MINUTES OF THE MEETING
THRALL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
OF MIDDLETOWN AND WALLKILL
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
January 9, 2019
I. Attendance
The roll call was done during the Organizational Meeting.
Present
Mr. Carl Berkowitz President
Mrs. Marianne Sciucco, Vice President
Ms. Linda Martini, Secretary
Mrs. Rosa Boyd
Mr. Richard C. Bell
Ms. Marlena Lange
Mr. Matthew Pfisterer, Director
Absent
Mrs. Tonia Crown, Financial Officer
Visitors
None
II. Agenda
A. Roll Call G. Financial Officer's Report
B. Minutes H. Committee Report
C. Visitor Comments I. Old Business
D. Correspondence J. New Business
E. President's Report K. Adjournment
F. Director's Report
III. Discussion and Recommendation
A. Mr. Berkowitz, President, opened the meeting at 5:06pm. The pledge was already done
during the Organizational Meeting.
B. Minutes
Mr. Bell moved for adoption of the minutes of the December 12, 2018 meeting. Discussion
was held on page 1 & 2. The Board tabled the motion to check correct information.
The December minutes page 1 contained a typo, which stated that Ms. Lange moved and
seconded for adoption of the 11/13/18 minutes. The correct statement should have read Mr.
Berkowitz moved for adoption of the November minutes and Ms. Lange seconded. The
official minutes have been corrected.
On page 2, Committee Reports, the motion for monthly disbursements should read that
Mr. Berkowitz moved and Ms. Lange seconded. The official minutes have been corrected.
C. Visitor Comments/Staff Report
No report.
D. Correspondence
A copy of any correspondence is sent to each Board member and is attached to the official
minutes.
E. President's Report
The prior President, Richard Bell, reported on the donation to the library from Gertrude
Mokotoff. Discussion followed.
F. Director's Report Con't.
(A copy of the Director's Report sent to each Board member is attached to the official
minutes.)
Mr. Pfisterer reported that Randy Enos is retiring from RCLS after 37 years.
G. Financial Officer's Report
The Board discussed what Board members would like to be signers on the bank accounts.
Any Board members that are interested will let Mr. Pfisterer know.
H. Committee Reports
Building & Grounds: Work has been completed on the boiler installation project but we
are still without a computer software application to allow us to control the temperature
settings. Earlier in December, temperatures on the second floor for the library were
running into the upper 80's low 90's until we opened windows and turned on fans to vent
the heat out of the building. Later in December we shut the library's main air handler off
and that did help to reduce the temperature on the second floor and the pooling of the hot
air during the overnight hours. We should schedule a meeting with our project engineer in
the near future to discuss the project completion and next steps.
Repairs have been completed to the automatic door opening controls on the library's
entrance doors. These doors and the openers require frequent maintenance and do not
operate well. In many cases, the speed at which the door opens automatically is much
slower than the amount of time it takes for someone to walk that distance. The result is
that many people push the door open causing damage to the mechanism. I have received
two quotes for the replacement of the existing mechanism with one of higher speed and
quality. I would like to discuss these in executive session and schedule a replacement later
in the year or at the next instance that the mechanism requires repair.
On two recent occasions, I have been notified by library staff that there was roach activity
in the part time reference office which is located on the library's first floor and not an
area that has been regularly treated. On both occasions following reports from staff I
contacted our exterminating company and was told that there is no evidence of roach
activity in the area and no infestation present. The area has been treated and there has
been no further reports of insect activity in this area of the building.
Mr. Bell moved to go into executive session at 5:40pm to discuss contracts. Mrs. Boyd
seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Boyd, Martini, Sciucco, Lange - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (01/9/19 –7)
The Board returned from executive session at 5:57 pm.
Mr. Bell moved to accept the bid from Barrier Free Access Systems, Inc. for the
replacement of door at the entrance of the library to meet regulations for handicap access.
Ms. Lange seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Boyd, Martini, Sciucco, Lange - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (01/9/19 –8)
I. Old Business
No report.
J. New Business
Discussion was held on Extension of Library's Long Range Plan.
Mr. Bell moved to extend the current Library Long Range Plan for the current year. Mrs.
Sciucco seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Boyd, Martini, Sciucco, Lange - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (01/9/19 –9)
Ms. Lange moved to accept the appointment of a full time cleaner that Mr. Pfisterer
wishes to hire. Mr. Bell seconded..
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Martini, Boyd, Sciucco, Lange - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (01/9/19 –10)
Discussion was held on the 2019 NYLAS Advocacy Day.
Discussion was held on the 2020 census.
K. Adjournment
Ms. Lange moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:10pm. Mrs. Boyd seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Boyd, Sciucco, Martini, Lange – 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (01/9/19 – 11)
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Martini, Secretary
TABLE OF MOTIONS
(01/09/19–1) Accepted slate of officers
(01/09/19–2) Designated Middletown Times Herald Record as official newspaper
(01/09/19–3) Designated the Orange Bank and Trust as official bank
(01/09/19–4) Designated Stifel-Nicholas as Investment Firm
(01/09/19–5) Appointed Alex Smith as Library District's Attorney
(01/09/19–6) Adjournment
(01/09/19–7) Executive session
(01/09/19–8) Accepted bid from Barrier Free Access Systems, Inc.
(01/09/19–9) Approved to extend Long Range Plan
(01/09/19-10) Accepted appointment of full time cleaner
(01/09/19-11) Adjournment