MINUTES OF THE MEETING
THRALL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
OF MIDDLETOWN AND WALLKILL BOARD OF TRUSTEES
March 12, 2014
I. Attendance
Ms. Lange called the roll.
Present
Mrs. Lois Ruckert, President
Mrs. Tonia Crown, Vice President (arrived 7:15pm)
Ms. Marlena Lange, Secretary
Ms. Barbara Kay, Treasurer
Mr. Richard C. Bell
Mrs. Rosa Boyd
Mr. Carl Berkowitz
Mr. Matthew Pfisterer, Director
Absent
None
Visitors
None
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. Mrs. Lois Ruckert, President, opened the meeting at 7:01pm.
B. Minutes
Ms. Kay moved for adoption of the minutes of the February 12, 2014
meeting. Mr. Berkowitz seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Boyd, Berkowitz, Lange, Kay - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (03/12/14 - 18)
C. Visitor Comments
No comments.
D. Correspondence
A copy of all correspondence sent to each Board member is attached to the official
minutes.
Discussion was held on the Heritage Trail.
Mr. Pfisterer read two (2) letters thanking two (2) reference staff members for an
outstanding job.
Mr. Pfisterer read a letter from Tom Ingrassia thanking the library for hosting his book
signing and lecture. Mr. Ingrassia also donated a signed copy of his book to the library.
E. President's Report
No report.
F. Director's Report Con't.
(A copy of the Director's Report sent to each Board member is attached to the official minutes.)
G. Treasurer's Report
Mr. Pfisterer reported on the accounts and balances. (Attached to official minutes)
H. Library Staff Reports
No report.
I. Committee Reports
Finance Committee: Mr. Berkowitz moved that the regular monthly disbursements for
February 2014 in the amount of $113,086.31 having been audited by Marlena Lange and
found to be correct, be approved.
BUDGET TRANSFER # 5
Resolved that the Board of Trustees of Middletown Thrall Library accept the following
budget transfers:
TO: L7410.8421.12.0000.0 Refund Prior Year Tax $ 6,281.00
FROM: L7410.8420.12.0000.0 Insurance $6,281.00
TO: L7410.8502.12.0000.5 Library & Office Supplies $ 622.00
FROM: L7410.8514.12.0000.5 A/V Supplies $ 622.00
TO: L7410.8157.12.0000.6 F/T librarians $ 1,389.00
L7410.8158.12.0000.6 P/T Librarians $18,302.00
L7410.8160.12.0000.6 Administration $15,215.00
L7410.8161.12.0000.6 F/T Clerical $ 17.00
L7410.8163.12.0000.6 F/T Custodial $ 918.00
L7410.8164.12.0000.6 P/T Cleaners $ 4,141.00
FROM: L9060.8804.12.0000.0 Health & Dental $39,982.00
Ms. Kay seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Boyd, Berkowitz, Crown, Lange, Kay - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (03/12/14 - 19)
BUDGET AMENDMENT #2
Mr. Berkowitz moved that the Board of Trustees of Middletown Thrall Library amend the
2014 budget to be increased as follows:
ADD
Revenue L2705 Gifts & Donations $21.00
T. Ingrassia book sales Adult
Program
ADD
Appropriations L7410.8425.12.0000.0 Adult Program $21.00
Ayes: Ruckert, Lange, Crown, Bell, Boyd, Berkowitz, Kay - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (03/12/14 - 20)
Building & Grounds: Ms. Lange reported on Building & Grounds.
This has been a particularly difficult winter with snow and ice accumulations in parking
spaces and on walkways. Shortly after the mid-February storm Mr. Pfisterer was
informed by custodial staff that we were running short on the product we use to clear ice
from walkways and it was difficult to find any local vendor who had not sold out of the
product. At one point we were forced to use a combination of kosher salt and cat litter
that Mr. Pfisterer purchased at a local supermarket. Eventually we located an alternative
product but there still seems to be a shortage of all ice melting products in our region.
Following a complaint from the Head of Delivery at RCLS about lack of access to the delivery
zone on the Depot Street side of the building, Mr. Pfisterer authorized Maples Contracting
to remove snow piles several feet high from the curb in front of the technical processing
entrance. This required the use of heavy equipment and we were charged a fee for removal
of the ice and snow from the premises.
Library staff has been receiving an increasing number of complaints from patrons who are
attempting to access the internet using the Library's Wi-Fi signal. There have been
prolonged periods of no service and a continuing interference problem from neighboring
networks. I will be moving forward with an Alteva/Warwick proposal to rebuild out system
to ensure a steady and reliable public wireless internet connection throughout the entire
building. This will be a great improvement over our current situation.
I have received no further complaints about cockroaches in the building. Our exterminator
has reported that there are no infestation issues anywhere in the building.
J. Old Business
No report.
K. New Business
Discussion was held on the Annual Report for 2013.
Mrs. Boyd moved to accept the NYS Annual Report for 2013. Mrs. Crown seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Lange, Crown, Bell, Boyd, Berkowitz, Kay - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (03/12/14 - 21)
Mr. Berkowitz moved that the Board adopt the attached revision to the smoking policy.
Mrs. Boyd seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Lange, Crown, Bell, Boyd, Berkowitz, Kay - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (03/12/14 - 22)
Mr. Bell moved that the Board adopt the attached Children's Room Use Policy.
Mrs. Crown seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Lange, Crown, Bell, Boyd, Berkowitz, Kay - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (03/12/14 - 23)
Mr. Berkowitz moved to go into executive session at 8:12pm to discuss a personnel matter.
Mrs. Boyd seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Lange, Crown, Bell, Boyd, Berkowitz, Kay - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (03/12/14 - 24)
K. New Business
The Board returned from executive session at 8:58pm.
L. Adjournment
Ms. Lange moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:58pm. Mr. Berkowitz seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Crown, Boyd, Berkowitz, Lange, Ruckert, Kay - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (03/12/14 - 25)
Respectfully submitted,
Marlena Lange, Secretary
TABLE OF MOTIONS
(01/08/14 - 1) Accepted slate of officers
(01/08/14 - 2) Designated Middletown Times Herald Record as official newspaper
(01/08/14 - 3) Designated the Orange County Trust Company as official bank
(01/08/14 - 4) Designated Stifel-Nicholas as Investment Firm
(01/08/14 - 5) Appointed Robert Isseks as Library District's Attorney
(01/08/14 - 6) Adjournment
(01/08/14 - 7) Approval of 12/11/13 minutes
(01/08/14 - 8) Approved President, Treasurer & Library Director as signatories to Orange
County Trust Bank
(01/08/14 - 9) Amended #8 motion to include R. Boyd as trustee signatory
(01/08/14 - 10) Adjournment
(02/12/14 - 11) Approval of 1/8/14 re-organizational minutes
(02/12/14 - 12) Approval of 1/8/14 regular minutes
(02/12/14 - 13) Approved BUDGET AMENDMENT #10 (12/31/13); monthly
disbursements for 12/13; BUDGET AMENDMENT #1 (2/12/14);
monthly disbursements for 1/14
(02/12/14 - 14) Executive session
(02/12/14 - 15) Returned from executive session
(02/12/14 - 16) Approved to follow through discussion in executive session
(02/12/14 - 17) Adjournment
(03/12/14 - 18) Approval of 2/24/14 minutes
(03/12/14 - 19) Approved monthly disbursements for 2/14; BUDGET TRANSFER #5 (12/31/13)
(03/12/14 - 20) Approved BUDGET AMENDMENT #2 (3/12/14)
(03/12/14 - 21) Accepted NYS Annual Report for 2013
(03/12/14 - 22) Adopted revision to smoking policy
(03/12/14 - 23) Adopted Children's Room Use Policy
(03/12/14 - 24) Executive session
(03/12/14 - 25) Adjournment
(03/27/14 - 26) Executive session
(03/27/14 - 27) Proceed what was discussed in executive session
(03/27/14 - 28) Adjournment