Library Board of Trustees

TENAFLY PUBLIC LIBRARY MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING February 8, 2021 The Board of Trustees of the Tenafly Public Library held a teleconference Board meeting on February 8, 2021 for its regular Board meeting. Board Members Signed-In: President Kathleen Cook, Vice President Soon Juhng, Secretary/Treasurer Martin Gilbert, Teresa Austin, David DiGregorio, Meena Dogan, Shama Haider and Elizabeth Warms. Absent: Patrick Rouse. Staff Signed-In: Library Director Julie Marallo and Administrative Assistant Ann Marie Connolly. The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. Julie Marallo reported that notices of the meeting had been posted and sent to the media. Minutes Board members approved the Minutes of the regular Board meeting of January 11, 2021. Moved by: Soon Juhng. Seconded by: Elizabeth Warms. Unanimously approved. Treasurer’s Report Martin Gilbert reviewed with the Board the Library’s financial statements of January 2021. He noted that he 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: Shama Haider. Seconded by: Kathleen Cook. Unanimously approved. The Board discussed the renewal of the Endowment Fund at Valley National which matures on February 9, 2021. After discussion the Board decided to renew the account for 18 months at an interest rate of .345% with the option to make one changeover if the interest rates go up. Moved by: Kathleen Cook. Seconded by: Teresa Austin. Unanimously approved. Correspondence None. Director’s Report Ms. Marallo will attend the Borough Council virtual budget hearing on Saturday, March 27 at 11:30 a.m. to discuss the Library’s 2021 budget. The Finance Department will replenish the Helen Haber Fund Account when the Library receives the unexpended 2020 funds. For NJ Maker Day, the Friends will contribute $500 towards the cost of a craft program for children, teens and adults. Creatively Yours will provide pottery, paint brushes and paints at a steep discount. Participants will pick up a kit at the library and design their pieces at home. Creatively Yours will fire the pottery and return the finished pieces to the library for our Makers Day display. As a benefit for being a Friends member, reservations have been put aside for Friends of the Library members only. On January 31, Mel Nusbaum performed a jazz piano concert via Zoom. There were about 70 participants, which is a high number even for our in-person concerts. Elizabeth Warms thanked Julie Marallo for setting up the concert and for doing the publicity The library is now offering an online tutoring program “Brainfuse HelpNow” through the New Jersey State Library. Brainfuse is an online homework help service that offers live tutoring and a writing lab. President’s Report Kathleen Cook commented that her granddaughter is enjoying using the new online Scholastic program BookFlix that provides picture books paired with children’s non-fiction related to the picture book story. Old Business Martin Gilbert inquired if there was any word on when Mazer is planning to work on the $175,000 bid to fix the library wall. To date the work is to be done in 2021 with no specifics. New Business Meena Dogan inquired if anyone had attended the BCCLS seminar on strategic planning which she was unable to complete. She suggested that there might be a time to meet and discuss it. Report from the Mayor Shama Haider reported that Borough Administrator Jimmy Homsi was informed that Mazer will not be involved in writing the second grant for 2021. Julie Marallo emailed Kelsey Howard and informed her that we were not using Mazer’s service for the second round of the grant for 2021. Report from the Superintendent’s Alternate The High School Library is quiet and occupied. The day is short and the teachers are working hard. He is pleased that education is moving forward and good things are happening at the school. Tenafly’s Got Talent, a talent show for the school district, had great viewership. Citizen’s Portion of the Meeting None Any Other Business Martin Gilbert inquired about the Harvey Dunn paintings. They are now in a fire proof storage room at the Borough. The Board discussed having the paintings cleaned and restored and a place for them to be displayed. It was agreed that since the Borough of Tenafly owns the paintings, it is the Borough’s decision what should be done with them. David DiGregorio mentioned that the Tenafly High School has seven Harvey Dunn paintings and that they are about to be displayed in a new place as one exhibit. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 7:51 p.m. Moved by: Martin Gilbert. Seconded by: Kathleen Cook. Unanimously accepted. Respectfully submitted, Martin Gilbert Secretary/Treasurer The next regular meeting of the Library Board of Trustees will be on Monday, March 8, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. Approved: March 8, 2021