BUCKS COUNTY FREE LIBRARY

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF JUNE 20, 2006

 

The Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bucks County Free Library was held at the Pennwood Branch, Langhorne.  The meeting was called to order at 5:36 p.m.  Present were:  Mary Ann Garton, President, William Draper, Vice President, Jerry Balchis , Treasurer, Linda Brinker, Steven Dilliplane, Martina Kominiarek , Executive Director, Susan Ziegler, Public Services Director, Javier Lanchang, System Services Director, Janet Marnatti , Children’s Services Coordinator, Paul Acampora , Development Director, David Bauer , Business Manager, Carolyn Lechelt, Secretary to the Board.  Absent: Joan Bowman, Secretary and Roberta Foerst . 

 

A MOTION to APPROVE the minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 17, 2006 was made by Brinker, SECONDED by Draper and APPROVED unanimously.

 

Staff Reports:

 

Richard Strauss , Pennwood Branch Manager, reported on the Friends group’s book sales.  Receipts are averaging $6,000-$7,000 a year.

 

Report of Executive Director:

 

CAC members met May 31^st.    Topics of review/discussion were:

 

• Proposed Use of Patron Database Policy and privacy issues.
• IT and County Coordination funding for next year.

 

The Governor’s proposed budget is expected to pass.  This would mean BCFL will receive a total increase of $350,000 over last year.  This brings the figure up to the same amount as in 2002 before the budget cuts.  News on whether the budget passed should be received no later than first or second week of July.

 

Report of Public Services Director (submitted in writing):

 

First Friday – June 2^nd was the kick-off at the Library Center , Doylestown. 50-60 people came to the library; all PCs were in use; and 335 books were circulated.  The Doylestown programming committee did a great job pulling it all together.  The library expects more attendance as word gets out to the community.  First Friday programming:  July – Dance Dance Revolution; August – Woodstock Night; September – Nascar Night.  The President expressed the Board’s appreciation to the District Library Center Programming Committee, chaired by Janet Fricker, for organizing the programs, games, and refreshments.

 

Levittown held their grand opening of the new Teen area on June 17^th.   Participating in the ceremonies were Commissioner Sandra Miller and PA Representative Anthony Melio.

 

                                                                                                                                                           

 

Personnel Report for May 2006 (submitted in writing).

 

Statistical Report for May 2006 (submitted in writing).

 

Report of System Services Director (submitted in writing):

 

Report of District Consultant (submitted in writing).

 

Report of Children’s Services Coordinator (submitted in writing).  Summer Reading Club is in full swing.  This is the 20^th year Smith, Kline, French has sponsored the highly acclaimed and very popular Science in the Summer program. 

 

Report of Business Manager:

 

MOTION to APPROVE the payment of bills for May 2006 in the amount of $375,846.59 was made by Balchis SECONDED by Draper and APPROVED unanimously.

 

MOTION to APPROVE the May 2006 financial statements (subject to audit) was made by Draper, SECONDED by Balchis, and unanimously APPROVED.

 

Mr. Bauer presented an update on the 2005 audit. 

 

Board Committee Reports:

 

Building Committee met to discuss:

 

• All BCFL facilities going wireless.
• New drive-by book drops.  It will no longer be necessary for staff to come in on holidays and weekends to empty book drops.
• Capital project issues. 

 

The County instituted a new procedure for submitting capital project requests.  Ms. Garton reported on meetings held with County officials to explain BCFL’s need for capital project funding.  Ms. Garton was happy to report that the County’s Chief Operating Officer informed her today that the County will allocate BCFL $200,000 towards capital projects for 2006.  The County Finance Dept. has asked BCFL to submit a five-year plan for capital projects in the next two weeks.

 

Mr. Lanchang reviewed bids received for a preventative maintenance contract to service HVAC units at all BCFL facilities.  Mr. Lanchang recommended accepting the bid from Touzour-Trane in the amount of $23,000 for a one year service contract.  A MOTION to APPROVE awarding the preventative maintenance bid to Touzour-Trane for a conditional one year contract in the amount of $23,000.00 was made by Brinker, SECONDED by Draper and so APPROVED.

 

 

 

Development – Met to review/discuss:

 

• Proposed Patron Database Policy.  Board will receive copies for their review.  Committee will ask for approval at the July Board meeting.
• Business and Industry mailing.  Library received $2,500 in response to the mailing.
• Applying to Bucks County Foundation for a grant for facility upgrades at the Doylestown Library.
• Branding/Marketing project is on-going.  Surveys are going out to members of community.  IVY group will tabulate surveys.

 

Finance, Library Services and Personnel did not meet. 

 

Executive Director reviewed proposed 2006-2007 District Budget that was approved by CPL Directors and their Boards.  A MOTION to APPROVE the 2006-2007 District Budget was made by Brinker, SECONDED by Draper and unanimously APPROVED.

 

Correspondence – submitted in writing.   Library has not received a response to the invitation sent to First Lady Laura Bush regarding her attendance on October 16^th to celebrate BCFL’s 50^th anniversary.

 

Meeting was opened to Public Comment.  No public in attendance.

 

No Unfinished Business.         

 

New Business:

 

Executive Director requested that the Board approve the purchase of wireless people counters at all branches.  The counters will be installed as each branch goes wireless.  The existing counters are not accurate and three units have failed.  The new units will be connected to the Network and the IT Dept. will get the attendance readings directly at the Doylestown location.  This will eliminate the necessity for the staff at each branch to submit attendance figures to ADM each month.  A MOTION to APPROVE the purchase of wireless people counters for seven BCFL facilities from Retail Research, Inc. in the amount of $12,246.00 was made by Brinker, SECONDED by Draper and APPROVED unanimously.

 

There being no further business, a MOTION to ADJOURN was made at 6:22 p.m. by Draper, SECONDED by Balchis and so MOVED.

                                                                                   Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                    Carolyn Lechelt

Secretary to the Board

 

APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JULY 18, 2006