Tuesday, February 16, 2010

 

 

Call to Order- The February meeting of the Board of Trustees was held at the Paulding County Carnegie Library in Paulding. Board President Sue Derck called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.

 

Roll Call- The following were present:  Board members: Sue Derck, Susie Thrasher, Corey Walker, Terry Wehrkamp, Geoff Hyman, and new board member, Barb Reighter.  Director Susan Pieper; Assistant Director Diana Coy; and Wilma Mullins, Fiscal Officer, were also present.

 

Mrs. Reighter was introduced as the newest board member, filling the unexpired term of Michelle Stahl. The unexpired term ends on 11/23/12. Mrs. Reighter shared that she is originally from Seattle, Washington, but has lived in Paulding since 1969. She retired recently from Paulding County Job and Family Services. The entire board and administration gave Barb a warm welcome. Mrs. Pieper gave her a copy of the Ohio Library Council Trustee Manual as an introduction to duties and responsibilities, with a more extensive orientation to be scheduled at a later date.

 

Action Plan Recorder- Terry Wehrkamp agreed to be the Action Plan Recorder.

 

January 25, 2010 Minutes- Corey Walker moved to approve the January 25, 2010 minutes. Terry Wehrkamp seconded the motion. Motion passed.

 

Reorganization of the Board: A slate of officers was presented by Sue Derck, consisting of Sue Derck, President; Terry Wehrkamp, Vice-President; and Geoff Hyman, Secretary. Corey Walker moved to accept the slate and close the nominations. Susie Thrasher seconded the motion. Motion passed. The slate was elected as presented. 2010 Board of Trustees with term expiration dates:

·         Sue Derck, President: 11-23-10

·         Terry Wehrkamp, Vice-President: 11-23-10

·         Geoff Hyman, Secretary: 11-23-14

·         Susie Thrasher: 11-23-14

·         Corey Walker: 11-23-12

·         Barb Reighter: 11-23-12

 

Appointment of Special Committees: President Derck stated that committees would be appointed on an "as needed" basis.

 

Financial / Fiscal Officer- Motion to pay bills (Pay-X 012935-012984); (Finance 014913-014914) was made by Susie Thrasher and seconded by Geoff Hyman. Motion passed.

 

Fiscal Officer Additional Information: Mrs. Mullins shared the new accounts that were established for the additional tax levy revenue. There was a general discussion regarding where to put the levy funds. The Board wants to consider an account that will provide for easy access, yet will earn interest. A tiered-savings account was discussed. Also, the Board requested Mrs. Mullins to review and possibly update memorandum of deposit agreements held with local financial institutions.

 

Branch Cash Register Beginning Balance: Terry Wehrkamp moved that the cash register base amount be $25.00 for making change. This is an increase from $10.00. Corey Walker seconded the motion. Motion passed.

 

Executive Session: At 7:24 p.m., Susie Thrasher moved and Corey Walker seconded that the Board move into Executive Session pursuant to ORC 121.22(G) (1) to consider personnel issues. A roll call vote was in the affirmative. Susan Pieper, Wilma Mullins and Diana Coy were invited to attend. At 7:51p.m., Geoff Hyman moved and Susie Thrasher seconded that the Board adjourn from Executive Session and reconvene in Open Session. A roll call vote was in the affirmative.

 

Director’s Report: Director Pieper shared a number of her activities during the past month including updating the Organizational Chart; identifying the roles and responsibility parameters for Board Members, the Director, the Fiscal Officer, and the Friends of the Library; and revamped the library's website. She shared a number of projects that were in the works, including remodeling the Antwerp Branch Library Children's Room, replacing antiquated magazine racks at Antwerp and Oakwood and instigating a Secret Shopper program.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Action Items:

·         Provide month-by-month breakdown of expenses for each location: Pieper has developed a spread sheet of info to bring to the board each month that includes funds spent on materials, staffing, etc. Current information was not available due to the new year.

·         Past bonus or incentive pay: Mrs. Mullins provided detailed information on past bonuses or incentive pay given to staff during the past decade. The staff has not received raises or increases to the wage/salary schedule for many years. The staff has not received any additional pay for since 2007.

·         Increased staff work hours: Mrs. Pieper provided information regarding needed staff hour increases due to the new hours in March. Additional requests will be submitted at the March board meeting.

·         Master calendar: Mrs. Mullins will provide a base calendar which lists when bills are due each month and throughout the year. She will add to this when maintenance contracts are due, etc. Mrs. Coy will assist in this process.

·         Expense form language: Mrs. Mullins provided some wordsmithing to one of the expense sheet accounts that better describes the purpose of the funds. Account  number 100.01.51900 will now be called Employee Contingency. Funds in this account will cover expenses incurred from employees retiring with benefits due, such as accrued but not used vacation time and a percentage of unused sick leave.

·         Information for the Oakwood Community: Terry Wehrkamp discussed plans to speak to the support group of the Cooper Community Branch Library in Oakwood. He will share basic organizational and budgeting information with the Oakwood Library Association at their February 18, 2010 meeting. Other matters will also be addressed. Mr. Wehrkamp will be available to answer questions from the group. The Board intends to do this for each "Friends" group in the county. He will  meet with Pieper prior to the meeting to receive copies of the information he is planning to share.

·         Personnel Manual: Pieper e-mailed a copy of the manual to the board that included all the revisions, suggestions and changes submitted by the board and a human resource manager whom had volunteered his help. She will work with Mrs. Coy and Mrs. Mullins to review the manual and bring the Board a final recommended copy.

 

Executive Session: Susie Thrasher moved that the Board adjourn into Executive Session to discuss personnel matters as pursuant to ORC 121.22(G) (1). Corey Walker seconded the motion. After an affirmative roll call vote, the Board moved into Executive Session at 7:37 p.m. At 8:42 p.m., Geoff Hyman moved that the Board reconvene into open session. Susie Thrasher seconded the motion. Motion passed via a roll-call vote.

 

Director's Contract: Mrs. Derck informed Pieper that she would set up a meeting with Wehrkamp to discuss the Director's contract.

 

Gale Database - Career Transitions: Geoff Hyman moved to purchase the Gale Database, Career Transitions for a one year period at a cost of about $1,200, after which time the Board will evaluate usage. Terry Wehrkamp seconded the motion. Motion passed.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Personnel Matters: Geoff Hyman moved and Corey Walker seconded to approve the following recommendations of Mrs. Pieper: 1. The part-time clerk in youth services be moved from 16 hours per week to 30 hours per week. 2. One part-time 20 hour per week library clerk be hired for the main library. This clerk would be assigned to youth services, but will be available to fill-in at any library location as needed on a day-to-day basis. Motion passed.

 

Battle of the Books 2010-2011:  Terry Wehrkamp moved and Barb Reighter seconded that the library proceed with the Battle of the Books for the next school year. Motion passed.

 

New Book Drop for Main Library: Geoff Hyman moved and Susie Thrasher seconded the motion to purchase a new duel, stainless-steel book drop for the main library. The vendor has given a 20% discount, free logo and name design and free freight if he can use it as the floor sample during the upcoming PLA conference in Portland. The new book drop will cost approximately $8,500. Motion passed.

 

Mrs. Mullin's Continuing Education:  Susie Thrasher moved and Barb Reighter seconded the motion to approve Mrs. Mullin's attendance some time during 2010 at a mandatory CMI financial meeting held in Columbus.

 

Action Plan for March 2010 Meeting:

·         Orientation for Mrs. Reighter: Mrs. Pieper will contact Mrs. Reighter to schedule a tour of the library as well as an introduction and orientation to the library and the Board.

·         Mullins: Check out options for CDs and savings account to deposit revenue from the tax levy. Mr. Hyman suggested she investigate a "tiered" savings account. The Board wants to be able to have the funds accessible, yet earn interest.

·         Pieper: Bring recommendation for uniform working hours for branch manager and staff.

·         Walker: Review branch contract for branches -- beginning with the Cooper Community Branch Library in Oakwood  -- to determine and identify who provides what regarding new furnishing, etc.

·         Mullins/Wehrkamp/Coy: Continue to develop a "Master Calendar" using Mrs. Mullin's existing Master Calendar as a base. This "Master Calendar" should have dates during the year when a number of maintenance contracts come due as well as other yearly events.

·         Mullins: Investigate what other libraries call their 100.01.51900 fund that the Board  voted to call name "Employee Contingency". The line item use to be called "Other Employee Benefits" but that name did not accurately reflect the purpose of the fund.

·         Board/Administration: Review the Personnel Manual and make notations of suggestions, changes and revisions to the manual that was distributed in February. Pieper, Mullins & Coy will -- at an upcoming meeting -- bring a draft that reflects their recommendations.

·         Check Signing Schedule: February 26th -- Sue; March 5th -- Terry; March 11th -- Geoff.

 

 

Adjournment:  Susie Thrasher moved and Geoff Hyman seconded the motion to adjourn at 10:00 p.m., closing a 4-hour meeting. The next board meeting is scheduled for February 16, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at the main library in Paulding, unless otherwise announced.

 

________________________________                    ______________________________

Board Secretary                                                         Sue Derck, Board President