MINUTES OF THE MEETING
THRALL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
OF MIDDLETOWN AND WALLKILL
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
July 13, 2022
I. Attendance
Mrs. Crown called the roll
Present
Mr. Richard C. Bell, President
Mrs. Tonia Crown, Financial Officer
Mrs. Marianne Sciucco, Vice President
Mr. Carl Berkowitz
Ms. Frances Amelio
Bishop Robert Smith
Mr. Matthew Pfisterer, Director
Absent
Ms. Marlena Lange (Excused)
Visitors
Bridget Manigo - Youth Services Department Head
Tracy Barretta - Principal Account Clerk
II. Pledge of Allegiance
III. 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
IV. Discussion and Recommendation
A. Mr. Bell, President, opened the meeting at 5:04pm.
B. Minutes
Ms. Amelio moved for adoption of the minutes for the June 8, 2022 monthly
meeting. Bishop Smith seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Sciucco Smith, Crown, Amelio - (6)
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (7/13/22-45)
C. Visitor Comments/Staff Report
Bridget Manigo spoke about the programs going on within the Children's Room, the
Summer Reading Programs for different age groups, Battle of the Books, Community
Youth Day and National Night Out.
Tracy Barretta spoke about the new furniture, the continuation of the upgrades, and about
moving the Newsstand into the Reading Room. She also spoke about using the revenue
earned from Proctoring Exams being used towards snacks for programs.
D. Correspondence
Middletown Police Department Annual Kids Celebration Thank You Letter.
E. President's Report
Mr. Bell advised that comments will be discussed in Executive Session.
F. Director's Report
(A copy of the Director's Report sent to each Board member is attached to the official
minutes.) Added that the 2021 Audit was received and available for review.
G. Financial Officer's Report
Mr. Berkowitz moved that the regular monthly disbursements for June, 2022 in the
amount of $191,599.18 having been audited by Ms. Frances Amelio and found to be
correct, be approved. Mrs. Tonia Crown seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Sciucco, Smith, Crown, Amelio - (6)
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (7/13/22-46)
There were no Amendments and Transfers.
Mr. Berkowitz moved the Extension of Fine Free Checkout until 12/31/22.
Mrs. Sciucco seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Sciucco, Smith, Crown, Amelio - (6)
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (7/13/22-47)
H. Committee Report
Building & Grounds: New furniture has arrived for the Library's first floor. Included
are curved bookshelves located in the center aisle of the Library's first floor which will
display our new books collection. Comfortable round ottomans on each side of the
bookshelves can be used for seated browsing of the lower shelves. Four privacy pods
have been added to the area in front of the Government Documents office. Each of the
privacy pods includes an electric outlet and USB port so patrons can charge their
computers and phones while seated in the pod. I have been receiving much positive
feedback from patrons regarding the new furniture.
The Library has extended its Wi-Fi signal outside of the building on both the North Street
and Henry Street sides of the building. This will allow patrons to connect their phone, or
any device, to the internet during hours in which the Library is not open to the public.
The exterior Wi-Fi will be available to patrons between the hours of 8:00am until
11:00pm seven days. The cost of the exterior Wi-Fi Units was covered under a federal
grant administered through the Ramapo Catskill Library System.
Our exterminating contractor has informed us that we are not currently experiencing any
infestation issues.
I. Old Business
None
J. New Business
Mrs. Crown moved the Motion to Override NYS Tax Cap for 2023.
Mr. Berkowitz seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Sciucco, Smith, Crown, Amelio - (6)
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (7/13/22-48)
Mrs. Crown moved the Motion to Accept the Proposed Library Budget for 2023.
Mrs. Sciucco seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Sciucco, Smith, Crown, Amelio - (6)
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (7/13/22-49)
RCLS ANSER Network Service Level - For a number of reasons RCLS is requiring
Libraries to sign a contract for IT services. There were two levels of service that was
presented. Middletown opted to continue with the Hybrid option.
2023 Trustee Training Requirement - Discussed options and requirements with Trustees.
Discussed The Humbling and Other Poems by our very own Robert J. Tiess.
Mr. Berkowitz moved to go into Executive Session at 6:25pm to discuss negotiations.
Mrs. Sciucco seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Sciucco, Smith, Crown, Amelio - (6)
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (7/13/22-50)
Executive Session Ended at 6:33pm.
K. Adjournment
Ms. Amelio moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:42pm. Bishop Smith seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Sciucco, Crown, Amelio, Smith - (6)
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (7/13/22-51)
Respectfully Submitted,
Marlena Lange, Secretary
TABLE OF MOTIONS
(01/12/21-1) Accepted slate of officers
(01/12/21-2) Designated Middletown Times Herald Record as official newspaper
(01/12/21-3) Designated the Orange Bank and Trust as official bank
(01/12/21-4) Appointed Alex Smith & Elizabeth Hunter as Library District's Attorney
(01/12/21-5) Designated Nugent & Haeussler, P.C. Audit Firm
(01/12/21-6) Adjournment
(01/12/21-7) Approval of adoption of the minutes of the 12/8/21 meeting, with corrections
(01/12/21-8) Executive Session
(01/12/21-9) Approved increase of Part Time Staff's wages
(01/12/21-10) Approved increase of Administrative wages
(01/12/21-11) Adjournment
(02/09/22-12) Approval of adoption of the minutes of the 01/12/22 Reorganizational
Minutes, with corrections
(02/09/22-13) Approval of adoption of the minutes of the 01/12/22 monthly meeting
(02/09/22-14) Approved monthly disbursements for December 2021
(02/09/22-15) Approved monthly disbursements for January 2022
(02/09/22-16) Discussion of Library participation in the Kiwanis Plastic Bag Recycling
Program
(02/09/22-17) Executive Session
(02/09/22-18) Adjournment
(03/09/22-19) Approval of adoption of the minutes of the 02/09/22 meeting
(03/09/22-20) Approved 2021 Budget Transfer #5
(03/09/22-21) Approved 2021 Budget Transfer #6
(03/09/22-22) Executive Session
(03/09/22-23) Adjournment
(04/13/22-24) Approval of adoption of the minutes of the 03/09/22 meeting
(04/13/22-25) Executive Session
(04/13/22-26) Approved 2021 Budget Transfer #7
(04/13/22-27) Approved monthly disbursements for February 2022
(04/13/22-28) Approved monthly disbursements for March 2022
(04/13/22-29) Approval of the Annual Report to the Community
(04/13/22-30) Adjournment
(05/11/22-31) Approval of adoption of the minutes of the 04/13/22 monthly meeting
(05/11/22-32) Approved monthly disbursements for April 2022
(05/11/22-33) Approved 2022 Budget Transfer #2
(05/11/22-34) Approved 2022 Budget Transfer #3
(05/11/22-35) Executive Session
(05/11/22-36) Adjournment
(06/08/22-37) Approval of adoption of the minutes of the 05/11/22 monthly meeting
(06/08/22-38) Executive Session
(06/08/22-39) Approved 2022 Budget Transfer #1
(06/08/22-40) Approved 2022 Budget Transfer #4
(06/08/22-41) Adjournment
(08/30/22-42) Executive Session
(08/30/22-43) Approval to move forward with the NYS Construction Grant Telephone
System Proposal
(08/30/22-44) Adjournment
(07/13/22-45) Approval of adoption of the minutes of the 06/08/22 meeting
(07/13/22-46) Approved monthly disbursements for June 2022
(07/13/22-47) Approval of Extension of Fine Free Checkout
(07/13/22-48 Approval of Motion to Override NYS Tax Cap for 2023
(07/13/22-49) Approval of the Motion to Accept the Proposed Library Budget for 2023
(07/13/22-50) Executive Session
(07/13/22-51) Adjournment