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

February 11, 2010


I. Attendance
Mrs. Boyd called the roll:

Present
Mr. Carl Berkowitz, President
Mrs. Rosa Boyd, Vice President
Ms. Marlena Lange
Mr. Richard C. Bell
Mrs. Tonia Crown (arrived at 7:04pm)
Mr. Kevin J. Gallagher, Director

Absent
Ms. Barbara Kay, Treasurer (excused)
Mrs. Lois Ruckert, Secretary (excused)

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. Carl Berkowitz, President, opened the meeting at 7:00pm.

B. Minutes
Mr. Bell moved for adoption of the organizational minutes of January 13, 2010 meeting. Mr. Berkowitz suggested adding “There being no other nominations, Mrs. Ruckert….” on page 1, under III Election of Officers. Mrs. Boyd seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Boyd, Crown, Lange – 5
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (2/11/10 – 12)

Mr. Bell moved for adoption of the minutes of the January 13, 2010 meeting.
Mrs. Crown seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Boyd, Lange, Bell, Crown – 5
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (2/11/10 – 13)

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. Berkowitz read a thank you note from Joan Hutchinson.

E. President's Report
Mr. Berkowitz discussed the January RCLS Board meeting. Discussion followed.

Mr. Berkowitz presented the following committee assignments for 2010:
Building & Grounds: Marlena Lange
Contract Negotiations: Barbara Kay; Marlena Lange
Finance & Budget: Tonia Crown; Lois Ruckert
Personnel: Richard Bell; Rosa Boyd

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

Mr. Gallagher reported that Jerome Weisbaum, part-time clerk, should be back to work in
a couple of weeks.

Mr. Gallagher reported that the NYS Statistical Report was submitted on February 9th.

G. Treasurer's Report
There was no report on the accounts and balances due to closing out 2009.

H. Library Staff Reports
No report.


I. Committee Reports
Finance Committee: Mr. Bell moved that the regular monthly disbursements for
December 2009 in the amount of $73,529.72 having been audited by Marlena Lange and
found to be correct, be approved. Mrs. Boyd seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Boyd, Crown, Lange - 5
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (2/11/10 – 14)

Mr. Bell moved that the Board of Trustees of Middletown Thrall Library accept the
following budget transfers:

BUDGET TRANSFER #5 (12/31/2009)
1. TO: L7410.8540.12.0000.0 Building Utilities $5,375.00
FROM: L7410.8200.12.0000.7 Furniture & Equipment $5,375.00

2. TO: L7410.8425.12.0000.0 Pub/Program/Printing $1,502.00
FROM: L7410.8506.12.0000.5 Circulation Control $1,502.00

3. TO: L7410.8160.12.0000.6 Administration $1,205.00
L7410.8161.12.0000.6 F/T Clerical $1,225.00
L7410.8163.12.0000.6 F/T Custodial $ 880.00
L7410.8164.12.0000.6 P/T Cleaners $3,100.00
FROM: L7410.8167.12.0000.6 P/T Clerical $6,410.00

4. TO: L7410.8158.12.0000.6 P/T Librarians $7,500.00
FROM: L7410.8157.12.0000.6 F/T Librarians $7,500.00

5. TO: L7410.8462.12.0000.0 Service Contracts $ 500.00
L7410.8440.12.0000.0 Professional Service $ 50.00
FROM: L7410.8420.12.0000.0 Insurance $ 550.00

These amounts represent the final transfers for fiscal year 2008 from auditor adjustments Overages in salary accounts is due to end of year accruals for part-time salaries

Mrs. Boyd seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Boyd, Crown, Lange – 5
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (2/11/10 – 15)



Building & Grounds: Tri-County has been in about the heat problem in the building. They borrowed the blue prints to look over.

Mr. Gallagher reported that we are going to rent a lift to change the light bulbs in the reading room and to install ceiling fans.

Mr. Gallagher reported that we have almost run out of DVD shelving space. The staff will be weeding the collection.

J. Old Business
No report.

K. New Business
Mr. Gallagher reported receiving a letter from Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther saying
she introduced a bill to include libraries in the Drug Free Zone Program. (Letter attached
to official minutes)

Mr. Bell moved to adopt as presented the following:

Whereas New York State has failed to provide library funding at a level dictated by
State Education law for the past two decades, and;

Whereas, the use of library services and material has continued to grow placing
even greater demands on both libraries and systems throughout the state, and;

Whereas, it is now becoming apparent that Library Systems are considering
instituting fees for member libraries that would result in either service cuts or an
increased burden on already overburdened local property tax payers,

We do hereby urge that New York State act immediately to restore State Library
funding to the levels dictated by State Education Law.

Failing that, we demand that New York State take every opportunity to make
efficient use of the limited state dollars available to both libraries and library
systems.

These efforts should include, but not be limited to, reforming the entire New York
State Library System by eliminating the duplication created by having 73 systems
overseeing multiple library services. We strongly urge that New York State follow
the lead of 49 other states by consolidating services provided by 73 library systems.
The 1989 “Library Systems in New York State” study and the 2000 Regents
Commission on Library Services report entitled “Meeting the Needs of All New
Yorkers: Library Service in the New Century” both recommended such
consolidation. Such action would result in substantial savings due to the reduction
in duplication of services throughout the state.

Failing restoration of library state aid and consolidation of systems, we then urge
State Library officials to institute cost efficiencies throughout the state that will
guarantee that additional funding from local taxpayers will not be needed to fill
state library aid gaps while maintaining current levels of service.

We call on you to take action on these steps immediately.

Ms. Lange seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Lange, Bell, Boyd, Crown – 5
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (2/11/10 – 16)

Mr. Bell moved to go into executive session at 8:02pm to discuss labor
negotiations and part-time salaries. Ms. Lange seconded.

Ayes: Berkowitz, Lange, Bell, Boyd, Crown – 5
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (2/11/10 – 17)

The Board returned from executive session at 8:28pm.

L. Adjournment
Mrs. Boyd moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:29pm. Ms. Lange seconded.

Ayes: Berkowitz, Lange, Bell, Crown, Boyd – 5
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (2/11/10 – 18)


Respectfully submitted,



Lois Ruckert, Secretary






TABLE OF MOTIONS

(01/13/10 - 1) Accepted slate of officers
(01/13/10 - 2) Designated Middletown Times Herald Record as official newspaper
(01/13/10 - 3) Designated the Orange County Trust Company as official bank
(01/13/10 - 4) Reappointed Richard Guertin as Library District Attorney
(01/13/10 - 5) Adjournment
(01/13/10 - 6) Approval of 12/09/09 minutes
(01/14/10 - 7) Approved BUDGET AMENDMENT #6 (12/31/09)
(01/13/10 – 8) Approved BUDGET AMENDMENT #1
(01/13/10 – 9) Accepted Insurance change from Chubb to Utica National
(01/13/10 – 10) Executive session
(01/13/10 – 11) Adjournment
(02/11/10 – 12) Approval of 1/13/10 organizational meeting minutes
(02/11/10 – 13) Approval of 1/13/10 minutes
(02/11/10 – 14) Approved monthly disbursement for December 2009
(02/11/10 – 15) Approved BUDGET TRANSFER #5 (12/31/2009)
(02/11/10 – 16) Approved resolution on library systems
(02/11/10 – 17) Executive session
(02/11/10 – 18) Adjournment