MINUTES OF THE MEETING
THRALL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
OF MIDDLETOWN AND WALLKILL BOARD OF TRUSTEES
April 9, 2014
I. Attendance
Mrs. Ruckert called the roll.
Present
Mrs. Lois Ruckert, President
Mrs. Tonia Crown, Vice President
Ms. Marlena Lange, Secretary (arrived at 7:10pm)
Ms. Barbara Kay, Treasurer
Mr. Richard C. Bell
Mrs. Rosa Boyd
Mr. Carl Berkowitz
Mr. Matthew Pfisterer, Director
Absent
None
Visitors
Robert Isseks, Library Attorney
David Cole, Wawayanda Town Councilman
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 and led the pledge to the flag.
Mrs. Crown moved to go into executive session at 7:03pm for discussion of personnel.
Mr. Berkowitz seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Boyd, Berkowitz, Crown, Lange, Kay - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (04/09/14 -29)
The Board returned from executive session at 7:29pm.
Mr. Berkowitz moved to approve the procedures discussed in executive session. Mrs.
Boyd seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Boyd, Berkowitz, Crown, Lange, Kay - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (04/09/14 - 30)
B. Minutes
Ms. Lange moved for adoption of the regular minutes of the March12, 2014 meeting and
the special meeting minutes from March 27, 2014.
Mrs. Crown seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Boyd, Berkowitz, Crown, Lange, Kay - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (04/09/14 - 31)
C. Visitor Comments
Mr. David Cole, Wawayanda Town Councilman, read a letter from John Razzano,
Supervisor and the Wawayanda Town Board and a letter from Janet Sutherland,
Councilwoman, Town of Mt. Hope, in regards to the recent restrictions imposed upon
holders of Port Jervis Library cards. Mr. Pfisterer will respond to both Boards' in writing.
(Letter attached)
D. Correspondence
A copy of all correspondence sent to each Board member is attached to the official
minutes.
Mr. Berkowitz mentioned that his wife, Linda Emanuel, volunteers for the Children
Room with the homework center. She commented what wonderful programs the library
has to offer.
E. President's Report
Mrs. Ruckert reported that Thursday, April 10th there is an accountability seminar at RCLS
that she and Mr. Berkowitz are attending.
F. Director's Report
(A copy of the Director's Report sent to each Board member is attached to the official minutes.)
G. Financial Report
Mr. Pfisterer reported on the accounts and balances. (Attached to official minutes)
H. Library Staff Reports
No report.
I. Committee Reports
Finance Committee: BUDGET AMENDMENT #3
Ms. Kay moved that the Board of Trustees of Middletown Thrall Library amend the
2014 budget to be increased as follows:
ADD
Revenue L2705 Gifts & Donations $50.00
Imo J. Parella from R. Enos
ADD
Appropriations L7410.8421.12.3810.5 Adult Books $50.00
Mrs. Boyd seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Lange, Crown, Bell, Boyd, Berkowitz, Kay - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (04/09/14 - 32)
Ms. Kay moved that the regular monthly disbursements for March 2014 in the amount of
$92,339.56 having been audited by Tonia Crown and found to be correct, be approved.
BUDGET TRANSFER #1
Resolved that the Board of Trustees of Middletown Thrall Library accept the following
budget transfer:
TO: L7410.8200.12.0000.7 Furniture & Equipment $ 665.00
FROM: L7410.8521.12.3812.5 Gov Document books $665.00
To purchase new binding device for Government docs
Mrs. Boyd seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Lange, Crown, Bell, Boyd, Berkowitz, Kay - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (04/09/14 - 33)
Building & Grounds: Ms. Lange reported on Building & Grounds.
As requested, Mr. Pfisterer contacted alternative providers to solicit bids to improve the
library's wireless infrastructure. Mr. Pfisterer contacted Time Warner Cable who declined
to provide a bid and he received a bid from RCLS to install hardware produced by a
company called Blue Socket. This bid is comparable in price to the Alteva/Warwick
proposal and all things being equal Mr. Pfisterer would prefer using RCLS for this work.
Our head custodian has reset some tiles in the first floor women's bathroom that had come
loose. This is a temporary fix and more extensive tile work will be required in the future.
J. Old Business
Mr. Berkowitz reported that there is a committee meeting of the Heritage Trail on Thursday,
April 10th. Discussion followed.
K. New Business
Ms. Kay moved to approve the 2014 election timetable. Mrs. Boyd seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Lange, Crown, Bell, Boyd, Berkowitz, Kay - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (04/09/14 - 34)
Discussion was held on an out of state fee for library card requests.
Mrs. Boyd moved to charge $75 for out of state library cards. Mr. Berkowitz seconded.
Discussion followed.
Mrs. Boyd rescinded her motion.
Discussion was held on forming a negotiation committee. Mrs. Boyd, Mrs. Crown, and
Ms. Kay were appointed to the negotiation committee.
L. Adjournment
Ms. Lange moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:48pm. Mr. Berkowitz seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Crown, Boyd, Berkowitz, Lange, Ruckert, Kay - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (04/09/14 - 35)
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
(04/09/14 - 29) Executive session
(04/09/14 - 30) Approved procedures as discussed in executive session
(04/09/14 - 31) Approved reg. mtg. minutes 3/12/14 & spec. mtg. minutes 3/27/14
(04/09/14 - 32) Approved BUDGET AMENDMENT #3
(04/09/14 - 33) Approved monthly disbursements for March 2014; BUDGET TRANSFER #1
(04/09/14 - 34) Approved 2014 election timetable
(04/09/14 - 35) Adjournment