Meeting of the
Franklin Square Public Library Board of Trustees
September 29, 2015
Call to Order:
Julie Soffientini called the meeting to order at 7:05PM.
Members Present: Michael Russo, Janet Golden, Pat Galaskas and Julie Soffientini
Also Present: MaryAnn Tweedy, Director and Kristine McCarthy, Treasurer to the Board.
Members Not Present: Grace Palmisano with prior notice.
William Youngfert with prior notice.
Approval of Minutes:
· August 25, 2015 Board Meeting Minutes: A motion to approve the minutes was made by Pat Galaskas and seconded by Mike Russo. Unanimously approved.
Approval of the Treasurer’s Report for the Period Ending August 31, 2015:
· Pat Galaskas suggested starting a system of putting minutes online after they are approved, so that they can be referenced and indexed. MaryAnn Tweedy suggested opening a Dropbox account for the Board so that the Minutes can be readily accessible.
· A motion was made to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the period ending on August 31, 2015 by Pat Galaskas and seconded by Janet Golden. Unanimously approved.
Approval of the Claim of Warrant of Checks and Vendor Payment Written Between September 9, 2015 and September 29, 2015:
· Julie Soffientini requested that a column be added to the vendor payments printout for explanations.
· A motion to approve the claim of warrant checks and vendor payments written from
September 9, 2015 through September 29, 2015 in the amount of $54,333.55 was made by Pat Galaskas and seconded by Mike Russo. Unanimously approved.
Period of Public Expression:
No members of the public were present.
Correspondence:
· A thank you card from retired Assistant Director, Peggy Smith was read by Janet Golden.
· A letter from Grace Gustafson was read requesting permission on behalf of some Franklin Square resident to use the Children’s Meeting Room to pay bridge on Tuesday afternoons from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.
· Mike Russo made a motion to allow bridge players to use the Children’s Meeting Room on Tuesdays from 1:00pm to 3:00pm for a period of 1 year with the stipulation that the Children’s Programs take precedence in the summer. Pat Galaskas seconded the motion. Unanimously approved.
Personnel/Executive Session:
· A motion was made by Pat Galaskas and seconded by Mike Russo to enter into Executive Session at 7:25PM. Unanimously approved.
· A motion was made by Mike Russo and seconded by Pat Galaskas to leave Executive Session at 8:05PM. Unanimously approved.
Actions taken:
· Pat Galaskas made a motion to extend Grace Palmisano’s Temporary Interim Assistant Director status for another 4 months to February 28, 2016 with stipend of $400 a month. Mike Russo seconded the motion. Unanimously approved.
Old Business:
· Better World Books – The Board had a discussion and made the judgment that if a patron accidently puts a book in the Better World Book Drop and the Better Worlds “insurance” amount has already been exhausted, providing that the patron subsequently fills out the form at the Circulation desk within 48 hours, the Friends of the Franklin Square Library will be asked to pay for the book from the Better World payments. This will apply for 1 instance only. Any subsequent mistakes will be charged to the patron. Pat Galaskas made the motion and Mike Russo seconded. Unanimously approved.
· Staff Evaluations was tabled.
· Discussion about the Library policy regarding food, drink and cell phones. The Board directed that the policy be enforced consistently.
· Mike Russo made a motion to raise the price of making a black & white printout from the internet computers from .05 to .10 cents per page Janet Golden seconded. Unanimously approved.
New Business:
· MaryAnn Tweedy presented the 3 quotes for the staff copy machine replacement lease. Quotes from Konica, TGI and Central Business for lease were considered. MaryAnn Tweedy made a recommendation to lease from Central Business, a Lexmark XS 748 for 48 months as they were the least expensive.
· MaryAnn Tweedy also suggested networking the new copier so that employee’s workstations could be mapped to print to the copier. This would be a savings for the library as individual printers are expensive when ink cartridges need to be replaced. Pat Galaskas suggested a Board Directive that as individual printers die, they not be replaced routinely in favor of making a gradual transition to networked printing through the copier.
· Mike Russo made a motion to lease the Lexmark XS 748 for 48 months. Janet Golden seconded the motion. Unanimously approved.
· Pat Galaskas made a motion to hire an adult shelver to replace Annabel Rizzo at $9.00 per hour. Janet Golden seconded the motion. Unanimously approved.
· Janet Golden made a motion to hire Cathleen Bellew, a new part-time Children’s Librarian at $24.00 per hour. Pat Galaskas seconded the motion. Unanimously approved.
· NYS Education Department requires testing for the presence of asbestos and lead in all areas that will be impacted by the scope of the Lighting Project. The Library will have to obtain a consultant who will perform asbestos and lead testing, and if anything tests positive, they will have to supply a design for the abatement work. Julie Soffientini suggested calling Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations, Terry Hennessey at the School District to find out who they use, if they are on NY State Contract and if they can provide a quote.
·
Director’s Report:
MaryAnn Tweedy has spent her first month and a half as Director getting to know the staff, the patrons, and the workings of the Library as well as attending Alis and MLD meetings. She has met with the Library’s Auditors, representatives from Flushing Bank as well as representative Joe Price from Utica Insurance. She attended her first Chamber of Commerce Meeting and met with 3 Copier Contract providers to obtain quotes. MaryAnn has also interviewed and filled two open positions: part time Library Clerk and part time Children’s Librarian. Her first Staff Meeting was held on Wednesday, September 23rd.
Department Reports:
All reports were reviewed.
Miscellaneous:
Adjournment:
The motion was made by Mike Russo to adjourn the meeting at 8:50PM. Janet Golden seconded the motion. Unanimously approved.
The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will occur on October 27 at 7PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
MaryAnn Tweedy
Library Director