Library Board of Trustees

12 WESTWOOD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES MEETING DATE: Monday, October 30, 2023 CALLED TO ORDER: at 7:02 p.m. by Dennis Farrel PRESENT: Martha Urbiel (MU), Dennis Farrel (DF), Suzanne Gorham (SG), Mike Violano (MV), Bev Karch (BK), Nickeisha Williams (NW), Frank Zimmerman (FZ), Claudia Gonzales- Doell (CGD), and Noeline Grefrath (NG), Chris Montana (CM). SUNSHINE LAW: Read by DF. PUBLIC FORUM: No members of the public were present. MINUTES: BK made a motion to accept the minutes of the September 18 meeting; MK seconded; 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 $225,348.13. MU is still getting more information about the interest on the accounts. MK asked a question about encumbered funds to find a way to find a use for them and publicly acknowedge the gifts. DF suggested the finance committee can set a date to target funds. A motion to accept the treasurer’s report was made by MK; seconded by NW. The motion carried. The current bills list (7402-7426) was reviewed. A motion to accept the bills list was made by NG; seconded by BK. The motion carried. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Strategic Plan Committee. MV shared that the committee is making good progress. BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS: MU shared they had a walk around with Durene Ayer, Borough administrator to submit a capital request to the Borough. Also talked about having a plan in place to add meeting space to library if funding were available. CM suggested talking to zoning officer about what is allowed. MU shared a plan to update children’s space into more of a flex space by adding a large door between children’s space and meeting room. BUDGET: MU has the new 1/3mill number and are creating a budget accordingly. CM shared the Broadway properties threw off the tax assessment, and should check if it inflated the 1/3mill number. BOARD MEMBERS TRAINING REPORT: MU has distributed trustee email addresses. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: MU received a resolution from the Building and Ground department to replace windows facing the Shy Touba garden. MU shared they received the state aid check. MU shared that the new NJLA president is interested in getting funding for library construction projects. Several children’s, young adult, and adult programs ran. Held the first meeting of the Junior Library council for the year with 15 teens in attendance. BOROUGH LIAISON REPORT: CM shared that he wants to review hanging or unmet capital projects before the end of the year. Follow up on cyber security for the library and what the borough has. OLD BUSINESS: MV shared that the Friends will send out annual fund drive fliers soon and will hold a used designer handbag sale at the next used book sale on November 11. MU shared that she would like the trustees to host a thank you event for the friends to acknowledge all they do. CM suggested the Borough could possibly help fund the event. NEW BUSINESS: MU distributed the 2024 holiday and library closing calendar. BK suggested more discussion is needed. DF suggested it be put on next months agenda for a vote. MEETING ADJOURNED: NW made a motion to adjourn; CGD seconded. The motion carried. The meeting was adjourned by DF.