Library Board of Trustees

TENAFLY PUBLIC LIBRARY MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING December 14, 2020 The Board of Trustees of the Tenafly Public Library held a teleconference Board meeting on December 14, 2020 for its regular Board meeting. Board Members Signed-In: President Patrick Rouse, Vice President Kathleen Cook, Treasurer Soon Juhng, Teresa Austin, David DiGregorio, Martin Gilbert, Shama Haider and Elizabeth Warms. Staff Signed-In: Library Director Julie Marallo and Administrative Assistant Ann Marie Connolly. The meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m. Julie Marallo reported that notices of the meeting had been posted and sent to the media. Minutes Board members approved the amended Minutes of the regular Board meeting of November 9, 2020. Moved by: Martin Gilbert. Seconded by: Kathleen Cook. Unanimously approved. The Board approved the Minutes of the Executive Session Meeting of October 19, 2020. Moved by: Martin Gilbert. Seconded by: Teresa Austin. Unanimously approved. Treasurer’s Report Martin Gilbert reviewed with the Board the Library’s financial statements of November, 2020. He noted that Soon Juhng had examined and approved the statements and reported that they were current and accurate. A motion was made to approve the financial reports. Moved by: Patrick Rouse. Seconded by: Shama Haider. Unanimously approved. Correspondence None Director’s Report To date, 19 BCCLS libraries have closed their doors to the public. Patrons are not permitted inside the buildings, and they are being offered curb-side or door-side service. The closed libraries that will impact the Tenafly Library are Cresskill, Dumont and Bergenfield. Fort Lee has been closed completely due to COVID-19 and plans to open on December 21. Presently there are no plans to close the Tenafly Library. Ms. Marallo explained that along with the Tenafly School District, she is using the NJ Department of Health COVID-19 Activity Level Index (CALI Index) as a guide. Bergen County’s COVID-19 risk level is currently Orange (High), which prompted her to reduce the number of staff members coming into contact with one another. Only one team will work per day from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. This time period represents almost 95% of when all checkouts take place on weekdays. One team works Mondays and Wednesdays and the other works Tuesdays and Thursdays. The team that works Saturday does not work Friday. If the risk level elevates to Red (Very High), Ms. Marallo will stop offering computer access, printing, copying, notary service, and anything else that might require help and bring someone in close contact with the staff. Allowing the public to browse does not present a risk, as long as browsers are separated from each other and are unaccompanied by staff. If a patron needs help finding something, a librarian will find the item on his or her own while the patron stays behind. Virtual programs will continue as scheduled. Patrons also have access to self-checkout. The library will close if the Governor or Mayor dictates it. Ms. Marallo will study how the closing of neighboring libraries will affect the Tenafly Library. New services are being offered. 10 mobile hotspots are circulating to Tenafly patrons. The service is T-Mobile, and each mobile hotspot can be connected to up to 10 devices. Internet service through cable continues to be a problem in Tenafly, so it is hoped that these hotspots are particularly helpful. We have recently subscribed to BookFlix, an online service by Scholastic that provides picture books paired with children’s non-fiction related to the picture book story. For example, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats is paired with the children’s non-fiction book Snowy Weather Days. In the month of November, 65 users read 209 books. A Tenafly Library Card is needed to use this service. Parents have been asking for library cards to enable their children to access BookFlix, which Tenafly teachers have been promoting. Ebook use has increased 124% over last year. The November door count is low, but circulation is up 9%. Not counting renewals, circulation is up 11% President’s Report None Old Business The Tenafly Library did not make the first round of the construction grant. We will learn shortly how we were scored. Shama Haider asked if the library had received from the Borough the money owed from the Helen Haber account at Northern Valley Englewood Bank. Ms. Marallo informed her that no activity has occurred since the Board meeting of November 9. New Business The Board discussed the Continuity of Operations Plan dated November 2020 as presented by Ms. Marallo. The Plan is a basic outline of what to do if the library has to shut down for any reason – not just for Covid-19. If the library shuts down, it does not stop service – some tasks can be done in the closed building and some at home. The plan is meant to be flexible with options if the building is closed to the public indefinitely. After discussion, the Board moved to approve the Continuity of Operations Plan as presented. Moved by: Martin Gilbert. Seconded by: Kathleen Cook. Unanimously accepted. Report from the Mayor’s Alternate When asked if there were any new developments in repairing the outside walls of the library, Shama Haider stated that, as previously reported, Mayor Mark Zinna informed her that work would begin in the 1st Quarter of 2021. Report from the Superintendent’s Alternate David DiGregorio reported that the students were cooperating fully with the new procedures they were asked to follow both inside and outside of the building. Citizen’s Portion of the Meeting None Any other Business None Adjournment Closed Session At 7:52 p.m. the meeting went into closed session to discuss personnel issues. Moved by: Patrick Rouse. Seconded by: Martin Gilbert. Unanimously accepted. The Board adjourned the closed session 8:10 p.m. to go into open session. Moved by: Kathleen Cook. Seconded by: David DiGregorio. Unanimously accepted. The Board approved the following resolutions: BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT: The Board of Trustees of the Free Public Library of the Borough of Tenafly in the County of Bergen, State of New Jersey approves of a 2% hourly wage increase for the Year 2021 for Sunday personnel and weekday/Saturday substitutes. Moved by: Kathleen Cook Seconded by: Soon Juhng Voting as follows: Teresa Austin – Aye Shama Haider - Aye Kathleen Cook – Aye Soon Juhng – Aye David DiGregorio – Aye Patrick Rouse - Aye Martin Gilbert – Aye Elizabeth Warms – Aye BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT: The Board of Trustees of the Free Public Library of the Borough of Tenafly in the County of Bergen, State of New Jersey approves of a 3% base salary increase for the Year 2021 for Library Director Julie Marallo. All benefits contained in the Tenafly Public Library Personnel Manual shall remain in effect unless altered through negotiations between the Director and the Board of Trustees. Moved by: Martin Gilbert Seconded by: Shama Haider Voting as follows: Teresa Austin – Aye Shama Haider - Aye Kathleen Cook – Aye Soon Juhng – Aye David DiGregorio – Aye Patrick Rouse - Aye Martin Gilbert – Aye Elizabeth Warms – Aye BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT: The Board of Trustees of the Free Public Library of the Borough of Tenafly in the County of Bergen, State of New Jersey approves of a 3% base salary increase for the Year 2021 for Library Assistant Director Marcia Literati. All benefits contained in the Tenafly Public Library Personnel Manual shall remain in effect unless altered through negotiations between the Director and the Board of Trustees. Moved by: Patrick Rouse Seconded by: Elizabeth Warms Voting as follows: Teresa Austin – Aye Shama Haider - Aye Kathleen Cook – Aye Soon Juhng – Aye David DiGregorio – Aye Patrick Rouse - Aye Martin Gilbert – Aye Elizabeth Warms – Aye  BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT: The Board of Trustees of the Free Public Library of the Borough of Tenafly in the County of Bergen, State of New Jersey approves of a 3% base salary increase for the Year 2021 for Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper Ann Marie Connolly. Final salary shall be adjusted for longevity where applicable. All benefits contained in the Tenafly Public Library Personnel Manual shall remain in effect unless altered through negotiations between the Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper and the Board of Trustees. Moved by: David DiGregorio Seconded by: Soon Juhng Voting as follows: Teresa Austin – Aye Shama Haider - Aye Kathleen Cook – Aye Soon Juhng – Aye David DiGregorio – Aye Patrick Rouse - Aye Martin Gilbert – Aye Elizabeth Warms – Aye The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Moved by: Shama Haider. Seconded by: Kathleen Cook. Unanimously accepted. Respectfully submitted, Soon Juhng Secretary/Treasurer The next regular meeting of the Library Board of Trustees will be on Monday, January 11, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. APPROVED: January 11, 2021