OHIO COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MINUTES
July Board Meeting
July 20, 2006
Members Present:
Mr. Ted Hess, Sr. Mary Jude Jochum, Mr. Mike Baker,Mr. Charles Monfradi, Leslie Nutting.
Members Absent:
None
Also Present:
Dottie Thomas, Louis Horacek
Call to order:
Mr. Hess called the meeting to order at 7:10 P.M
Appointment of New Board Member
Mr. Baker moved that Leslie Nutting be appointed to fill the board position left vacant by the resignation of Sally Carroll. Sr. Mary-Jude seconded.
Vote:
| Mr. Hess | yes |
| Sr. Mary Jude | yes |
| Mr. Baker | yes |
| Mr. Monfradi | yes |
Minutes
Mr. Baker moved that the minutes of the June meeting be approved as distributed. Mr. Monfradi seconded.
Vote:
| Mr. Hess | yes |
| Sr. Mary Jude | yes |
| Mrs. Nutting | yes |
| Mr. Baker | yes |
| Mr. Monfradi | yes |
Financial Report
The Financial Report for June had been distributed with the board package. Ms. Thomas noted that an end of the year report for 2005-2007 had been included, and that it showed that the library had ended the year with a budget surplus in excess of $70,000. This was because expenses were less than the budgeted amounts and income from taxes was higher than anticipated.
Mr. Monfradi asked if Bodkin Koznicki had been informed that while we appreciated their services, the board felt their price for audits was too high.
INVOICES AND WARRANTS
Sr. Mary Jude moved to approve the Financial Report and approve payment of invoices and warrants; Mr. Baker seconded the motion.
Vote:
| Mr. Hess | yes |
| Sr. Mary Jude | yes |
| Mrs. Nutting | yes |
| Mr. Baker | yes |
| Mr. Monfradi | yes |
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Ms. Thomas presented a written Director's Report, along with a written report from the Children's Department.
Announcements
Ms. Thomas said that the library had been invited to join the East Wheeling Business Council. She said that it would be a good outreach to the community.
Mr. Monfradi moved that the library join the East Wheeling Business Council. Mr. Baker seconded.
Vote:
| Mr. Hess | yes |
| Sr. Mary Jude | yes |
| Mrs. Nutting | yes |
| Mr. Baker | yes |
| Mr. Monfradi | yes |
Ms. Thomas said that WVNCC would begin classes in the new building on August 20. She recommended that security guard George Nicholson watch the parking lot during the day during the first two weeks of classes to keep students from parking.
Jean Bailey, Tom Stephan's daughter, is renovating Tom's old house, and has a piano and a dinette set to offer to the library. Mr. Monfradi said that Ms. Thomas should check them out.
Ms. Thomas said that hospitalization was up 8.7%. The recently adopted budget included a 10% increase so expenses should be lower than the library allowed for this line item. The insurance agent, Joyce Shirley, requested that the board take formal action if it no longer wishes to offer any family coverage to employees other than those currently receiving it.
Mr. Baker moved to adopt a new library policy that present coverages will be frozen at the present level. New employees will will be offered individual health insurance coverage.
Vote:
| Mr. Hess | yes |
| Sr. Mary Jude | yes |
| Mrs. Nutting | yes |
| Mr. Baker | yes |
| Mr. Monfradi | yes |
OLD BUSINESS
Johnson Boiler HVAC work
Ms. Thomas said that Tom West said that the programs with Siemens or Johnson Control (to install controls and pay for them with energy savings) amounted to handing his business over to a competitor so he would not do them. She noted that the repairs done so far seemed to have stopped the humidity problems without running the boiler at all this summer, so she felt we should do more work such as the electronic control system. Mr. Baker said that sooner or later we would have to do more work to the system. He did not think the problem was licked. Mr. Hess said we needed to monitor the situation. Mr. Monfradi said he thought it would be alright to wait to upgrade the system.
Capital Projects and Landscaping Plans
Ms. Thomas said that the new staff room floor would be installed July 21, and that the landscaping plans should be completed by the next board meeting. She noted that Mr. Barger had recommended a railing on the wall between the library lot and the Northwood lot, and on the wall along Chapline Street. Mr. Hess asked that a copy of the proposal be sent before the board meeting. Mr. Baker said that he would like Mr. Barger to come to the meeting to present his proposal.
Interest Rates for CD's for transfer from Operating Account
Ms. Thomas distributed proposals from Westbanco and Chase banks. Both had said they had other suggestions better than CD's, and offered to attend a meeting. Mr. Hess said a subcommittee could consider the proposals. Mr. Baker asked if that much deliberation was necessary. Mr. Monfradi said Ms. Thomas could just call the banks and find out what sort of alternatives to CD's they were considering.
NEW BUSINESS
Bookmobile and Outreach Services
Mr. Hess noted that the Personnel Subcommittee had been considering how to handle outreach needs since the bookmobile clerk had resigned, and was considering replacing the bookmobile with a smaller vehicle and converting to a more personalized delivery system. ms. Thomas distributed a chart detailing all aspects of current bookmobile stops.
Mr. Baker said that we should discontinue stops where no one comes. He said that before eliminating the service the board should solicit public input, possibly a paid advertisement asking for comments and suggestions.
Mr. Hess said that a positive approach was needed, but maybe not a formal public comment procedure.
Mrs. Nutting said that it sounded like the outreach service was becoming more focused, not just appearing with a random bunch of books. She asked if you could still call a smaller van a "bookmobile."
Mr. Monfradi asked what the reaction had been in the month since the bookmobile stopped running regularly. Ms. Thomas said there had been 4 or 5 calls inquiring into the bookmobile's absence. The calls came mainly from the high-rises. Mr. Monfradi said that unless there had been 40 or 50 calls then it was a no-brainer.
Mr. Baker said that several of the facilities had their own vans that took clients difference places. He said that if there was demand, they could come to the library.
Mr. Hess asked the committee of Mr. Baker and Sr. Mary Jude to come up with a fine-tuned report for the August meeting.
In-Service Day on Veterans' Day
Ms. Thomas recommended that the board close the library on Veterans' Day for a staff "in-service" training an continuing education day. There are many new employees who could benefit from a review of library policies and procedures. She said it is a state holiday and most people are surprised that the library is open. Sr. Mary Jude moved that the library be closed on Veterans' Day for training. Mr. Monfradi seconded.
Vote:
| Mr. Hess | yes |
| Sr. Mary Jude | yes |
| Mrs. Nutting | yes |
| Mr. Baker | yes |
| Mr. Monfradi | yes |
Choosing Agent-of-Record for Brick Street Insurance
Ms. Thomas said that Brick Street was requiring participants in worker's compensation to choose an insurance agent. Costs will be paid by Brick Street. She said that both Wesbanco and Carl Bippus had already approached the library and asked to be appointed as the library's agent. Mr. Baker moved that Berry Bippus Chison Foose be selected as our agent-of-record. He asked that they send a full proposal of what they will be doing. Mr. Monfradi seconded.
Vote:
| Mr. Hess | yes |
| Sr. Mary Jude | yes |
| Mrs. Nutting | yes |
| Mr. Baker | yes |
| Mr. Monfradi | yes |
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 PM
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