MINUTES OF THE MEETING
THRALL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT OF MIDDLETOWN AND WALLKILL BOARD OF TRUSTEES

January 8, 2003


I. Attendance
Ms. Lange called the roll:

Present
Mr. Richard C. Bell, President
Mr. Carl Berkowitz, Vice President
Mr. Ralph Russo, Secretary
Mrs. Joan Hutchinson
Mrs. Rosa Boyd
Ms. Helen Sherman
Ms. Marlena Lange
Mr. Kevin J. Gallagher, Director
Mr. Timothy J. Conway, Treasurer

Visitors
No visitors.

II. Agenda
A. Roll Call G. Treasurer’s Report
B. Minutes H. Library Staff Reports
C. Visitor Comments I. Committee Report
D. Correspondence J. Old Business
E. President’s Report K. New Business
F. Director’s Report L. Adjournment

III. Discussion and Recommendation
A. Mr. Richard C. Bell, President, opened the meeting at 7:06pm and led the pledge to the
flag.

B. Minutes
Mrs. Boyd moved for adoption of the minutes of December 12, 2002. Mrs. Hutchinson seconded.

Ayes: Bell, Russo, Berkowitz, Boyd, Hutchinson, Sherman, Lange - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (01/08/03 - 4)


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C. Visitor Comments
No comments.

D. Correspondence
A copy of all the correspondence sent to each Board member is attached to the official minutes.

Mr. Bell reported sending a letter to Senator Schumer, Senator Clinton and Congresswoman Kelly with regard to the LSTA funding. A letter will also be sent to Congressman Hinchey. Discussion followed.

E. President’s Report
No report.

F. Director’s Report
(A copy of the Director’s Report sent to each Board member is attached to the official minutes.)

Mr. Gallagher discussed item 3 on his report about the bankruptcy filing of RoweCom.

G. Treasurer’s Report
Mr. Conway reported on accounts and revenues.

Mr. Berkowitz moved to appoint Tim Conway as Treasurer of the Thrall Public Library
District of Middletown and Wallkill. Mr. Russo seconded.

Ayes: Bell, Russo, Berkowitz, Boyd, Sherman, Lange, Hutchinson – 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (01/08/03 – 5)

H. Library Staff Reports
No report.









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I. Committee Reports
Buildings & Grounds Committee: The Board discussed the problem with the elevator
on December 20, 2002.

Finance Committee: Mr. Berkowitz moved that the Board of Trustees of Middletown Thrall Library amend the 2003 budget to be increased by the following:
REVENUES: L.2705 Gifts & Donations $ 250.00
APPROPRIATIONS: L.7410.8522.12.3905.05
Foreign Media $ 250.00
The above amount represents a donation from Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Horn for the purchase of Foreign Films.

REVENUES: L.2770 Miscellaneous Income $ 300.00
APPROPRIATIONS: L.7410.8425.12.0000.00
Publicity/Program/Printing $ 300.00
This amount represents a Grant from the New York Council For the Humanities to be used for Programming.

Ms. Sherman seconded.

Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Boyd, Hutchinson, Lange, Russo, Sherman – 7
Noes: None.
Motion declared approved. (01/08/03 – 6)

Mrs. Hutchinson moved that the regular monthly disbursements for December 2002 in the amount of $40,236.14 having been audited by Carl Berkowitz and found to be correct, be approved. Mrs. Boyd seconded.

Ayes: Bell, Hutchinson, Boyd, Berkowitz, Russo, Sherman, Lange - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (01/08/03 - 7)

Mrs. Hutchinson moved that the payroll register of deductions for November 27, ($17,497.98) and December 11, ($17,619.72), 2002, having been audited by Carl Berkowitz and found to be correct, be approved. Mrs. Boyd seconded.

Ayes: Bell, Hutchinson, Berkowitz, Boyd, Russo, Sherman, Lange – 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (01/08/03 – 8)



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J. Old Business
The Board reviewed the Meeting Room policy. The policy will be revised and on the February agenda.

The Board reviewed the Internet Policy.

Mr. Berkowitz moved to adopt the Internet Policy as presented. Ms. Lange seconded. Discussion followed.

Ayes: Bell, Hutchinson, Russo, Berkowitz, Boyd, Sherman, Lange – 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (01/08/03 – 9)

K. New Business
The Board discussed the use of Thomas Walts bequest funds. (Memo attached to official minutes)

Mr. Russo moved that the Walts bequest for $101,521.11 be taken in whole and placed in an annual CD immediately for one year. Mr. Berkowitz seconded.

Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Boyd, Hutchinson, Lange, Russo, Sherman – 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (01/08/03 – 10)

Ms. Lange moved to adopt the Records Retention Policy with the following changes: drop the word “is” and “to” around the word needed. Ms. Sherman seconded.

Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Boyd, Hutchinson, Lange, Sherman, Russo – 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (01/08/03 – 11)

Mr. Gallagher reported that Carmen Ruppert, Head of David Moore Heights satellite, has resigned due to health reasons, effective January 2, 2003.

Mr. Russo moved to go into executive session at 8:24pm to discuss legal and labor issues. Mrs. Boyd seconded.

Ayes: Bell, Hutchinson, Boyd, Berkowitz, Russo, Sherman, Lange - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (01/08/03 - 12)

The Board returned from executive session at 8:56pm.
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K. New Business Con’t.
Ms. Lange moved to appoint David Shaw and his firm Shaw & Perelson as the negotiators for the coming labor contracts. Mrs. Hutchinson seconded.

Ayes: Bell, Hutchinson, Berkowitz, Russo, Boyd, Lange, Sherman – 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (01/08/03 – 13)

L. Adjournment
Ms. Russo moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:00pm. Mr. Berkowitz seconded.

Ayes: Bell, Hutchinson, Berkowitz, Boyd, Russo, Sherman, Lange - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (01/08/03 - 14)

Respectfully submitted,



Ralph Russo, Secretary



TABLE OF MOTIONS

(01/08/03 - 1) Accepted slate of officers
(01/08/03 - 2) Designated Middletown Times Herald Record as official newspaper
(01/08/03 - 3) Adjournment of reorganizational meeting
(01/08/03 - 4) Approval of 12/12/03 minutes
(01/08/03 - 5) Appointed Treasurer
(01/08/03 - 6) Amended 2003 budget – Amendment #1
(01/08/03 - 7) Approval of disbursements for December 2002
(01/08/03 - 8) Approval of payroll register of deductions for 11/27 & 12/11/02
(01/08/03 - 9) Adopted Internet Policy
(01/08/03 - 10) Approved Walts bequest be put in CD
(01/08/03 - 11) Approved Records Retention Policy
(01/08/03 - 12) Executive Session
(01/08/03 - 13) Appointed David Shaw & law firm as negotiator for labor contracts
(01/08/03 - 14) Adjournment