MINUTES OF THE MEETING
THRALL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
OF MIDDLETOWN AND WALLKILL
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
May 13, 2020
I. Attendance
Ms. Martini called the roll.
Present
Mr. Carl Berkowitz, President
Mrs. Marianne Sciucco, Vice President
Mrs. Tonia Crown, Financial Officer
Ms. Linda Martini, Secretary (arrived 5:02pm)
Mr. Richard C. Bell (arrived at 5:07pm)
Ms. Marlena Lange
Mr. Matthew Pfisterer, Director
Absent
Mrs. Rosa Boyd (excused)
Visitors
No visitors
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 5:00pm.
B. Minutes
Mrs. Sciucco moved for adoption of the minutes of the April 15, 2020 meeting. Ms.
Lange seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Lange, Martini, Crown, Sciucco - 5
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (5/13/20 – 26)
C. Visitor Comments/Staff Report Con't.
No report
D. Correspondence
A copy of any correspondence is sent to each Board member and is attached to the official
minutes. The patron couldn't say enough good things about Homework Help. Discussion
followed.
E. President's Report
Mr. Berkowitz reported about meeting a patron and her child at a park.
F. Director's Report Con't.
(A copy of the Director's Report sent to each Board member is attached to the official
minutes.)
Discussion was held on reopening and the six phases.
G. Financial Officer's Report
Mrs. Crown moved that the regular monthly disbursements for March 2020 in the amount
of $53,905.58 having been audited by Linda Martini and found to be correct, be
approved. Ms. Lange seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Lange, Martini, Crown, Sciucco - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (5/13/20 – 27)
Mrs. Crown moved that the regular monthly disbursements for April 2020 in the amount
of $78,604.75 having been audited by Linda Martini and found to be correct, be
approved. Ms. Lange seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Lange, Martini, Crown, Sciucco - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (5/13/20 – 28)
H. Committee Reports
Building & Grounds: A routine of our sprinkler system inspection by our maintenance
Company revealed a damaged airflow pipe. The company completed the repair which
Required replacing a section of the air flow line (sprinkler dry system).
Mr. Pfisterer authorized the purchases of plexiglas and frame material for a construction
of physical barriers between staff and patrons at the library's circulation and reference
desks. Our Head Custodian has designed barriers and he will install prior to our phased
reopening.
Our current furniture and equipment configurations on both the first and second floor of
the library building are not sufficient to ensure recommended social distancing measures.
Two particular areas of concern are our patron internet terminals and our table seating on
both the first and second floor of the building. For the forseeable future alternative
furniture and equipment configuration will be required. I will be discussing this with
staff in the coming days.
Ms. Lange moved to extend, in the vicinity of $3,140.00 and not to exceed more than
$4,000.00 to repair the dry system that failed the Fire Sprinkler Inspection. Mrs. Crown
seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Lange, Martini, Crown, Sciucco - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (5/13/20 – 29)
Mrs. Crown and Mr. Bell will be on the Budget Committee. Discussion followed.
Mrs. Sciucco and Ms. Martini will be on the Negotiations Committee.
I. Old Business
No report.
J. New Business
Discussion was held on the Annual Report. The Board tabled this until the June meeting.
Discussion was held on the NYS Budget 2020.
Ms. Lange moved to approve the 2020 Election Timetable. Ms. Martini seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Lange, Martini, Sciucco, Bell, Crown - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (5/13/20 – 30)
K. Adjournment
Mrs. Sciucco moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:33pm. Mrs. Crown seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz Martini, Lange, Sciucco, Bell, Crown – 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (5/13/20 – 31)
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Martini, Secretary
TABLE OF MOTIONS
(01/08/20-1) Accepted slate of officers
(01/08/20-2) Designated Middletown Times Herald Record as official newspaper
(01/08/20-3) Designated the Orange Bank and Trust as official bank
(01/08/20-4) Appointed Alex Smith as Library District's Attorney
(01/08/20-5) Adjournment
(01/08/20-6) Approval of adoption of the minutes of the December 11, 2019 meeting
(01/08/20-7) Approved to eliminate late fees for juvenile materials
(01/08/20-8) Extend Long Range Plan through 2020
(01/08/20-9) Adjournment
(02/12/20-10) Approval of adoption of the reorganizational minutes of the 1/8/20 mtg.
(02/12/20-11) Approval of adoption of the minutes of the 1/8/20 mtg.
(02/12/20-12) Amended Rules & Regulations from 8 to 10 yrs. of age
(02/12/20-13) Approval of Children's Room Policies
(02/12/20-14) Approved monthly disbursement for January
(02/12/20-15) Approved $3,544.36 purchase workstation for HVAC & Boilers
(02/12/20-16) Adjournment
(03/11/20-17) Approval of adoption of the minutes of the 2/12/20 meeting
(03/11/20-18) Approved for library close due to coronavirus if Mdtn. Schools close
(03/11/20-19) Approved monthly disbursements for February
(03/11/20-20) Accepted the ICE Policy & Procedure
(03/11/20-21) Adjournment
(04/15/20-22) Approval of adoption of the minutes of the 3/11/20 meeting
(04/15/20-23) Accepted Pandemic Policy
(04/15/20-24) Adopted Thrall Public Library Dist. Of Mdtn. & Wallkill Employees as
part of the Library's Pandemic Response Policy
(04/15/20-25) Adjournment
(05/13/20-26) Approval of adoption of the minutes of the 4/15/20 meeting
(05/13/20-27) Approved monthly disbursements for March
(05/13/20-28) Approved monthly disbursements for April
(05/13/20-29) Approved not more than $4000 to repair Dry System
(05/13/20-30) Approved 2020 Election Timetable
(05/13/20-31) Adjournment