Warren-Newport Public Library District
Board of Trustees—Minutes of Regular Meeting
October 21, 2008
Warren-Newport Public Library District
Lake County, Illinois
Board of Trustees
Susan K. Niemi, President Nancy Jackson
Nancy E. Sheldon, Vice-President Laurie Styrcula
Steven J. Weinberg, Treasurer J. Socrates Rivers
Thomas J. Colwell, Secretary
Regular Meeting
October 21, 2008
Call to Order
President Niemi called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Trustees present: Colwell, Jackson, Niemi, Sheldon, Styrcula, and Weinberg.
Trustees absent: Rivers.
Also present: Director Stephen Bero, Recording Secretary Mary Thacker,
Assistant Director Noreen Reese, Circulation Manager Paula Pena, and Jane
Friess of the Programming Department.
Pledge of Allegiance
Approval of Consent Agenda for:
a. Secretary’s Report
i. Approval of Minutes for September 16, 2008, Regular
Meeting.
ii. Approval of Minutes for public hearing for the budget and
appropriations and special meeting of September 22, 2008.
iii. Approval of Minutes for September 22, 2008 Executive
Session and that they remain closed to the public.
b. Financial statements for September 2008.
c. Library Director’s report for October 2008.
d. Patron suggestions for September 2008.
Trustee Colwell moved and Trustee Sheldon seconded a motion to approve the
Consent Agenda as listed above. The motion carried on a roll-call vote as
follows:
Ayes: Colwell, Jackson, Niemi, Sheldon, Styrcula, and Weinberg.
Nays: None.
Abstain: None.
Absent: Rivers.
Trustee Sheldon moved and Trustee Weinberg seconded a motion to approve
the Minutes of the September 16, 2008, Executive Session, as amended, and
that these Minutes remain closed to the public. The motion carried on a rollcall
vote as follows:
Ayes: Colwell, Jackson, Niemi, Sheldon, Styrcula, and Weinberg.
Nays: None.
Abstain: None.
Absent: Rivers.
President’s Report
President Sue Niemi reported that she had attended the ILA Conference in
Chicago in September, participated in the Personnel Committee meeting, and
conducted her regularly scheduled monthly meeting with Director Bero.
Special report from the Illinois Library Association’s Annual Conference
2008.
Laurie Styrcula and Sue Niemi attended the Conference for one day. They
attended a useful workshop regarding “Interest-Based Negotiation”. A copy of
the handout from this workshop is attached with these minutes.
Reports of Other Trustees
Trustee Weinberg questioned the status of the mailing of the Community
Survey. Director Bero reported that the consultant would be
accepting/including survey returns for one week past the new deadline
(through November 1st). The Board decided it would be in the best interest of
the Library to include as many responses as possible even if it meant delaying
the presentation by the consultant from the scheduled November Board
meeting.
Correspondence, Communications, and public comments.
a. Written: Memoranda from attorney Roger Ritzman:
i. Potential referendum for April 2009 election.
ii. Trustee election for April 2009.
b. Recognition of visitors and public comments:
There were no visitors recognized and no public comments made.
Treasurer's Report
Trustee Weinberg moved and Trustee Jackson seconded a motion that the bills
payable for October 2008 and payroll for September 2008 be approved for
payment. The motion carried on a roll-call vote as follows.
Ayes: Colwell, Jackson, Niemi, Sheldon, Styrcula, and Weinberg.
Nays: None.
Abstain: None.
Absent: Rivers.
Reports of Standing Committees
Finance – Meeting of October 16, 2008
The meeting was cancelled.
Personnel – Meeting of October 6, 2008
President Niemi gave an oral update of the written report and requested that all
Trustees complete their “Director Evaluation” and return it to her.
Policy – Meeting of October 6, 2008
There will not be a meeting in November; the next meeting of the Policy
Committee will be on Monday, December 1, 2008.
Building & Grounds – Meeting of October 16, 2008
The meeting was cancelled.
Progress report on the long-range plan
Director Bero stated that he has been going forward with the groundwork for
the establishment of a Foundation for the Library. The consultants will
present the results of the Community Survey and the Facilities Needs
Assessment to the Board in November.
New Business
a. Subject: Resolution 2008/2009-2: Proclamation for National Friends of the
Library Week.
Following the oral reading of the proposed Resolution by President Niemi,
Trustee Colwell moved and Trustee Weinberg seconded a motion that
Resolution 2008/2009-2, Proclamation for National Friends of the
Library Week be adopted. The motion carried on a roll-call vote as
follows:
Ayes: Colwell, Jackson, Niemi, Sheldon, Styrcula, and Weinberg.
Nays: None.
Abstain: None.
Absent: Rivers.
b. Subject: Resolution 2008/2009-3 to determine the estimate of funds
needed for fiscal year 2008-2009, incorporating notice of “Truth in
Taxation” public hearing.
Trustee Sheldon moved and Trustee Weinberg seconded a motion that
Resolution 2008/2009-3 to determine the estimate of funds needed for
the fiscal year 2008-2009 be adopted, and the motion carried on a rollcall
vote as follows:
Ayes: Colwell, Jackson, Niemi, Sheldon, Styrcula, and Weinberg.
Nays: None.
Abstain: None.
Absent: Rivers.
c. Policy Work
i. Revision to the Public Participation at Library Board Meetings Policy,
first reading.
Trustee Colwell moved and Trustee Sheldon seconded a motion
that the revision to the Public Participation at Library Board
Meetings Policy be adopted as presented, and the motion carried
on a roll-call vote as follows:
Ayes: Colwell, Jackson, Niemi, Sheldon, Styrcula, and Weinberg.
Nays: None.
Abstain: None.
Absent: Rivers.
ii. Revision to the Confidentiality Policy, first reading.
Trustee Colwell moved and Trustee Sheldon seconded a motion
that the revision to the Confidentiality Policy be adopted as
presented, and the motion carried on a roll-call vote as follows:
Ayes: Colwell, Jackson, Niemi, Sheldon, Styrcula, and Weinberg.
Nays: None.
Abstain: None.
Absent: Rivers.
iii. Revision to the Wage Scale Policy, first reading.
This Policy was sent back to the Committee and will be discussed
at the November 2008 Board meeting.
d. Rescheduling the regular meeting for November 2008.
Trustee Colwell moved and Trustee Weinberg seconded a motion that the
regular meeting of the Board for November 2008 be moved from Tuesday,
November 18th, to Monday, November 24th, to begin at 7:15 p.m., and the
motion carried on a roll-call vote as follows:
Ayes: Colwell, Jackson, Niemi, Sheldon, Styrcula, and Weinberg.
Nays: None.
Abstain: None.
Absent: Rivers.
Public forum
No comments.
Announcements
a. By the chair:
i. There were no communications to the public.
ii. Upcoming calendar.
1. Public hearing for the annual levy: November 24, 2008, 7:00
p.m.
2. Next regular board meeting: November 24, 2008, 7:15 p.m.
3. Next committee meeting: Committee of the Whole, November
20, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
4. Other dates of interest:
(a) Intergovernmental Diversity Council joint in-service, “A
Framework for Understanding Poverty”, November 5,
2008, 6:30 p.m., Warren Township Center.
b. By other Trustees or the Director:
i. Skokie Public Library Open House, Sunday, October 26, 2008.
Director Bero announced an Open House/Reception to be held at
the Skokie Public Library on Sunday, October 26, 2008, to
celebrate their winning the 2008 National Medal for Museum and
Library Service.
ii. Playaways
Assistant Director Reese provided an update on the introduction of
the Playaway collection. Trustee Styrcula reported on her
experiences with the new format.
iii. ILA Library Trustee Forum 2009 Workshop
Trustee Styrcula provided an information sheet on the ILA Library
Trustee Forum 2009 Workshop scheduled for Saturday, February
28, 2009, in Lisle, Illinois. Trustees Styrcula and Sheldon
attended this workshop in 2008 and felt attendance in 2009 would
be beneficial.
iv. Trustee Styrcula requested that Carol Kissane at NSLS be
contacted to arrange for more WNPLD newsletters to be posted on
their website.
Adjournment
Trustee Sheldon moved and Trustee Jackson seconded the motion to adjourn
the regular meeting. The motion carried on a voice vote.
President Niemi adjourned the meeting at 7:52 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Tom Colwell
Secretary
Mary Thacker
Recording Secretary