MINUTES OF THE MEETING
THRALL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
OF MIDDLETOWN AND WALLKILL BOARD OF TRUSTEES
September 10, 2014
I. Attendance
Ms. Lange called the roll.
Present
Mrs. Lois Ruckert, President
Mrs. Tonia Crown, Vice President
Ms. Barbara Kay, Treasurer
Ms. Marlena Lange, Secretary
Mrs. Rosa Boyd
Mr. Richard C. Bell
Mr. Carl Berkowitz
Mr. Matthew Pfisterer, Director
Absent
None
Visitors
Karen Heil, Government Documents Librarian
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. Mrs. Lois Ruckert, President, opened the meeting at 7:00pm and led the pledge to the flag.
Mr. Berkowitz moved to open the Public Hearing for the Library District for the 2015
budget. Ms. Kay seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Crown, Kay, Lange, Boyd - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (09/10/14 - 54)
B. Minutes
Ms. Lange moved for adoption of the minutes of the July 9, 2014 meeting. Mrs. Boyd
seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Crown, Kay, Lange, Boyd - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (09/10/14 - 55)
C. Visitor Comments
No comments.
The Board moved the Government Documents report by Karen Heil up on the agenda.
(Report attached to official minutes.)
D. Correspondence
A copy of all correspondence sent to each Board member is attached to the official
minutes.
The Board received a letter from a resident of Mt. Hope about library services to that area.
Discussion followed. (Letter attached to official minutes.)
E. President's Report
Mrs. Ruckert reminded the Board that there will be two workshops being held at RCLS.
One is Library Law 101, October 21st and the other is Open Meeting Law on November
20th. You can register using the RCLS Calendar.
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 the Children's Room supervisor is home from surgery and is
resting comfortably.
Mr. Pfisterer discussed the circulation statistics to date.
G. Financial Officer's Report
Mr. Pfisterer reported on the accounts and balances. (Attached to official minutes)
H. Committee Reports
Finance Committee: Mr. Berkowitz moved that the regular monthly disbursements for
July 2014 in the amount of $117,807.63 having been audited by Richard Bell and found to
be correct, be approved.
Mr. Berkowitz moved that the regular monthly disbursements for August 2014 in the
amount of $67,007.03 having been audited by Marlena Lange and found to be
correct, be approved.
Mrs. Boyd seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Crown, Kay, Lange, Boyd - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (09/10/14 - 56)
BUDGET AMENDMENT #5
Mr. Berkowitz moved that the Board of Trustees of Middletown Thrall Library amend the
2014 budget to be increased as follows:
ADD
Revenue L2705 Donations
L. Thompson $ 20.00
"copy fee" donation
ETA Internat'l $ 7.00
Share of testing fees
L2765 State Grants $ 250.00
Family Literacy
ADD
APPROPRIATIONS
L7410.8425.12.0000.0 Adult Program $ 27.00
L7410.8425.12.0000.0 Child programs $ 250.00
Ms. Lange seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Crown, Kay, Lange, Boyd - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (09/10/14 - 57)
Mr. Bell moved to close the Public Hearing at 8:04pm. There were no visitors. Mrs.
Crown seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Crown, Kay, Lange, Boyd - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (09/10/14 - 58)
Building & Grounds: Ms. Lange reported on Building & Grounds.
Mr. Pfisterer received three proposals for the creation of architectural plans for a remodel
of the first floor bathrooms.
To date Mr. Pfisterer contacted many HVAC contractors soliciting bids for new boilers
and a heat/cooling curtain for the library entrance. To date, Mr. Pfisterer has received
only two proposals for the work. Mr. Pfisterer will now solicit bids from contractors who
are outside of the Library District.
Mr. Pfisterer received a request from a Trustee for a discussion at the September meeting
regarding the role of the Library during a period of civil unrest similar to that which took
place in Ferguson, Missouri this summer.
Following the Labor Day weekend we discovered three books, which had been left in the
bookdrop, were infested with bed bugs. The books were returned by three different
patrons so we cannot determine the source of the infestation. We have also had one
incident of a patron returning a book at the desk that was discovered to be infested with
bed bugs. I have instructed custodial and circulation desk staff on specific procedures for
dealing with materials returned to the library that are discovered to be infested with
insects. The library is inspected monthly by an exterminator and to date we have not
experienced any infestations in the building.
I. Old Business
Discussion was held on the proposed Amendments to the By-Laws.
Mr. Berkowitz moved that the Board accept the Amendments as proposed in the By-
Laws. Mr. Bell seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Crown, Kay, Lange, Boyd - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (09/10/14 - 59)
J. New Business
Discussion was held on the 20th Anniversary of the Library relocation. The Board decided
on waiting to do anything until the 25th Anniversary.
Mr. Berkowitz moved to go into executive session at 8:34 for personnel matters. Mrs.
Boyd seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Crown, Kay, Lange, Boyd - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (09/10/14 - 60)
The Board returned from executive session at 8:45pm.
Mrs. Boyd moved that the Board support the Heritage Trail and a vote of confidence for
the project to move ahead. Mrs. Crown seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Kay, Crown, Lange, Boyd - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (09/10/14 -61)
K. Adjournment
Mr. Berkowitz moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:51pm. Mr. Bell seconded.
Ayes: Ruckert, Bell, Berkowitz, Kay, Crown, Lange, Boyd - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (09/10/14 -62)
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
PAGE 2
(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
(07/09/14 - 47) Approval of 6/11/14 minutes with a correction
(07/09/14 - 48) Approved monthly disbursements for June 2014 & BUDGET AMENDMENT #5
(07/09/14 - 49) Executive session
(07/09/14 - 50) Approved proposed Amendments to By-Laws
(07/09/14 - 51) Approved NYS Override Amendment
(07/09/14 - 52) Accepted proposed 2015 preliminary Budget
(07/09/14 - 53) Adjournment
(09/10/14 - 54) Opened Public Hearing for 2015 Budget
(09/10/14 - 55) Approval of 7/9/14 minutes
(09/10/14 - 56) Approval monthly disbursements for July and August 2014
(09/10/14 - 57) Approved AMENDMENT #6
(09/10/14 - 58) Closed Public Hearing
(09/10/14 - 59) Accepted amendments to By-Laws
(09/10/14 - 60) Executive Session
(09/10/10 - 61) Board supports Heritage Trail
(09/10/14 - 62) Adjournment