MINUTES OF THE MEETING
THRALL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
OF MIDDLETOWN AND WALLKILL
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
July 13, 2016
I. Attendance
Mr. Berkowitz called the roll.
Present
Mrs. Tonia Crown, President (arrived 5:06pm)
Mr. Richard C. Bell, Vice President
Mr. Carl Berkowitz, Secretary
Ms. Barbara Kay, Financial Officer
Mrs. Rosa Boyd
Ms. Marlena Lange
Mr. Matthew Pfisterer, Director
Absent
Mrs. Lois Ruckert (excused)
Visitors
Grace Riario, RCLS Assistant Director
Dorthea Deutsch
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. Richard Bell, Vice-President, opened the meeting at 5:01pm and led the pledge.
B. Minutes
Ms. Lange moved for adoption of the minutes of the June 8, 2016 meeting. Mrs.
Boyd seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Lange, Boyd, Kay - 5
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (07/13/16 - 48)
Ms. Kay moved for adoption of the June 28, 2016 Special Meeting minutes. Ms. Lange
seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Lange, Boyd, Kay - 5
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (07/13/16 - 49)
C. Visitor Comments/Staff Report
Dorthea Deutsch wanted to make public comments to the Board about outreach programs
for Spanish speaking patrons.
Grace Riario, Assistant Director of RCLS, discussed the Handbook for Library Trustees.
D. Correspondence
A copy of all correspondence sent to each Board member is attached to the official
minutes.
A letter was received from Senator John Bonacic informing the library that his office was
successful in securing $5,000 in "bullet aid" funding.
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.)
Ms. Lange moved that the grant application and accompanying documents for a public
library construction grant to be administered in accordance with the requirements of
Education Law §273-a (as Amended by Chapter 148 of the laws of 2014) and
Commissioner's Regulations §90.12 was read and duly adopted, and the conditions
outlined in the RCLS Assurance letter have been accepted by the Board of Trustees of the
Thrall Public Library District of Middletown and Wallkill. Mr. Berkowitz seconded.
Ayes: Crown, Bell, Berkowitz, Lange, Boyd, Kay - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (07/13/16 - 50)
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
June, 2016 in the amount of $77,315.72 having been audited by Carl Berkowitz and
found to be correct, be approved. Ms. Lange seconded.
Ayes: Crown, Berkowitz, Lange, Bell, Kay, Boyd - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (07/13/16 - 51)
Discussion was held on the proposed 2017 Budget.
Mr. Berkowitz moved that whereas, the adoption of this 2017 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 levy limit for 2017.
Mrs. Boyd seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Crown, Lange, Boyd, Kay - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (07/13/16 - 52)
Mr. Berkowitz moved to accept the preliminary proposed 2017 Budget for Middletown
Thrall Library. Ms. Lange seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Crown, Lange, Boyd, Kay - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (07/13/16 - 53)
Building & Grounds: Ms. Lange reported on Building & Grounds.
Trees in the front of the building that had been obscuring the visibility of the Middletown
Thrall Library lettering on the front of the building have been trimmed and the words are
now clearly visible.
On July 12, 2016 RCLS sent out documents related to the 2016 Construction Grant
Application that requires the Board do a resolution to be passed.
We have received no reports or evidence of insect infestation in the building.
I. Old Business
Discussion was held on the Fine Amnesty for April and May.
J. New Business
Discussion was held on the Library Program Hospitality.
Ms. Kay moved to go into executive session at 6:15pm for discussion on employment
history of a particular individual and to discuss a pending litigation. Ms. Lange
seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Crown, Lange, Boyd, Kay - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (07/13/16 - 54)
The Board returned from executive session at 6:21pm.
L. Adjournment
Mr. Berkowitz moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:25pm. Mrs. Boyd seconded.
Ayes: Crown, Berkowitz, Lange, Bell, Kay, Boyd - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (07/13/16 - 55)
Respectfully submitted,
Carl S. Berkowitz, Secretary
TABLE OF MOTIONS
(01/20/16 - 1) Accepted slate of officers
(01/20/16 - 2) Designated Middletown Times Herald Record as official newspaper
(01/20/16 - 3) Designated the Orange County Trust Company as official bank
(01/20/16 - 4) Designated Stifel-Nicholas as Investment Firm
(01/20/16 - 5) Appointed Robert Isseks as Library District's Attorney
(01/20/16 - 6) Adjournment
(01/20/16 - 7) Approval of 12/09/15 minutes
(01/20/16 - 8) Approval of 12/29/15 Special Meeting minutes
(01/20/16 - 9) Executive Session
(01/20/16-10) Approved monthly disbursements for December 2015
(01/20/16-11) Approved .50 per item - per day for 3 months
(01/20/16-12) Approved to extend Long Range Plan through 2016
(01/20/16-13) Approved to extend for one month the change of signatory parties
(01/20/16-14) Adjournment
(02/10/16-15) Approval of 1/20/16 reorganizational minutes
(02/10/16 -16) Approval of 1/20/16 minutes
(02/10/16-17) Adjournment
(03/09/16-18) Approval of 2/10/16 minutes
(03/09/16-19) Executive Session
(03/09/16-20) Approved monthly disbursements for January & February 2016
(03/09/16-21) Approved repairs for backflow valves
(03/09/16-22) Accepted the NYS Annual Report for 2015
(03/09/16-23) Adjournment
(04/13/16-24) Approval of 3/9/16 minutes
(04/13/16-25) Executive session
(04/13/16-26) Approved monthly disbursements for March 2016
(04/13/16-27) Executive session
(04/13/16-28) Approved 2016 Timetable for budget vote
(04/13/16-29) Approved RCLS Direct Access Plan for 2017-2021
(04/13/16-30) Adjournment
(05/11/16-31) Approval of 4/13/16 minutes
(05/11/16-32) Approved monthly disbursements for April 2016
(05/11/16-33) Approved BUDGET AMENDMENT #1
(05/11/16-34) Executive session
(05/11/16-35) Approved sending letter re: Town of Wallkill Dial-A-Bus
(05/11/16-36) Adjournment
(06/08/16-37) Approval of 5/11/16 minutes
(06/08/16-38) Approved monthly disbursements for May 2016
(06/08/16-39) Approved BUDGET TRANSFER #1
(06/08/16-40) Approved BUDGET AMENDMENT #2
(06/08/16-41) Accepted 403(b) Plan
(06/06/16-42) Accepted Credit Card Policy
(06/08/16-43) Accepted Dress Code Policy
(06/08/16-44) Adjournment
(06/28/16-45) Executive session
(06/28/16-46) Approved to enter into conciliatory negotiations
(06/28/16-47) Adjourn
(07/13/16-48) Approval of 6/8/16 minutes
(07/13/16-49) Approval of 6/28/16 Special Mtg. Minutes
(07/13/16-50) Approved Application for Library Construction Grant
(07/13/16-51) Approved monthly disbursements for June 2016
(07/13/16-52) Approved NYS Override Amendment
(07/13/16-53) Accepted Proposed 2017 Preliminary Budget
(07/13/16-54) Executive session
(07/13/16-55) Adjournment