Library Board of Trustees

WESTWOOD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES MEETING DATE: Monday, September 18, 2023 CALLED TO ORDER: at 7:06 p.m. by Suzanne Gorham PRESENT: Martha Urbiel (MU), Suzanne Gorham (SG), Mike Violano (MV), Bev Karch (BK), Nickeisha Williams (NW), Linda Phayre (LP), Frank Zimmerman (FZ), Claudia Gonzales-Doell (CGD), and Noeline Grefrath (NG), Chris Montana (CM). SUNSHINE LAW: Read by SG. PUBLIC FORUM: No members of the public were present. MINUTES: FZ made a correction to the minutes of the August 28 meeting; he was not present. BK made a motion to accept the minutes of the August 28 meeting with the correction; CGD seconded; MV, FZ, and NG abstained. The motion carried. TREASURER'S REPORT: CGD presented the treasurer's report and cash management fund. The total of the checking account, cash management fund, and capital account is $247,293.98. MV questioned the earned interest. CGD explained that the interest is included in the unencumbered funds. MV suggested that the interest be reflected in the capital account. MU shared that more information will be added to the report for next month for clarity. A motion to accept the treasurer’s report was made by BK; seconded by NW. The motion carried. The current bills list (7387-7401) was reviewed. A motion to accept the bills list was made by BK; seconded by FZ. The motion carried. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Strategic Plan Committee. MV shared that the committee is making good progress. BOARD MEMBERS TRAINING REPORT: None. MV shared information about upcoming trustee training webinars. MU has trustee email addresses and will distribute them. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: MU shared that one of the HVAC units was leaking. It was repaired by Reiner, who suggested it may be leaking because of weather. There was some water leaking through the bay windows during our most recent storm. MU reported it to the Borough. Several children’s, young adult, and adult programs ran, including a September 11 Remembrance event with a local author in conjunction with Westwood Women’s Contemporaries. Westwood Library Board Minutes September 18, 2023 Page 1 MU is working with Berkeley and Brookside elementary schools to coordinate kindergarten visits. MU is working with Valley Health to plan a parenting workshop. BOROUGH LIAISON REPORT: None. OLD BUSINESS: MV shared that the Friends have been collecting lightly used designer handbags to sell to raise funds, in place of the auction previously being planned. A preview of the handbags will be held in October, and the sale in November in conjunction with the Friends’ book sale. NEW BUSINESS: MU shared that the Friends annual fund drive is going well. Planning is underway for an appreciation event for the Friends to be held in December that will also welcome new members. MU will apply for an additional history grant that will fund additional materials to be made available online for public access. The Touba Foundation requested that the Library apply for grant money to put toward a Library project. The Library will offer screenings of films included in the Manhattan Short Film Festival, beginning next week. MEETING ADJOURNED: MV made a motion to adjourn; LP seconded. The motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:38 p.m. by SG. Westwood Library Board Minutes September 18, 2023 Page 2