Tuesday, November 20, 2007

 

 

 

Call to Order: The November 2007 meeting of the Board of Trustees was held on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 in the meeting room at the main library. Sue Derck called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

 

Roll Call:  Board members present: Leah Smith, Terry Wehrkamp, Michelle Stahl, Susie Thrasher and Sue Derck. Board member Corey Walker arrived at 7:30. Director Susan Pieper, Assistant Director Diana Coy and Wilma Mullins, Clerk-Treasurer were also present.

 

Minutes: There was a presentation and review of the October 2007 minutes. Mrs. Thrasher moved to approve the minutes. Mrs. Smith seconded the motion. Motion passed.

 

Financial / Clerk-Treasurer Reports: Motion to pay bills for October (Pay-X 11208-11262) and (Finance 13425-13481) was made by Michelle Stahl and seconded by Terry Wehrkamp. Motion carried.

 

Additional Clerk Treasurer Business:

·         Certificate of Deposit Updates:  Mrs. Mullins updated the board regarding CDs that were up for renewal. No action taken.

·         LLGSF:  Mrs. Mullins informed the board that the library would be receiving 56,409.67 in November, the same amount as 2006. The check amount for December would also be the same amount as 2006.

·         Transfers: A motion was made by Michelle Stahl and seconded by Susie Thrasher to approve the following transfers of appropriations totaling $6,902.00:

 

Amount:                From:                                                     To:

$600.00                 Workers Comp                                     Maintenance Agreement

100.01.51650                                       100.01.53380

$851.00                 Other Employee Benefits                  Maintenance Agreement

                                100.01.51900                                       100.01.53380

$ 72.00                  Security Alarm                                     Maintenance Agreement

                                100.01.53260                                       100.01.53380

$803.00                 Auditing                                                 Travel

                                100.01.53740                                       100.01.53110

$500.00                 Lecturers & Speakers                         Misc.

                                100.01.53720                                       100.01.57900

$4,000                   Building Improvement                        Travel

                                100.01.55410                                       100.01.53110

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Board Retreat/Strategic Planning:  The board will review the planning outcome beginning in January 2008.

 

Update on a Branch in Junction:  Pieper has been contacted by the attorney for the Toledo Diocese, Tom Pletz, regarding the Diocese donating the Junction St. Marys Catholic Church to the library for the purpose of opening a branch. The situation is currently in litigation between parishioners and the Diocese regarding the removal of sacred items from the church. The library will not become involved in any legal arguments but will remain on the sidelines, receptive to an open dialog of possibly utilizing the building for a library. The board concerns continue to be funding for the operations and upkeep of the building, condition of building, staffing, etc. Pieper will provide updates as they become available.

 

Library Levy: It is the recommendation of the director and clerk-treasurer that the board go ahead with efforts of additional funding for the library in the form of a levy. Preliminary figures and needs assessments are being conducted by the administration and the board. The administrative staff will attend a Ballot Issues workshop conducted by the Ohio Library Council on December 4th. Projections for the funding recovery from the freeze continue to be bleak. The library will be unable to operate at current levels and will not be able to grow without additional financial support. Issue will be ongoing in discussions until a decision is made as to the election date and amount of millage needed.

 

Minimum Wage: Mrs. Mullins informed the board that the minimum wage increase will affect the two pages currently employed by the library. Mullins will determine the amount needed based on the Ohio and the Federal rate increases. No action taken.

 

Microfilm Reader:  A new net-workable microfilm reader and printer has been ordered. Mrs. Coy was able to order a model at a much reduced cost as initially anticipated. The cost for the unit will be $6,237. The Paulding County Genealogy Society has graciously offered to incur half the cost of the machine. The board of trustees wishes to thank the society for their generosity.

 

Staff Health Insurance: After much discussion over the past years, Michelle Stahl moved and Corey Walker seconded to require employees contribute 10% of their single health coverage and life insurance and 100% of their family coverage effective at renewal time, spring 2008. The board has provided 100% coverage for over a decade, but due to the budget situation will not be able to afford to continue this benefit. Motion passed.

 

Wilma Mullins will investigate and review the Section 125 Insurance Plan which would allow the deduction for insurance cost to be taken out pre-tax for employees. Mrs. Pieper’s and Mrs. Mullin’s contract will have to be revised to reflect this policy change. The policy change will also have to be revised in the Employee Handbook.

 

Stykemain Business & Parking Lot:  Pieper has not heard back from the Stykemain Car Dealership regarding their future needs in using the library parking lot for their car inventory. Pieper will contact them by phone to ascertain their intentions.

 

Cooper Community Library Insurance:  The board requested a full inventory be conducted on the contents of the Cooper Community Library so we can determine the amount of insurance needed. They also request this process be done system-wide to make sure the library is not under-insured. Motion was made by Leah Smith and seconded by Susie Thrasher to authorize Mullins to increase coverage as needed on the Cooper library contents once replacement value was determined. Motion passed.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Personnel: Leah Smith moved and Corey Walker seconded the motion to hire Pam Kretz part time at the Cooper Community Library starting November 8, 2007. Motion passed.

 

Holiday Party: Pieper informed the board that the Christmas dinner/party will be held at 6:30 on December 18th at the John Paulding Historical Museum, with a brief board meeting being held at 6:00 p.m.

 

Staff Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA):  Susie Thrasher moved and Terry Wehrkamp seconded the motion to give a 3% COLA across the board to the staff. This check will be distributed at the first paycheck date in December. Motion Passed.

 

COLA Transfers:  Michelle Stahl moved and Susie Thrasher seconded to approve the following transfers of appropriations that total $13,457.09 that will cover the cost of the COLA payments. Motion passed.

 

Amount:                From:                                                     To:

$3,755.23              Building Improvement                        Administrative Salaries

100.01.55410                                       100.01.51120

$8,466.11              Building Improvement                        Office & Clerical Salaries

                                100.01.55410                                       100.01.51140

$ 363.32                                Building Improvement t                      Operative Salaries

                                100.01.55410                                       100.01.51150

$872.43                 Building Improvement                        Service Workers Salaries

                                100.01.55410                                       100.01.51160

 

Future Projects:  The board requested that Pieper develop a survey both online and mailed to each household in the county asking basic questions about library usage. Included will be questions such as: Which library location do you use? Where in the library would you like to see a branch? What services do you use? Etc…

 

Adjournment:  Michelle Stahl moved to adjourn the meeting. Terry Wehrkamp seconded the motion. Motion passed. The next board meeting will be held on December 18, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at the John Paulding Historical Museum. The staff Christmas party will follow.

 

 

 

 

                                                           
Michelle Stahl, Board Secretary                                     Sue Derck, President 

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