Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library

Trustee Meeting Minutes - December 15, 2016

Approved February 16, 2017

The meeting was called to order by Lynn Skolnick at 6:10 PM. Present were: Marvin Rappaport, Steven Sharoff, Connie Keller, and Mary Paige Lang-Clouse, Director.

Discussion was had about the landscaping project scheduled for Spring, 2017. Several fundraising opportunities for various parts of the landscaping will be made available to patrons and donors. Total cost for the next phase of the project is $143,000. Fundraising goal of $50,000 from donors and patrons working with the Friends of the Library. There is a virtual tour of the proposed landscaping project available for viewing that will be brought to various local social and fraternal organizations to solicit support for the project, such as Kiwanis and Rotary.

A motion to approve the minutes of November 17th as amended was made by Marvin and seconded by Connie. It was adopted unanimously.

There was no correspondence this month. Vouchers were approved by Marvin and a motion to pay bills was made by Connie and seconded by Steve. Motion passed unanimously.

Mary Paige presented the Directors Report, a copy of which is attached to these minutes. We have been getting positive comments about the smaller restored paintings by Ethelbert B. Crawford. Motion was made by Marvin, seconded by Connie, to restore four larger Crawford paintings using the $1,000 gift from the McKay’s (family of Ethelbert) to defray some of the cost.

BW&W will no longer provide payroll services in 2017; Mary Paige is getting quotes from payroll providers so as to make that change for 1st payroll in January.

Motion by Steve to revise the Capitalization Policy as amended, seconded by Connie, passed unanimously.

Programming Committee report was made by its chair Connie. Continue to get positive feedback on our programming.  Attendance is leveling off in the off-season. Plan to show the movie Selma on Wednesday, January 18 in connection with Martin Luther King Jr. Day. John Conway will do a lecture on ghost stories on Thursday, January 19. We are looking at a musical program for Monday, January 23.

Bylaws were discussed for possible changes.  Revisions are scheduled for a presentation at the January board meeting with a vote in February.

Gail Green asked for clarification of the August 16th minutes as relates to budget matters. A motion was made by Steve seconded by Connie to do so; passed unanimously.

Connie made a motion, seconded by Marvin, to adjust the percentage increase for the Library Multi-Media Technician and for library pages in the 2017 budget in accordance with the 3.5% increase afforded to the rest of the staff paid on an hourly basis. It was adopted unanimously.

Meeting was adjourned at 7:55 PM.

Respectfully submitted by Sari Rosenheck