Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library
Trustee Meeting Minutes
August 17, 2017
Approved September 14, 2017
The meeting was called to order at 6:05 pm by President Lynn Skolnick. Members present included Sari Rosenheck, Marcia Raponi and Connie Keller. Absent were Steve Sharoff, Marvin Rappaport and Christine Covello.
Lynn called for a motion to approve the minutes of July 17. Marcia moved to accept the minutes as presented. Sari seconded the motion. A vote was taken and passed unanimously.
Budget Hearing was held at 5:30 p.m. All attending the Board meeting were in attendance at the Budget Hearing. One audience question: “how many people are salaried? Answer was 2 plus 13 hourly paid staff (this includes part-time year-round & seasonal student pages).
Public Comment
Martha Johnson commented that she thinks Mary Paige and the staff of the library is doing a great job!
Audience asked if RCLS owns the computer programs, answer was that if our IT staff can’t fix a problem, RCLS will assist.
Audience asked if we will ever have an in house person do the above. Answer was “No, some things are handled at the library system (RCLS) level – through centrally maintained and fire walled servers.
Audience commented that we should do a presentation to the Casino folks re: the Library.
Correspondence
None
Voucher Approval
Connie reviewed the vouchers.
Bills to be Paid
Check for payment to Outdoor Media was added after the check register & detail were sent out to the Board without it included.
Committee Reports (see director’s report)
Board members attending Friends’ meeting will give report to BOT.
Friends will pay for the refreshments for 8/31 MCSD Sports Photo Memorabilia event.
Friends tabled at the Bagel Festival Sunday, August 13th
· Landscaping
o Phase 2 Gateway is on schedule for 9/15 substantial completion
o All Benches & Tables have been sold.
o Thank you notes on behalf of Friends, 50-60 will be handled by Lynn
o Deadline for initial round of Pavers - end of next week: 8/26/17
· Programming Committee
o September programs are filled.
o Lynn will contact Eugene Weinstein for 28th.
o MCSD will pay half of the $2,220 cost to refurbish old photos & frames and scan all the old pics of athletes at Kristt.
o Panel for the discussion of the pics includes Jimmy Culligan, Harold Diamond, Leo Glass, Palma Avery, Joan Farrow, and Dr Rich Rubin.
· Director’s Report
o Lynn made a motion to discontinue participation in Aflac. Sari seconded the motion. Motion was defeated.
o Lynn will handle Code of Conduct language for wall signage.
o DASNY – Exterior Sign and Interior leak must be addressed. Bruce to caulk sign. Mary Paige will send email to parties with input from Marvin Newberg.
o Lynn made a motion, approved by Marcia, passed unanimously, to send email/letter after appropriate communication with all parties.
o Solution to the leak situation will move forward after verification that email has been received.
o Note – emails serve as legal documents.
· Old Business
o Connie motioned and Marcia seconded accepting the 2018 Budget as presented. Passed unanimously.
o Resolution for Tax Cap Override; Lynn motioned, Connie seconded, passed unanimously.
§ Whereas, the adoption of the 2018 budget for the Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library requires a tax levy increase 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 Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library voted and approved to exceed the tax levy limit for 2018 by at least sixty percent of the board of trustees as required by state law on August 17, 2017.
o BOT meeting scheduled for 9/21 (Rosh Hashanah) moved to 9/14 at 6pm.
o Statistics for the library being open Summer Sundays Library - quite successful (see Directors Report for #’s)
Marcia moved for adjournment, Sari seconded.
Respectfully submitted,
Sari Rosenheck