MINUTES OF THE MEETING
THRALL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
OF MIDDLETOWN AND WALLKILL BOARD OF TRUSTEES
May 13, 2015
I. Attendance
Ms. Lange called the roll.
Present
Mrs. Lois Ruckert, President (arrived 4:05pm)
Ms. Marlena Lange, Secretary
Ms. Barbara Kay, Treasurer
Mr. Richard C. Bell
Mrs. Rosa Boyd
Mr. Carl Berkowitz
Mr. Matthew Pfisterer, Director (left mtg. at 4:57pm)
Absent
Mrs. Tonia Crown, Vice President (excused)
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. Ms. Marlena Lange, Secretary, opened the meeting at 4:04pm and led the pledge to the
flag. Mr. Pfisterer requested to start the meeting at 4:00pm so he could attend a
continuing education program at RCLS.
B. Minutes
Mr. Bell moved for adoption of the minutes of the April 8, 2015 meeting. Ms. Kay
seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Lange, Boyd, Kay - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (05/13/15 - 27)
C. Visitor Comments
No visitors.
D. Correspondence
A copy of all correspondence sent to each Board member is attached to the official
minutes.
Mrs. Ruckert discussed correspondence from a patron who wanted to present a program at
the library. Discussion followed.
Mr. Berkowitz moved to go into executive session at 4:14pm to discuss employment of a
contractor. Ms. Kay seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Lange, Boyd, Kay - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (05/13/15 - 28)
The Board returned from executive session at 4:17pm.
E. President's Report
Mrs. Ruckert reported on the telecoil and the hearing loop. 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.)
Mrs. Boyd moved to go into executive session at 4:25pm to discuss employment of a
current or former employee. Mr. Bell seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Lange, Boyd, Kay - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (05/13/15 - 29)
The Board returned from executive session at 4:56pm.
G. Financial Officer's Report
Mr. Pfisterer reported on the accounts and balances.
H. Committee Reports
Finance Committee: Ms. Kay moved that the regular monthly disbursements for
April 2015 in the amount of $100,253.83 having been audited by Rosa Boyd and found
to be correct, be approved. Mr. Berkowitz seconded.
RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees of Middletown Thrall Library accept the
following budget transfer:
TO: L7410.8425.12.0000.0 Pub./Program/Printing $1,000.00
FROM:L74108521.12.3814.5 YA Books $ 500.00
FROM:L7410.8522.3903.5 YA Media $ 500.00
S. Pfeffer donation
Mr. Berkowitz seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Boyd, Lange, Kay - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (05/13/15 - 30)
Building & Grounds: Ms. Lange reported on Building & Grounds.
Mr. Pfisterer received one additional architectural bid for the replacement of our gas
boilers which brings our total up to two submitted proposals. Mr. Pfisterer will continue
to solicit bids until he has received three and then present them to the Board of Trustees
for consideration.
Mr. Pfisterer received notification of two pending slip and fall claims against the Library
District. Neither incident was reported to us at the time they took place. I have forwarded
the information to our insurance carriers. One claim gives a very vague location
description and the other makes no mention of location. It is yet to be determined if either
of these claims actually took place on Library District property.
Floor tile has been purchased for the first floor Women's and Men's rooms. Work will
begin in August 2015 and will require that the restrooms will be unavailable to the public.
We will do as much of the work on a weekend to minimize inconvenience to patrons.
We have had some minor activity with ants which does not represent an infestation and
our exterminators have reported that the building is not experiencing any insect infestation
to date.
I. Old Business
No report.
J. New Business
Mr. Berkowitz moved to adopt the Collection Management Policy. Mrs. Boyd seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Boyd, Lange, Kay - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (05/13/15 - 31)
Mr. Bell reported on the Budget Committee meeting held on May 12th.
Ms. Kay moved to go into executive session at 5:08pm to discuss negotiations and the
budget. Mr. Berkowitz seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Boyd, Lange, Kay - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (05/13/15 - 32)
The Board returned from executive session at 5:25pm.
L. Adjournment
Mr. Berkowitz moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:27pm. Ms. Kay seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Boyd, Lange, Kay - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (05/13/15 -33)
Respectfully submitted,
Marlena Lange, Secretary
TABLE OF MOTIONS
(01/14/15 - 1) Accepted slate of officers
(01/14/15 - 2) Designated Middletown Times Herald Record as official newspaper
(01/14/15 - 3) Designated the Orange County Trust Company as official bank
(01/14/15 - 4) Designated Stifel-Nicholas as Investment Firm
(01/14/15 - 5) Appointed Robert Isseks as Library District's Attorney
(01/14/15 - 6) Adjournment
(01/14/15 - 7) Approval of 12/18/14 minutes
(01/14/15 - 8) Approved BUDGET AMENDMENT #8 (12/31/14); BUDGET
AMENDMENT #1 (01/14/15)
(01/08/15 - 9) Adjournment
(02/11/15 - 10) Approval of 1/14/15 reorganizational minutes
(02/11/15 - 11) Approval of 1/14/15 minutes
(02/11/15 - 12) Executive session
(02/11/15 - 13) Approved BUDGET AMENDMENT #2; monthly disbursements for December 2014 and January 2015
(02/11/15 - 14) Executive session
(02/11/15 - 15) Adjournment
(03/11/15 - 16) Approval of 2/11/15 minutes
(03/11/15 - 17) Approved BUDGET AMENDMENT #9 (12/31/2014)
(03/11/15 - 18) Approved BUDGET TRANSFER #3 (Final - 12/31/2014)
(03/11/15 - 19) Approved monthly disbursements for February 2015
(03/11/15 - 20) Executive session
(03/11/15 - 21) Accepted NYS Annual Report for 2014
(03/11/15 - 22) Adjournment
(04/08/15 - 23) Approval of 3/11/15 minutes
(04/08/15 - 24) Approved monthly disbursements for March 2015
(04/08/15 - 25) Approved 2015 election timetable
(04/08/15 - 26) Adjournment
(05/13/15 - 27) Approval of 4/8/15 minutes
(05/13/15 - 28) Executive session
(05/13/15 - 29) Executive session
(05/13/15 - 30) Approved monthly disbursements for April 2015; BUDGET TRANSFER #1
(05/13/15 - 31) Adopted Collection Management Policy
(05/13/15 - 32) Executive session
(05/13/15 - 33) Adjournment