MINUTES OF THE MEETING
THRALL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
OF MIDDLETOWN AND WALLKILL
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
September 14, 2022
I. Attendance
Ms. Lange 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
Mr. Matthew Pfisterer, Director
Absent
Bishop Robert Smith (Excused)
Visitors
Evelyn Ortega
Narene Russell
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, asked to open a discussion for the Public Meeting
regarding the 2023 Budget Vote at 7:02pm. Mr. Berkowitz moved and Mrs. Crown seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Sciucco, Lange, Crown, Amelio - (6)
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (9/14/22-52)
B. Minutes
Ms. Amelio moved for adoption of the minutes for the July 13, 2022 monthly
meeting with corrections to the date. Mrs. Scuicco seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Sciucco, Lange, Crown, Amelio - (6)
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (9/14/22-53)
C. Visitor Comments/Staff Report
None
D. Correspondence
None
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, Senator James Skoufis secured $15,000 in funding for
Youth Programming 2022-2023 Fiscal Year.
The Ballots for the Election are printed. It was noticed that an error was made
in the published Public Notice regarding the duration of years left on one of
the terms. It was corrected on the Official Ballot.
Submission on the behalf of Ms. Allen, Head of Reference, for the purchase of
a Scannex Machine was presented by the Library Director. Mr. Berkowitz moved
to authorize the purchase of the Scannex, Ms. Sciucco seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Sciucco, Lange, Crown, Amelio - (6)
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (9/14/22-54)
Mr. Pfisterer is requesting approval of the invoice for the moving of the Newsstand.
Ms. Lange moved to authorize the payment, Ms. Amelio seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Sciucco, Lange, Crown, Amelio - (6)
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (9/14/22-55)
Mr. Pfisterer spoke about a security issue that occurred recently and resulted
in damage to the front door and security camera.
G. Financial Officer's Report
Ms. Lange and Mr. Berkowitz commented that the Budget Status Report shows a
healthy balance for this point in the Fiscal Year.
Mr. Berkowitz moved that the regular monthly disbursements for August, 2022 in
the amount of $129,750.64 having been audited by Ms. Marlena Lange and found
to be correct, be approved. Mrs. Tonia Crown seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Sciucco, Lange, Crown, Amelio - (6)
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (9/14/22-56)
Mr. Berkowitz moved that the regular monthly disbursements for July, 2022 in the
amount of $180,512.97 having been audited by Mr. Richard Bell and found to be
correct, be approved. Ms. Marlena Lange seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Sciucco, Lange, Crown, Amelio - (6)
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (9/14/22-57)
H. Committee Report
Building & Grounds: I have solicited bids from plumbers to replace the sinks in
the library's first floor restrooms. Our current sinks lack the support necessary
to prevent them from coming off of the mounts in the event that someone leans or
sits on them. I recommend that we move forward with a proposal that will provide
a support structure behind the existing walls to which the new sinks will be
mounted. The existing wall will be replaced by either a composite material
(Melamine) or with stainless steel. The new sinks will maintain our compliance
with provisions of the "Americans with Disabilities Act."
The skylight is in need of resealing as water is leaking into the building at times
of heavy rain. I have solicited bids and selected a local glazier to do the
resealing of the skylight.
We have called our roofing company to inspect areas of the building that experienced
leaks during our last significant rainfall. New leaks were discovered in the
Circulation Supervisor's office and in the Board Room.
The newsstand that was previously located in the Circulation Desk area has been
moved to the Reading Room. The work was completed on Saturday, August 20, 2022.
Our exterminating contractor has informed us that we are not currently experiencing
any infestation issues.
Mr. Berkowitz moved to close the Public Budget Hearing at 7:34pm, Ms. Sciucco seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Sciucco, Lange, Crown, Amelio - (6)
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (9/14/22-58)
I. Old Business
RCLS IT Services Agreement. Instead of one blanket agreement, they are now requiring
individual agreements between member libraries and RCLS. We are doing the Hybrid Option.
Ms. Lange moved to accept the Hybrid Option, Ms. Amelio seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Sciucco, Lange, Crown, Amelio - (6)
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (9/14/22-59)
RCLS 2023 Operating Budget. Information is located on their website. It will be looked
over and voted on in October.
J. New Business
Approval of the 2023 Library Budget, which will be in compliance with the NYS Tax Cap.
Mrs. Crown moved to approve the 2023 Library Budget, Ms. Sciucco seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Sciucco, Lange, Crown, Amelio - (6)
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (9/14/22-60)
Mr. Berkowitz moved to go into Executive Session at 7:40pm to discuss contract
Negotiations, Mrs. Sciucco seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Sciucco, Lange, Crown, Amelio - (6)
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (9/14/22-61)
Executive Session Ended at 7:52pm.
K. Adjournment
Ms. Amelio moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:53pm, Ms. Lange seconded.
Ayes: Bell, Berkowitz, Sciucco, Crown, Amelio, Lange - (6)
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (9/14/22-62)
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
(09/14/22-52) Open Discussion for the Public Meeting for the 2023 Budget Vote
(09/14/22-53) Approval of adoption of the minutes of the 07/13/22 monthly meeting
(09/14/22-54) Authorization of Scannex purchase
(09/14/22-55) Authorization of payment for moving of the Newsstand
(09/14/22-56) Approved monthly disbursements for August 2022
(09/14/22-57) Approved monthly disbursements for July 2022
(09/14/22-58) Closing of the Public Budget Hearing
(09/14/22-59) Approval of the RCLS IT Services Agreement
(09/14/22-60) Approval of the 2023 Library Budget
(09/14/22-61) Executive Session
(09/14/22-62) Adjournment