Library Board of Trustees

TENAFLY PUBLIC LIBRARY MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING December 13, 2021 The Board of Trustees of the Tenafly Public Library held a teleconference Board meeting on December 13, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. for its regular Board meeting. Board Members Signed-In: President Kathleen Cook, Vice President Soon Juhng, Secretary/Treasurer Martin Gilbert, Teresa Austin, David DiGregorio, Shama Haider and Elizabeth Warms. Absent: Meena Krishnansetty and Patrick Rouse. Staff Signed-In: Library Director Julie Marallo and Administrative Assistant Ann Marie Connolly. Guest: Nicole Motz . 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 November 8, 2021. Moved by: Elizabeth Warms. Seconded by: Soon Juhng. Unanimously approved. Treasurer’s Report Martin Gilbert reviewed with the Board the library’s financial statements of November 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: Kathleen Cook. Seconded by: Elizabeth Warms. Unanimously approved. Correspondence None Director’s Report Ms. Marallo informed that Board that December activities were mostly dealing with the building issues. The heat was supposed to be fixed by December 1. The date was then changed to December 8 and then to the 13th and then maybe to December 15th. It is extremely cold in some parts of the building. There was an extremely intoxicated gentleman who refused to leave the library. The police were called, and they had the Ambulance Corp take him to the hospital. There was also an incident of children climbing up onto the library roof over the children’s area. Mayor Zinna informed Ms. Marallo that the Council should award the bid for the EIFS exterior replacement shortly. President’s Report Kathy Cook thanked the Friends and Ms. Marallo for two recent programs: Susan Golden hosted a well-attended and informative interactive environmental workshop on Wednesday evening November 10. On December 9, Dr. Norris hosted an educational “Party Hearty in the Middle Ages” lecture that was enjoyed by many. Old Business None New Business The Board discussed the 2022 Holiday Closing Schedule presented by Ms. Marallo. After discussion the Board approved the schedule as presented. Moved by: Martin Gilbert. Seconded by: Teresa Austin. Unanimously approved. Report from the Mayor’s Alternate Shama Haider will speak with Mayor Zinna regarding the Board’s concerns about the repairs to the building. Shama expressed her appreciation to the Board members for their continuing dedication to the library and noted that she had enjoyed working along with the members toward the betterment of the library. Shama Haider introduced Nicole Motz to members of the Library Board. Ms. Motz will take the Oath of Office as the Mayor’s Alternate at the January 10, 2022 Board meeting. The Board welcomed Ms. Motz and thanked her for volunteering her time and talent to the library. Report from the Superintendent’s Alternate David DiGregorio discussed current activities at the High School. He inquired about student attendance and behavior at the library during after school hours. Ms. Marallo noted that things were close to normal and that there have been very few behavioral problems the past few months. She thanked David for offering his help if needed. Citizen’s Portion of the Meeting Guest Nicole Motz asked about the Tenafly Library Friends. The Friends independently raise money, sponsor Sunday concerts in the fall and spring, financially support programs and prizes for the Summer Reading Program and support lectures throughout the year. They also support the museum passes and the ongoing book sale and are responsible for bringing the Little Free Library to our downtown and the soon to be addition of another Little Free Library at Griffin Park. The Friends are friendly faces to the staff and patrons. All trustees should be members of the Friends. Any Other Business None Adjournment to Closed Session The meeting adjourned at 7:58 p.m. to go into closed session. Moved by: Soon Juhng. Seconded by: Elizabeth Warms. Unanimously accepted. Open Session The Board returned to open session at 8:27 p.m. Board members approved the Covid-19 Vaccination Policy as presented by the Director, Julie Marallo. MOVED BY: Soon Juhng. SECONDED BY: Elizabeth Warms Voting as Follows: Teresa Austin – Aye Shama Haider - Aye Kathleen Cook – Aye Soon Juhng – Aye David DiGregorio – Aye Elizabeth Warms – Aye Martin Gilbert - Aye Board members approved the Memorandum of Agreement for the Union Contract for the Years 2022 through 2024. 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 the Memorandum of Agreement for the Years 2022 through 2024 between the negotiating Committee for the Board of Trustees of the Free Public Library of the Borough of Tenafly (the “Library”) and the Tenafly Library Employees OPEIU Local 32 (the ”Union”) representing all full-time and regular part-time employees, except those who are management, casual, temporary or confidential personnel employed by the Library, and those who are otherwise excluded from being MOVED BY: Shama Haider SECONDED BY: Teresa Austin Voting as Follows: Teresa Austin – Aye Shama Haider - Aye Kathleen Cook – Aye Soon Juhng – Aye David DiGregorio – Aye Elizabeth Warms – Aye Martin Gilbert - Aye Board members approved the 2022 salaries for non-union personnel: 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 4% base salary increase for the Year 2022 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: Teresa Austin SECONDED BY: Soon Juhng Voting as Follows: Teresa Austin – Aye Shama Haider - Aye Kathleen Cook – Aye Soon Juhng – Aye David DiGregorio – Aye Elizabeth Warms – Aye Martin Gilbert - 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 4% base salary increase for the Year 2022 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 Assistant Director and the Board of Trustees. MOVED BY: Elizabeth Warms SECONDED BY: Kathleen Cook Voting as Follows: Teresa Austin – Aye Shama Haider - Aye Kathleen Cook – Aye Soon Juhng – Aye David DiGregorio – Aye Elizabeth Warms – Aye Martin Gilbert - 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 4% base salary increase for the Year 2022 for Administrative Assistant 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 and the Board of Trustees. MOVED BY: Soon Juhng SECONDED BY: Kathleen Cook Voting as Follows: Teresa Austin – Aye Shama Haider - Aye Kathleen Cook – Aye Soon Juhng – Aye David DiGregorio – Aye Elizabeth Warms – Aye Martin Gilbert - 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 2% hourly wage increase for the Year 2022 for Sunday personnel and weekday/Saturday substitutes. MOVED BY: Soon Juhng SECONDED BY: Shama Haider Voting as Follows: Teresa Austin – Aye Shama Haider - Aye Kathleen Cook – Aye Soon Juhng – Aye David DiGregorio – Aye Elizabeth Warms – Aye Martin Gilbert - Aye Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:46 p.m. Moved by: Shama Haider. Seconded by: Teresa Austin. Unanimously approved. Respectfully submitted, Martin Gilbert Secretary/Treasurer The next regular meeting of the Library Board of Trustees will be on Monday, January 10, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. Approved: January 10, 2022