakos asked about WVReads and WVDeli. Sarah Palfrey said that as of right now, the West Virginia Library Network allows 1 card per patron. The patron’s library participates in one or the other, but not both. Board Minutes –April 15, 2021– Page 3 EXECUTIVE SESSION Penny Pugh made the motion to adjourn to an Executive Session. The motion carried. The open meeting resumed at 10:45am. No action was taken. ADJOURNMENT – Sue Carpenter moved to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:46am. NEXT MEETING - May 20, 2021 at 9:00am