MINUTES OF THE MEETING
THRALL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
OF MIDDLETOWN AND WALLKILL
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
July 10, 2019
I. Attendance
Mrs. Sciucco called the roll.
Present
Mr. Carl Berkowitz, President
Mrs. Marianne Sciucco, Vice President
Mrs. Tonia Crown, Financial Officer
Mrs. Rosa Boyd
Mr. Richard C. Bell
Ms. Marlena Lange
Mr. Matthew Pfisterer, Director
Absent
Ms. Linda Martini, Secretary (excused)
Visitors
Tracy Barretta, Principal Account Clerk
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 5:01pm and led the pledge.
B. Minutes
Mr. Bell moved for adoption of the minutes of the June 12, 2019 meeting. Mrs.
Crown seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Lange, Boyd, Crown, Sciucco - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (7/10/19 - 42)
C. Visitor Comments/Staff Report
Mrs. Barretta reported on the Audit Financial Statements, discussed Tax Levy Worksheet
and discussed the budget.
D. Correspondence
A copy of any correspondence is sent to each Board member and is attached to the official
minutes.
E. President's Report
Mr. Berkowitz reported that he took part in the Orange County Census Committee
meeting.
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 Officer's Report
A copy of the accounts and balances are attached to the official minutes.
H. Committee Reports
Ms. Lange moved that the regular monthly disbursements for June, 2019 in the
amount of $80,108.09 having been audited by Carl Berkowitz and found to be
correct, be approved. Mr. Bell seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Lange, Boyd, Crown, Sciucco - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (7/10/19 - 45)
Building & Grounds:
Mr. Pfisterer was notified by an employee at the Eliot that they were
under the threat of a citation by the City of Middletown because of a broken
electrical box on their property that had exposed live wires. The Eliot
employee called O&R to complete a repair. According to the Eliot the O&R
employee told him that they do not complete repairs on low voltage wiring
and that the broken box was housing the wiring for the Library's lamppost.
The employee contacted the Library and informed me of the situation. He
has since stated to me that the Eliot owner is willing to allow the wiring
to remain on Eliot property provided that we pay for the repair. I have
been told that if we move the wiring on to Library property, the project
will be extremely expensive and require extensive excavation work. I called
two licensed electricians seeking estimates but to date I have received
only one. I will move forward with the repair estimate from the contractor
I have heard back from. Cost of the repair is approximately $2,000.00.
One of the Library's air conditioning units had a blocked line and water
leaked out of the unit and damaged ceiling tiles in the Children's Room.
The blockage was cleared and our contractor later came in to service the
unit. There has been no further leakage.
A locksmith was called to complete repairs on the staff entrance to the
Library. A new heavy duty door handle has been installed.
The upgrade of the Library's alarm system has been completed.
Our exterminator has reported that we are not experiencing any insect infestation at this
time.
Ms. Lange moved that we not exceed $6,500.00 to repair the roof tiles. Mrs. Crown
seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Lange, Boyd, Crown, Sciucco - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (7/10/19 - 46)
I. Old Business
Discussion was held on the Mokotoff donation.
J. New Business
Mrs. Crown moved that whereas, the adoption of this 2020 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 vote and approve to
exceed the tax limit for 2020 Budget for the Middletown Thrall Library.
Ms. Lange seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Lange, Boyd, Crown, Sciucco - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (7/10/19 - 43)
J. New Business
Mrs. Boyd moved to accept the preliminary proposed 2020 Budget for the Middletown
Thrall Library. Mr. Bell seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Lange, Boyd, Crown, Sciucco - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (7/10/19 - 44)
Mrs. Crown moved to revise the Timetable dates for the 2019 Election. Ms. Lange
seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Lange, Boyd, Crown, Sciucco - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (7/10/19 - 47)
Mrs. Crown moved to add the Budget & Trustee Election date to the yearly
Reorganization Agenda. Mrs. Boyd seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Lange, Boyd, Crown, Sciucco - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (7/10/19 - 48)
Ms. Lange moved to go into executive session at 6:10pm to discuss particular
individuals and contractual issues. Mrs. Sciucco seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Lange, Boyd, Crown, Sciucco - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (7/10/19 - 49)
The Board returned from executive session at 6:22pm.
K. Adjournment
Ms. Lange moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:22pm. Mrs. Crown seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Boyd, Crown, Lange, Sciucco - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (7/10/19 - 50)
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Martini, Secretary
TABLE OF MOTIONS
(01/09/19-1) Accepted slate of officers
(01/09/19-2) Designated Middletown Times Herald Record as official newspaper
(01/09/19-3) Designated the Orange Bank and Trust as official bank
(01/09/19-4) Designated Stifel-Nicholas as Investment Firm
(01/09/19-5) Appointed Alex Smith as Library District's Attorney
(01/09/19-6) Adjournment
(01/09/19-7) Executive session
(01/09/19-8) Accepted bid from Barrier Free Access Systems, Inc.
(01/09/19-9) Approved to extend Long Range Plan
(01/09/19-10) Accepted appointment of full time cleaner
(01/09/19-11) Adjournment
(02/13/19-12) Approval of 1/09/19 Organization Meeting minutes
(02/13/19-13) Approval of 1/09/19 minutes
(02/13/19-14) Approval of 12/12/18 minutes
(02/13/19-15) Approved monthly disbursements for December 2018
(02/13/19-16) Approved monthly disbursements for January 2019
(02/13/19-17) Executive session
(02/13/19-18) Adjournment
(03/13/19-19) Approval of 2/13/19 minutes
(03/13/19-20) Approved monthly disbursements for February 2019
(03/13/19-21) Executive session
(03/13/19-22) Accepted 2019 Annual Report to the State of NY
(03/13/19-23) Accepted appointment of Theresa Zacek to Librarian II
(03/13/19-24) Adjournment
(04/10/19-25) Approval of 3/13/19 minutes
(04/10/19-26) Approved monthly disbursements for March 2019
(04/10/19-27) Executive Session
(04/10/19-28) Accepted timetable for 2020 Budget
(04/10/19-29) Adjournment
(05/08/19-30) Approval of 4/10/19 minutes
(05/08/19-31) Approved monthly disbursements for April 2019
(05/08/19-32) Approved BUDGET AMENDMENT #1
(05/08/19-33) Approved BUDGET AMENDMENT #2
(05/08/19-34) Approved TRANSFER #1
(05/08/19-35) Executive Session
(05/08/19-36) Adjournment
(06/12/19-37) Approval of 5/8/19 minutes
(06/12/19-38) Approved monthly disbursements
(06/12/19-39) Accepted proposal for Johnson Controls
(06/12/19-40) Executive session
(06/12/19-41) Adjournment
(07/10/19-42) Approval of 7/10/19 minutes
(07/10/19-43) Approved NYS Override Amendment
(07/10/19-44) Accepted proposed 2020 preliminary budget
(07/10/19-45) Approved monthly disbursements
(07/10/19-46) Approved to not exceed $6500 repair of roof tiles
(07/10/19-47) Approved to revise the 2019 Budget Timetable
(07/10/19-48) Approved Budget & Trustee Election to yearly reorganization agenda
(07/10/19-49) Executive Session
(07/10/19-50) Adjournment
(07/26/19-51) Executive Session
(07/26/19-52) Approved Expenditure with United for repairs
(07/26/19-53) Adjournment
(08/09/19-54) Nominate John Schneider for RCLS Board of Trustees
(08/09/19-55) Executive Session
(08/09/19-56) Approved expenditure with Superior Floors
(08/09/19-57) Accepted proposal from Precision Roofing
(08/09/19-58) Adjournment