MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 19, 2005

 

The Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bucks County Free Library

was held at the Samuel Pierce Branch, Perkasie.  The meeting was called to order at

5:30 p.m.  Present:  Mary Ann Garton, President, Joan Bowman, Secretary, Jerry Balchis, Treasurer, Linda Brinker, Steven Dilliplane, Roberta Foerst, Martina Kominiarek, Executive Director, Janet Fricker, Assistant Director for Branch Libraries, Janet Marnatti, Children’s Services Coordinator, Carolyn Lechelt, Executive Secretary.  Absent:  William Draper, Vice President and David Bauer, Business Manager.

 

A MOTION to APPROVE the minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 15, 2005, as amended, was made by Balchis, SECONDED by Bowman and unanimously APPROVED.

 

Kevin Miller, President of Friends of Library Center, presented a proposal for the 2006 Author Series.  Mr. Miller asked the Board to approve $5,000 of Michener Marital Trust funds to pay for the appearance of best selling author Jodi Picoult in March 2006.  The Friends will pick up the remainder of expenses.  Mr. Balchis reported that the Finance Committee had reviewed this request and recommended approval.   A MOTION to APPROVE the expenditure of $5,000 of Michener Marital Trust funds for the author Jodi Picoult was made by Bowman, SECONDED by Balchis and APPROVED unanimously.

 

The President praised the recent edition of the Friends newsletter and thanked Mr. Miller for the coverage given to Maus and One Book, One Bucks County .

 

Staff Reports:

                                                                                                           

Elizabeth Anderson, Branch Manager of the Samuel Pierce Branch, presented a report on Branch activities, Friends’ fundraising efforts and adult/children’s programming.

 

Report of the Executive Director:

 

Presented reports on:

• DAC/Network meeting held March 29^th.  Members have agreed to create a contractural agreement which will be renewed annually.  They also agreed to become a Consortium.  The first meeting of the Public Library Consortium will be held on May 25 – 7:00 p.m.  Each library will select a representative. 

 

• Preliminary DLC Negotiating meeting held on April 5^th.  Claudia Koenig from the State Library attended this meeting.  Final document will be ready for approval at the May DLC meeting.

 

• BCCC Network meeting held with College representatives on April 15^th to discuss  creating a contractual relationship (annual agreement) regarding technology services.  The College agreed to send a representative to the Public Library Consortium meeting on May 25^th to experience first hand what the Consortium is and how the proposed decision-making process works.  
• Ms. Kominiarek reported that BCFL’s investment advisor projects a 4% return on Michener Marital Trust funds.  The Executive Director asked for approval to use the interest received from Michener Marital Trust funds for the following projects: 

(1)  DLC/Michener Art Museum collaborative program on Native American literature.  $1,000 will be used for adult programming; $500 for teen/children’s programming.  A MOTION to APPROVE spending $1,500 of Michener Marital Trust funds on a collaborative program on Native American literature was made by Balchis, SECONDED by Brinker and unanimously APPROVED.

 

(2)  $25,000 to buy partitions for the reorganization of the Technical Services/IT Depart-ments.  The President asked that the reorganization plan be submitted to the Building Committee for their review.  A MOTION to APPROVE the expenditure of $25,000 of Michener Marital Trust funds for the purchase of partitions for the reorganization of the TS/IT Departments was made by Foerst, SECONDED by Brinker and APPROVED unanimously.

 

Gary Bowman has volunteered his services to do strategic planning for BCFL.  The Finance Committee reviewed a proposal from Mr. Bowman that essentially states that Mr. Bowman will volunteer his services if BCFL is willing pay $1,500 for materials and expenses.  The Finance Committee recommends that BCFL accept Mr. Bowman’s generous offer.  A MOTION to APPROVE using Gary Bowman’s expertise as a strategic planner and approving the expenditure of $1,500 for materials and expenses was made by Balchis, SECONDED by Brinker and so APPROVED.  Joan Bowman abstained from voting.

 

Report of Assistant Director for Branch Libraries

 

Ms. Fricker and Ms. Ziegler are traveling to BCFL branch libraries to conduct mandatory anti-harassment workshops. 

 

Presented written Personnel and Statistical Reports for March 2005.

 

 

Report of Children’s Services Coordinator (written)

 

Janet Marnatti reviewed key children’s materials and services provided with District funds; she is participating in an on-going survey on how DLC money is being spent.

 

Report of Information Technology Manager (written) 

 

Report of Business Manager: (written)

 

In Mr. Bauer’s absence, the President called for the following motions:  Approval of payment of bills and financial statements for March 2005.

 

MOTION to APPROVE the payment of bills for March 2005 in the amount of $469,167.52 was made by Bowman, SECONDED by Brinker and unanimously APPROVED.

 

MOTION to APPROVE the Financial Statements (subject to audit) of March 2005 was made by Foerst, SECONDED by Brinker and APPROVED unanimously.                                                                          

Board Reports –  Building, Personnel and Technology Committees did not meet.   

 

The Executive Director reported the following:

 

• The Bicycle Club is willing to pay for all expenses incurred to install a professional bike rack at the Library Center .  Since the County owns the building, Ms. Kominiarek will contact the Director of the County Public Works Dept. for his advice.  The matter will then be referred to the Building Committee.

 

• A patron of the Yardley-Makefield Branch has asked for permission to take the Yardley Borough historical sign off the premises to obtain a quote from a professional restorer.  The gentleman proposes to use his funds to restore the

sign, if affordable.  The Board will be going to the Yardley-Makefield Branch for their May meeting.  Board Members will view the sign’s condition at that time.  Request was tabled.

 

Finance Committee - Met April 11^th.  The Chair reported that the following items are in process:

 

• Melinda Cox account (3 mutual funds) has been transferred to Wachovia.

 

• Issuance of a corporate credit card for select employees has been ordered through Wachovia.  These users will have individual credit limits.  There will be employer protection up to $50,000 for employee misuse.

 

• Business Manager spoke to the Bensalem Branch Manager regarding financial accountability for the Passport Project.  An interest bearing account will be opened with PNC.  The passport log will be reconciled with the governmental passport report and then both tied into the bank statement.

 

Fundraising Committee – Chair reported that the search for a Development Coordinator is still ongoing.  A viable candidate chose to take another position.  Another candidate is under consideration.

 

Correspondence – submitted in writing.                                                                                   

 

Meeting was opened to Public Comment.  No public in attendance.  Linda Brinker commended BCFL’s staff (Stephen Rees and Diane Davis in particular) for their quick response in helping her find a historical brochure.                                                                                                                                                                                

Unfinished Business - None

 

New Business – None

 

President called for an Executive Session at 6:41 p.m. to discuss personnel matters.

 

Meeting was reopened to the public at 7:37 p.m.

                                                                                               

There being no further business, a MOTION to ADJOURN was made at 7:38 p.m. by Bowman, SECONDED by Balchis and so MOVED.

                                                                                   

Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                    Carolyn Lechelt

Executive Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MAY 24, 2005