MINUTES OF THE MEETING
THRALL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
OF MIDDLETOWN AND WALLKILL
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
June 11, 2014
I. Attendance
Ms. Lange called the roll.
Present
Mrs. Lois Ruckert, President
Ms. Barbara Kay, Treasurer
Ms. Marlena Lange, Secretary
Mrs. Rosa Boyd
Mr. Richard C. Bell
Mr. Carl Berkowitz
Mr. Matthew Pfisterer, Director
Absent
Mrs. Tonia Crown, Vice President (excused)
Visitors
Mike Canonico, Security Guard
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 7:00pm and led the pledge to the flag.
B. Minutes
Mr. Berkowitz moved for adoption of the minutes of the May 15, 2014 meeting.
Ms. Kay seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Kay, Lange, Boyd - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (06/11/14 - 42)
C. Visitor Comments
No comments.
D. Correspondence
A copy of all correspondence sent to each Board member is attached to the official
minutes.
Mr. Berkowitz reported that he spoke to Mr. Hubsher about the four towns and the
Minisink School District and asked him to renew his contacts with them. Mr. Hubsher
responded to Mr. Berkowitz stating that the library should pursue this not him. This
matter will be addressed at the June 2014 RCLS Board of Trustees meeting.
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. Financial Report
Mr. Pfisterer reported on the accounts and balances. (Attached to official minutes)
H. Library Staff Reports
Mike Canonico, security guard, reported on security issues with the downstairs public
bathrooms. Discussion followed.
I. Committee Reports
Finance Committee: Ms. Kay moved that the regular monthly disbursements for May
2014 in the amount of $87,603.37 having been audited by Lois Ruckert and found to be
correct, be approved.
BUDGET AMENDMENT #4
Resolved that the Board of Trustees of Middletown Thrall Library amend the 2014 budget
To be increased as follows:
ADD
Revenue L2705 Donations
C. Novak $ 20.00
FOMTL
20th Anniversary $20,000.00
ADD
APPROPRIATIONS
L7410.8425.12.0000.0 Adult Program $ 20.00
L7410.8200.12.0000.7 Furn & Equip $20,000.00
Mr. Bell seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Kay, Lange, Boyd - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (06/11/14 - 43)
Building & Grounds: Ms. Lange reported on Building & Grounds.
Mr. Pfisterer received a cost estimate and will proceed with the RCLS installation of Blue
Socket WI-FI in the Library's reading room. This will guarantee us a reliable and robust
Wi-Fi signal in the area of the building in which we have the strongest demand for this
service.
Mr. Pfisterer contacted our Senator's office to inquire about the availability of grant
funding for a renovation of our HVAC system. He was directed to an online link with
instructions for pursuing a NYS Department of Library Development Construction Grant.
Budget Committee: Mr. Berkowitz reported that he, Mr. Bell, Mrs. Crown and Mr.
Pfisterer met to discuss the 2015 budget. Discussion followed on the 2015 budget.
J. Old Business
Discussion was held on proposed amendments to Library District By-Laws.
Mr. Berkowitz moved to accept the changes to the By-Laws concerning financial officer
terminology. Ms. Kay seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Kay, Lange, Boyd - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (06/11/14 - 44)
K. New Business
Discussion was held on the Library District By-laws.
Mr. Berkowitz moved that the by-laws be changed in article 3; section 1; that the term
Treasurer be changed to Financial Officer and any other place where that appears. Ms.
Kay seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Kay, Lange, Boyd - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (06/11/14 - 39)
Discussion was held on the NYS Construction Grant.
Mr. Berkowitz reported that he will be running for the RCLS Board of Trustees this year.
The process requires that there be a nominating letter from our Board and a seconding
letter from another Board in Orange County.
Mrs. Boyd moved to send a letter nominating Carl Berkowitz to the RCLS Board of
Trustees. Ms. Lange seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Kay, Lange, Boyd - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (06/11/14 - 45)
L. Adjournment
Ms. Lange moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:19pm. Mr. Berkowitz seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Kay, Lange, Boyd - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (06/11/14 - 46)
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
(05/15/14 - 36) Approval of 4/9/14 minutes
(05/15/14 - 37) Approved monthly disbursement for April 2014
(05/15/14 - 38) Approved BUDGET TRANSFER #6
(05/15/14 - 39) Resolution that term Treasurer be changed to Financial Officer
(05/15/14 - 40) Executive session
(05/15/14 - 41) Adjournment
(06/11/14 - 42) Approval of 5/15/14 minutes
(06/11/14 - 43) Approved monthly disbursements for May 2014 & BUDGET AMENDMENT # 4
(06/11/14 - 44) Accepted changes to By-Laws for financial officer
(06/11/14 - 45) Approved letter nominating c. Berkowitz to RCLS Board
(06/11/14 - 46) Adjournment