Roll Call: The following were present: Board members: Leah Smith, Sue Derck, Susie
Thrasher, Michelle Stahl, Corey Walker and Terry Wehrkamp. Director Susan
Pieper, Assistant Director Diana Coy, and Wilma Mullins, Fiscal Officer, were
also present.
Citizen
Participation: Staff members present: Anissa Williamson,
Vicky Hull, Michelle Sidle, Sue Thomas, Ann Shuherk, Kirk Baker and Sara
Molitor. Staff members Donna Sue Cole and Sylvia Lopshire attended after they
got off work. Others present: Jim Lopshire, Warren Thomas, Mike Farmer (Paulding County Progress) and Lisa
Nicely (Defiance Crescent News)
Financial
/ Fiscal Officer:
Motion to pay bills (Pay-X 12013-12067); (Finance 14148-14211) was made by Susie
Thrasher and seconded by Corey Walker. Motion carried.
Board Member Recognition: Leah Smith was
recognized for her three terms of service to the Paulding County Carnegie
Library (24 years). Her term ends on November 23rd. The board was
grateful of her dedication and commitment to library service in Paulding
County.
OLD BUSINESS
Personnel Handbook: Mrs. Coy
distributed a copy of the current employee handbook. It was requested that the
board review pages 3-19 and be prepared to talk about revisions beginning in
January.
Levy Evaluation: The Board discussed the levy and possible reasons for it not passing.
They decided not to put a levy on the ballot until the November 2009 General
Election. They briefly discussed the need to get organized and begin passing
the needed resolutions in the first quarter of 2009.
CPR Training for Staff: The Director had no updates regarding training; however she is looking
into classes provided by the hospital and the American Red Cross.
AED: There was no update provided by Mr. Walker
regarding the acquisition of automatic external defibrillators (AED) for
library locations. He is attempting to contact Mr. Shafer, director of the
local Homeland Security agency for donations of these units.
NEW BUSINESS
Food for Fines: Corey Walker moved to sponsor a “Food for Fines” period from November 24th
through December 30th of 2008. The waiving of fines will be for
items that are currently overdue. Fines and fees for lost items will not be
waived. Michelle Stahl seconded the motion. Motion passed. The board requested
that the staff keep a tally and a record of how many patrons took advantage of
this opportunity and the amount of fines waived.
Executive Session: Corey Walker moved and Leah Smith
seconded the adjournment into Executive Session to discuss personnel matters.
In a roll call vote, all board members voted in the affirmative. The board
adjourned into Executive Session at 7:00 p.m.
Susie Thrasher moved and Terry Wehrkamp seconded to return to Open Session
at 8:25 p.m. All board members voted in the affirmative via a roll call vote.
Budget Reductions & Fee Increases
Effective January 1, 2009:
·
Corey Walker moved and Susie Thrasher seconded the
reduction of all employees (including administration) wages by cutting work
hours by 3 hours per week. Motion passed.
·
Michelle Stahl moved and Terry Wehrkamp seconded
that the board will pay 90% of single health insurance coverage for those
employees working 32 hours or more per week. Motion passed.
·
Susie Thrasher moved and Corey Walker seconded to
reduce all branch hours to 30 hours per week. These hours must include opening
Saturdays until noon and at least one night until 8:00 p.m. and opening some
morning hours. Motion passed.
·
Michelle Stahl moved and Terry Wehrkamp seconded
that the main library in Paulding reduce hours by 10 per week with at least one
night open until 9:00 p.m. and open on Saturdays until noon. Motion passed.
·
Corey Walker moved and Michelle Stahl seconded
raising the fees for inter-library loan requests from .50 per item to $1.00 per
item. Motion passed.
·
Susie Thrasher moved and Terry Wehrkamp seconded to
raise black and white copy fees from .15 per page to .25 per page. Motion
passed.
·
Corey Walker moved and Terry Wehrkamp seconded to
raise fax charges from $1.00 per page coming and going to $2.00 per page coming
and going. Motion passed.
·
Michelle Sidle moved and Susie Thrasher seconded to
charge .50 per movie checked out (DVD and VHS). Motion passed.
Technology Plan 2009-2010: Terry Wehrkamp moved and Michelle Stahl seconded to approve the State
Library of Ohio certified Technology Plan for years 2009-2010. This plan is
mandatory for E-Rate discounts. Motion passed. The board requested that the
director bring the plan to them in advance in the future so that they can
approve the changes before it goes to the State Library for certification.
Thanksgiving Holiday: Michelle Stahl moved and Corey Walker seconded to close the library
system on the Saturday following Thanksgiving for 2008. The employees who are
not scheduled to work on Saturday may take the 3 ˝ holiday hours off another
day. Motion passed.
Executive Session: Corey Walker moved and Michelle
Stahl seconded the adjournment into Executive Session to discuss administrative
contracts. In a roll call vote, all board members voted in the affirmative. The
board adjourned into Executive Session at 8:35 p.m. The board voted in the affirmative via roll
call to return to Open Session at 9:45 p.m.
Contract Addendums:
·
Terry Wehrkamp moved and Michelle Stahl seconded to
add an addendum to the three-year contract of Director Susan Pieper and the
one-year contract of Fiscal Officer Wilma Mullins to reflect an employee cost
share for single health insurance coverage of 10% effective the first pay
period in May 2008. Motion passed.
·
Terry Wehrkamp moved and Susie Thrasher seconded the
motion to add an addendum to Director Susan Pieper’s contract reflecting a
reduction of 3 hours per week in salary. Motion passed.
Director
Pieper was asked to present a revised contract with addendums to the December
board meeting. The board informed Mrs. Mullins that they would discuss the
specifics of her yearly contract in December.
Board of Trustee Bylaws: Mrs. Pieper informed the board
that they may want to review the board bylaws (available on the library
website) for possible revision in attendance, voting and discussion procedures
in light of e-mail and electronic meeting capabilities. The issue of Sunshine
Laws would need to be considered if votes or actions were taken in an
electronic environment. No action taken.
Adjournment: Leah Smith moved and Terry Wehrkamp seconded
the motion to adjourn at around 10:00 p.m., having been one of the longest
Board meetings in recent memory. The next Board meeting would be held on Tuesday,
December 9th 2008 at the Cooper Community Library in Oakwood, Ohio.
Immediately following the board meeting in December, the staff will enjoy their
annual Christmas dinner and party. Motion to adjourn passed.
_____________________________ ___________________________
Michelle Stahl, Board Secretary Sue Derck,
Board President
MS:snp