Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library
Trustee Meeting Minutes - August 20, 2015
Approved September 17, 2015
The August 20, 2015 meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by President Lynn Skolnick. All board members except for Marvin Rappaport were in attendance.
Marcia Raponi moved to accept the minutes of July 16, 2015 as presented. Connie Keller seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.
Steven Sharoff moved to pay all bills as presented and audited. Sari Rosenheck seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Public comment:
Jonathan Fox won the contest in Ms. Brenda Sywalski’s graphic design class at MCSD. The class was charged with designing a new logo for the E.B. Crawford Library. Jonathan will be presented with his award at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
2016 Budget:
The budget presented needed an adjustment from $12,000 to $8,000 for attorney fees. That being done, Steven Sharoff moved to accept the 2016 budget as corrected. Sari Rosenheck seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Mary Paige handed out a revenue sheet for our understanding.
Tax Cap Override Resolution:
Whereas, the adoption of the 2016 budget for the E.B. Crawford Public Library requires a tax levy that exceeds the tax cap imposed by state law as outlined in General Municipal Law Section 3-c adopted in 2011; and
Whereas General Municipal Law Section 3-e expressly permits the library board to override the tax levy limit by a resolution approved by a vote of sixty percent of qualified board members; now therefore be it
Resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the E.B. Crawford Public Library voted and approved to exceed the tax levy limit for 2016 by at least sixty percent of the Board of Trustees as required by state law on August 20, 2015.
Marcia Raponi moved to accept this tax cap resolution. Connie Keller seconded. Discussion was held and with regards to the sale of the old building some of the proceeds could be used to offset the levy next year. Hearing no objection a vote was held and it passed unanimously.
There is an additional $5,000 budgeted for programming to be given to us by State Senator Bonnacic.
We need a sub-committee to work on programming. Terry, Sari, and Connie volunteered to work on this.
Old Business:
Our strategic plan is set for the Sept. meeting
The Friends of the Library want each of us to write a few sentences about being a trustee for the Journal. E-mail them to Joanna at jgoldfarb@rcls.org by Sept. 17.
Director’s Report:
We recently had a program that was sponsored by the Minnie Feldman award.
Mary Paige is meeting with the security company.
Gene Kelly sent us the furniture estimate. Mary Paige will meet with the person for the copier and fax machines etc.
When we open, all of the furniture might not be in.
The R.C.L.S Legislative Breakfast will be held at Mt. Fuji in Rockland County on September 18, 2015 from 9:30 – 12:30.
Joanna did a story walk. We will pursue a more permanent way to display future story walks.
We need to investigate adopting a social media policy.
New Business:
The Crawford relatives came to the library to examine Ethelbert’s paintings. Those paintings not displayed in the new library will be returned to the Crawford family.
Having no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:30. The next meeting is scheduled for September 17, 2015, at 6 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Terry Epstein