MINUTES OF THE MEETING
THRALL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
OF MIDDLETOWN AND WALLKILL
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
June 12, 2013
I. Attendance
Mrs. Crown called the roll.
Present
Mrs. Rosa Boyd, President
Mrs. Tonia Crown, Secretary
Ms. Marlena Lange
Mr. Carl Berkowitz
Mr. Richard C. Bell
Mr. Matthew Pfisterer, Director
Absent
Mrs. Lois Ruckert, Vice President (excused)
Ms. Barbara Kay, Treasurer (excused)
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. Rosa Boyd, President, opened the meeting at 7:00pm and led the pledge to the
flag.
B. Minutes
Mr. Bell moved for adoption of the minutes of the May 8, 2013 meeting. Mr.
Berkowitz seconded.
Ayes: Boyd, Bell, Berkowitz, Crown, Lange - 5
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (6/12/13 - 39)
C. Visitor Comments
No comments.
D. Correspondence
A copy of all correspondence sent to each Board member is attached to the official
minutes.
E. President's Report
Mrs. Boyd reported on the Middletown's 125th Anniversary Parade.
Mr. Berkowitz reported that RCLS, through its outreach program, is dealing with a major
situation in our prisons with literacy and its Spanish language. The library in the prisons
have made a request for Spanish language books that the instructor's can use in their
literacy programs to teach the inmates Spanish. The Friends gave them a whole box of
books.
F. Director's Report
(A copy of the Director's Report sent to each Board member is attached to the official minutes.)
Mr. Pfisterer reported that staff member Bridget Manigo is going out on extended sick
leave starting on July 2nd. We are expecting her back in mid November.
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
Budget Committee: Discussion was held on the 2014 budget.
Mr. Berkowitz moved that whereas, the adoption of this 2014 budget for the Thrall Public
Library District of Middletown and Wallkill requires a tax levy increase that exceeds the
tax cap imposed by state law as outlined in General Municipal Law Section 3-c adopted in
2011; and
Whereas, General Municipal Law Section 3-c expressly permits the library board to
override the tax levy limit by a resolution approved by a vote of sixty percent of qualified
board members; now therefore be it
Resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the Thrall Public Library District of Middletown
and Wallkill voted and approved to exceed the tax levy limit for 2014 by at least the sixty
percent of the Board of Trustees as required by state law on June 12, 2013.
Discussion followed and the Board tabled this resolution until the July meeting.
Finance Committee: BUDGET AMENDMENT #5
Ms. Lange moved that the Board of Trustees of Middletown Thrall Library amend the
2013 budget to be increased as follows.
ADD
Revenue L2705 Gifts & Donations $ 300.00
ADD
Appropriations: L7410.8200.12.0000.7 Furn & Equip $ 300.00
Sponsorship of signage for
Historic Audio Walking Tour
Mr. Berkowitz seconded.
Ayes: Boyd, Bell, Berkowitz, Crown, Lange - 5
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (6/12/13 - 40)
Ms. Lange moved that the regular monthly disbursements for May 2013 in the
amount of $80,057.02 having been audited by Lois Ruckert and found to be correct, be
approved. Mrs. Crown seconded.
Ayes: Boyd, Bell, Berkowitz, Crown, Lange - 5
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (6/12/13 - 41)
Building & Grounds: Ms. Lange reported on Building & Grounds.
The flagpole mechanism has been repaired and a new flag has been installed.
A representative from Middletown Rotary Club has asked us to reconsider our choice of
having a plaque affixed to the building for their historical walking audio tour of the City of
Middletown. She is recommending that we allow them to install a free standing sign on
the property facing Depot Street. She believes we may have to prune a shrub in order to
accommodate this placement but on the plus side, the placement would provide easier sign
access to pedestrian traffic and will not damage the building's brickwork.
I have had a conversation with a representative of Tri-County AC and Refrigeration
regarding two issues with our AC system. There is a leak in the system and preliminary
investigation has been unable to uncover the cause. The system will have to be drained
and tested for the source of the possible leak. The second issue concerns the refrigerant
currently used by the system. Our current refrigerant is being phased out and we will need
to convert the system to use a different refrigerant. He strongly suggests addressing both
issues at the same time. I am awaiting clarification of a proposal he has sent and I expect
to have more precise information at the meeting. Discussion was held.
Ms. Lange moved to accept Tri-State $4,866 estimate for fixing one of the two air-
conditioning unit's problems that we have. Mr. Berkowitz seconded.
Ayes: Boyd, Bell, Berkowitz, Crown, Lange - 5
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (6/12/13 - 42)
I expect to receive proofs back from Partners in Recognition for the volunteer plaque
available for review at our July 31st meeting.
J. Old Business
Discussion was held on the Library Evacuation Plan.
K. New Business
Mr. Berkowitz reported that it is coming up time for RCLS to conduct its annual meeting
at which new members are elected. Currently there is someone who is serving on the
RCLS Board as a nominated replacement for someone who left. There is an opening that
she would like to be permanently elected to. She would like Middletown Thrall Library
to send a letter of nomination for her on her behalf.
L. Adjournment
Ms. Lange moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:05pm. Mr. Bell seconded.
Ayes: Boyd, Bell, Crown, Berkowitz, Lange - 5
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (6/12/13 - 43)
Respectfully submitted,
Tonia Crown, Secretary
TABLE OF MOTIONS
(01/09/13 - 1) Accepted slate of officers
(01/09/13 - 2) Designated Middletown Times Herald Record as official newspaper
(01/09/13 - 3) Designated the Orange County Trust Company as official bank
(01/09/13 - 4) Designated Stifel-Nicholas as Investment Firm
(01/09/13 - 5) Appointed Robert Isseks as Library District's Attorney
(01/09/13 - 6) Adjournment
(01/09/13 - 7) Approval of 12/12/12 minutes
(01/09/13 - 8) Approved BUDGET AMENDMENT 1
(01/09/13 - 9) Executive session
(01/09/13 - 10) Adjournment
(02/13/13 - 11) Approval of 1/9/13 re-organizational minutes
(02/13/13 - 12) Approval of 1/9/13 minutes
(02/13/13 - 13) Approved BUDGET TRANSFER #4 (12/31/12)
(02/13/13 - 14) Approved monthly disbursement for December 2012
(02/13/13 - 15) Approved BUDGET AMENDMENT #6 (12/31/12)
(02/13/13 - 16) Approved BUDGET TRANSFER #1
(02/13/13 - 17) Approved BUDGET AMENDMENT #2
(02/13/13 - 18) Approved monthly disbursement for January 2013
(02/13/13 - 19) Approved Simplex Grinnell proposal
(02/13/13 - 20) Executive session
(02/13/13 - 21) Adjournment
(03/13/13 - 22) Approval of 2/13/13/minutes
(03/13/13 - 23) Approved BUDGET AMENDMENT #3
(03/13/13 - 24) Approved monthly disbursement for February 2013
(03/13/13 - 25) Adjournment
(04/10/13 - 26) Approval of 3/13/13 minutes
(04/10/13 - 27) Approved BUDGET TRANSFER #2
(04/10/13 - 28) Approved monthly disbursements for March 2013
(04/10/13 - 29) Accepted NYS Annual Report for 2012
(04/10/13 - 30) Approved timetable for October 2, 2013 election
(04/10/13 - 31) Adopted the District Policy on Tutoring
(04/10/13 - 32) Adjournment
(05/08/13 - 33) Approval of 4/10/13 minutes
(05/08/13 - 34) Approved adding budget line item for MTA payroll tax
(05/08/13 - 35) Approved BUDGET AMENDMENT #4
(05/08/13 - 36) Approved BUDGET TRANSFER #3
(05/08/13 - 37) Approved monthly disbursements for April 2013
(05/08/13 - 38) Adjournment
(06/12/13 - 39) Approval of 5/8/13 minutes
(06/12/13 - 40) Approved BUDGET AMENDMENT #5
(06/12/13 - 41) Approved monthly disbursements for May 2013
(06/12/13 - 42) Accepted Tri-State est. to repair one air-conditioning unit
(06/12/13 - 43) Adjournment