OHIO COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Members Present:
Mr. Ted Hess, Mr. Mike Baker, Mr. Charles Monfradi, Leslie Nutting.
Members Absent: Sr. Mary Jude Jochum
Also Present:
Dottie Thomas, Louis Horacek, Amy Kastigar
Call to order:
Mr. Hess called the meeting to order at 3:05 P.M
Minutes
Mr. Monfradi moved that the minutes of the July meeting be approved as distributed. Mr. Baker seconded.
Vote:
| Mr. Hess | yes |
| Sr. Mary Jude | absent |
| Mr. Baker | yes |
| Mr. Monfradi | yes |
| Mrs. Nutting | absent |
Financial Report:
The Financial Report for August was been distributed with the board package.
INVOICES AND WARRANTS
Mr. Baker moved to approve the Financial Report and approve payment of invoices and warrants; Mr. Monfradi seconded the motion.
Vote:
| Mr. Hess | yes |
| Sr. Mary Jude | absent |
| Mr. Baker | yes |
| Mr. Monfradi | yes |
| Mrs. Nutting | absent |
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Ms. Thomas said that Johnson Boiler was in the process of replacing the furnace room door they had broken some time ago.
She said that the new handicapped accessible water fountain had resulted in numerous complaints because it was too low. She recommended that the two water fountains on order be replaced with bi-level handicapped-accessible water fountains and the one already received be moved to the children's department where the low height would not cause a problem.
Mr. Monfradi moved that the above course be followed, and that if the total cost exceeded $4,000 Ms. Thomas should poll the board for approval. Mr. Baker seconded the motion.
Vote:
| Mr. Hess | yes |
| Sr. Mary Jude | absent |
| Mr. Baker | yes |
| Mr. Monfradi | yes |
| Mrs. Nutting | absent |
Announcements
Ms. Thomas reported that she was planning to attended and testify at a public hearing on taxation to be held at West Liberty State College on Sept. 14. Board members felt it would be appropriate.
Mr. Hess said that the Wheeling Auto Club which he and Mr. Monfradi had served as board members, had been acquired by a Pittsburgh auto club. The Wheeling group had ended with some assets which they had given to the Community Foundation of the Upper Ohio Valley, to be distributed to a number of local beneficiaries, including OCPL, which would be receiving $3,000.
Mr. Hess said that Caroline Coleman, a former board member, had passed away. Mr. Monfradi suggested that Ms. Thomas send a note of condolence to the family on behalf of the library.
OLD BUSINESS
Landscaping Plans
Ms. Thomas distributed a design intent statement that Andy Barger had prepared. She said that Gabe Hays is developing the hardscaping plans.
She said that after discussion with the staff and the City Engineer, she recommended abandoning plans to make the Eoff Street parking lot face the other way. She said that it would result in the loss of two parking spaces unless the Japanese Garden was removed or significantly reduced in size. Also, creating the entrance off of 16th Street would potentially block the 16th and Eoff Street intersection when people were making a left turn into the lot. Board members agreed with Ms. Thomas's and the City Engineer's assessment.
Ms. Thomas said that Mr. Barger recommended completing the landscaping work on the Eoff Street lot immediately, because it required little besides landscaping and installing a curb along the Eoff Street sidewalk which needs to be completed because the drop-off from the sidewalk is a liability issue. The curb work would be separate from the landscaping and require a separate contractor.
Also, it would take some time to finish the plans to the entryway.
Mr. Baker moved that the board authorize Mr. Barger to prepare a detail plan and bid package for the Eoff Street lot and solicit bids. Mr. Monfradi seconded.
Vote:
| Mr. Hess | yes |
| Sr. Mary Jude | absent |
| Mr. Baker | yes |
| Mr. Monfradi | yes |
| Mrs. Nutting | yes |
Investment of Funds from Operating #2 Account
The board discussed various amounts to be invested from the operating and capital accounts. Mr. Monfradi moved that $400,000 from the operating money market account, plus $200,000 from the capital account be placed in a CD from Wesbanco, at 5.5%, over 12 months with the right to withdraw with a month's notice. Mr. Baker seconded.
Vote:
| Mr. Hess | yes |
| Sr. Mary Jude | absent |
| Mr. Baker | yes |
| Mr. Monfradi | yes |
| Mrs. Nutting | yes |
NEW BUSINESS
Furniture for the Staff Room
Staff had examined available furniture and recommended a cocktail table and two end tables ($253.00 each) from the Harmony Collection by Riverside sold by Chris Miller Furniture. Mr. Baker moved that this recommendation be accepted, specifying delivery within 45 days. Mr. Monfradi seconded.
Vote:
| Mr. Hess | yes |
| Sr. Mary Jude | absent |
| Mr. Baker | yes |
| Mr. Monfradi | yes |
| Mrs. Nutting | yes |
Towing Abandoned Cars
Ms. Thomas said that recently a broken down car had been left in the library lot for two weeks before it was towed. She said a policy on how long to wait before towing would be helpful. She recommended 5 days. Mr. Baker moved that cars left in the lot for more that 48 hours after closing time of the first day be towed away at the owner's expense. Mr. Monfradi seconded.
Vote:
| Mr. Hess | yes |
| Sr. Mary Jude | absent |
| Mr. Baker | yes |
| Mr. Monfradi | yes |
| Mrs. Nutting | yes |
Bookmobile Outreach Service
Ms. Thomas said that she and the professional staff had interviewed three candidates for the outreach services specialist. After consideration, the consensus of Mrs. Thomas, Mr. Horacek and Ms. Kastigar was to place an advertisement for further candidates in the newspapers over the weekend. Concerning the purchase of a minivan, Ms. Thomas said that the Consumer Reports' ratings for minivans had indicated that the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey were by far the best vehicles on the market today.
Mrs. Nutting said that it would a good time to purchase a 2006 model.
Mr. Baker moved that Ms. Thomas solicit bids for a Honda and a Toyota minivan according to her judgment, with automatic transmission, air conditioning, front-wheel drive, fold-down seats.
She should first check with dealers and see if they could keep us under $25,000 so we can avoid a formal bidding process. If such a deal is available, she should poll the board, otherwise she should solicit bids as soon as possible.
Mr. Monfradi seconded.
Vote:
| Mr. Hess | yes |
| Sr. Mary Jude | absent |
| Mr. Baker | yes |
| Mr. Monfradi | yes |
| Mrs. Nutting | yes |
Consideration of Steps to Chapline Street shared with Northwood
Mr. Hess reported that he and Mr. Monfradi met with Pete Radakovich of Northwood Health Systems. They discussed the possibility of the library receiving permission for staff to park in the Northwood lot. Mr. Radakovich said that he would be able to make a determination on that soon. He said that he would not be able to provide a handicapped parking space for the library because of liability issues.
Mr. Radakovich told Mr. Hess and Mr. Monfradi that he wanted to close off the steps to Chapline Street, but since they were partly on library property, it would require Library Board action. Mr. Hess said he had prepared a motion to that effect for action at tonight's meeting as follows: The Ohio County Public Library is authorized to work with Northwood Health Systems, Inc. in sealing off the concrete steps leading from Chapline Street to the parking lots of the Library and Northwood at the top of the steps. It is anticipated barriers will be installed at the top and at the bottom of the steps.
Mr. Radakovich also told Mr. Monfradi and Mr. Hess that he would be receptive to a request for a grant of up to $5,000 from the library. Mr. Hess had prepared a letter requesting the funds for the Blind and Physically Handicapped service which he distributed to the trustees for their review. Mr. Baker asked for the deletion of the expression "one-time" from the request.
Mr. Monfradi moved that they adopt the motion Mr. Hess had drawn up. Mrs. Nutting seconded.
Vote:
| Mr. Hess | yes |
| Sr. Mary Jude | absent |
| Mr. Baker | yes |
| Mr. Monfradi | yes |
| Mrs. Nutting | yes |
Mr. Hess said that maybe the library should consider parking lot gates such as those used at the Valley Professional Center. They do not actually require validation but serve as a deterrent.
WVLA Annual Meeting
Ms. Thomas said the WVLA Annual Conference was Oct. 2-4 in Huntington, and had several good programs for trustees, including one on long-range planning she would attend. All of the trustees present indicated that they would be unable to attend.
Long Range Planning
Ms. Thomas, Mrs. Kastigar and Mr. Horacek reported on their recent trip to the Steubenville-Jefferson County Public Library. Many of their observations helped them formulate ideas concerning OCPL's services, problems, and arrangement of spaces within the facility. OCPL is experiencing increasing demands for all services, especially internet access. The library is also experiencing regular problems with certain areas within the library, particularly the Wheeling Room and Reference Department. Ms. Kastigar said that the Reference staff increasingly feels that actual reference service has been "hi-jacked" by the public access computers.
As a result of the field trip and subsequent evaluation of OCPL's services and facilities Ms. Thomas presented a list of areas and projects for consideration in planning for the future.
Mr. Monfradi said other field trips might be useful spurs to planning.
Mr. Hess asked for further development of the list, which would be considered at future meetings.
The meeting adjourned at 5:00 PM