Warren-Newport Public Library District Board of Trustees—Minutes of Regular Meeting December 16, 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 December 16, 2008 Call to Order President Niemi called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Trustees present: Niemi, Rivers, Sheldon, Styrcula, and Weinberg. Trustees absent: Colwell and Jackson. Also present: Director Stephen Bero, Recording Secretary Mary Thacker, and Assistant Director Noreen Reese. Pledge of Allegiance President Niemi led those present in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Approval of Consent Agenda for: a. Secretary’s report: Approval of minutes of Public Hearing and Regular Meeting of November 24, 2008. b. Acceptance of Financial Statements for November 2008. c. Acceptance of the Director’s Report for December 2008. d. Acceptance of the Patron Suggestions for November 2008. Trustee Sheldon moved and Trustee Rivers seconded a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as listed above. The motion carried on a roll-call vote as follows: Ayes: Niemi, Rivers, Sheldon, Styrcula, and Weinberg. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: Colwell and Jackson. President’s Report President Niemi did not have a report for the Board. Reports of Other Trustees There were no reports from other Trustees. Correspondence, Communications, and Public Comments a. Written i. Memoranda from attorney Roger Ritzman The Board agreed that, effective with this meeting, when adjourning for Executive Session, if there were multiple issues to be addressed in an Executive Session, the Board would adjourn for one (1) Executive Session to address all issues. b. Public Comments i. There were no comments made by the public. Treasurer’s Report Trustee Rivers moved and Trustee Weinberg seconded that the bills payable for December 2008 and payroll for November 2008 be approved for payment. The motion carried on a roll-call vote as follows: Ayes: Niemi, Rivers, Sheldon, Styrcula, and Weinberg. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: Colwell and Jackson. Reports of Standing Committees Policy – Meeting of December 1, 2008 Trustee Sheldon reported that the next Policy Committee Meeting would be Thursday, January 5, 2009, and that the Programming Policy and Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Policy would be discussed as New Business later in this meeting. Building & Grounds – Meeting of December 11, 2008 President Niemi gave an oral update of the written committee report. The asking price for the old bookmobile is $7,000, and there is a prospect for the sale. Finance – Meeting of December 11, 2008 Trustee Weinberg gave an oral update of the written committee report, additionally commenting that, in his opinion, Swarztrauber and Company did an excellent job of the audit. Personnel – Meeting of December 8, 2008 President Niemi gave an oral update of the written committee report. Report on the ad hoc committee on staff recognition luncheon Trustee Rivers reviewed the checklist for planning and executing this luncheon. Progress report on the long-range plan Director Bero reported there is no change in status of the long range plan. New Business Subject: Authorization of across-the-board year-end bonuses for staff appreciation Trustee Sheldon moved and Trustee Weinberg seconded that bonuses for staff appreciation in the amount of fifty dollars ($50.00) per staff member be paid December 30, 2008. The motion carried on a roll-call vote as follows: Ayes: Niemi, Rivers, Sheldon, Styrcula, and Weinberg. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: Colwell and Jackson. Subject: Acceptance of the financial statement for fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, as audited by Swarztrauber and Co. Trustee Weinberg moved and Trustee Sheldon seconded that the financial statement for fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, as audited by Swarztrauber and Company, be accepted for filing. The motion carried on a roll-call vote as follows: Ayes: Niemi, Rivers, Sheldon, Styrcula, and Weinberg. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: Colwell and Jackson. Subject: Policy work i. Programming Policy ii. Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Policy Trustee Sheldon moved and Trustee Weinberg seconded that both the Programming Policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Policy be sent back to the Policy Committee. The motion passed on a voice vote. Subject: Closing the library for staff development day 2009 Following discussion by the Board, Director Bero was directed to get more input from Library management regarding possible alternatives and report back to the Board in January 2009. Subject: Discussion about the results of the community survey and the facility needs assessment to date. Trustee Rivers moved that the Library stays at its current location and we have Gilfillan Callahan Nelson Architects complete the facility needs assessment. Following discussion by the Board, Trustee Rivers moved and Trustee Sheldon seconded that this motion be rescinded. The motion carried on a voice vote. Trustee Sheldon moved and Trustee Rivers seconded that, based upon the community survey and the facility needs assessment, it is the consensus of the Board that the Library will stay at its current location. The motion carried on a roll-call vote as follows: Ayes: Niemi, Rivers, Sheldon, Styrcula, and Weinberg. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: Colwell and Jackson. Public Forum There were no comments. Executive Session to consider probable litigation and Executive Session to consider the performance of specific employees. Trustee Sheldon moved and Trustee Rivers seconded that the Agenda be amended to combine Items XV and XVII, the two Executive Sessions, and that the Board enter into Executive Session to consider probable litigation and to consider the performance of the Library Director. The motion carried on a rollcall vote as follows: Ayes: Niemi, Rivers, Sheldon, Styrcula, and Weinberg. Nays: None. Abstain: None. Absent: Colwell and Jackson. The board adjourned to executive session at 9:00 p.m. Reconvene in Open Session The board reconvened in open session at 10:24 p.m. Announcements 1. By the chair a. Communications to the public b. Upcoming calendar i. Next regular board meeting: January 20, 2009, 7:00 p.m. ii. Next committee meetings Finance: January 15, 2009, 8:00 p.m. Policy: January 5, 2009 Building and Grounds: January 15, 2009, 7:00 p.m. iii. Other dates Board/Staff Appreciation Luncheon: January 29, 2009, 11:30 a.m. 2. By other trustees or the director Adjournment Trustee Styrcula moved and Trustee Weinberg seconded that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried on a voice vote. President Niemi adjourned the meeting at 10:29 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Tom Colwell Secretary Mary Ann Thacker Recording Secretary