The Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bucks County Free Library was held at the Pennwood branch in Langhorne. The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. Present were:  Det Ansinn, President; Bill Draper, Vice President; Roberta Foerst, Secretary; Jerry Balchis, Treasurer; Mary Ann Beltz, Christina Paugh-Greenwood, and Robert Ciervo, Board Trustees; Martina Kominiarek, Executive Director; Sue Ziegler, Public Services Director; John Doran, Chief Financial Officer; and Pam Riley , Executive Assistant. Also in attendance were Susan Geiss, Pennwood Acting Branch Manager; JoAnn Kern, Pennwood Assistant Branch Manager; Joe Thompson, Facilities Manager, and Betsy Hafer, Finance & Facilities Assistant.            

 

A MOTION to APPROVE the minutes of the Regular Meeting of June 16, 2009 was made by Draper, SECONDED by Balchis and APPROVED unanimously.

 

 

STAFF REPORTS

 

Report of Acting Branch Manager/Susan Geiss

Acting Branch Manager Susan Geiss thanked the board for their continued support. She remarked on the effort the Pennwood staff and library users have been making to raise awareness of the potential library funding crisis, which included a parade of children and parents walking to State Representative Farry’s office together to talk with him about it. She noted the past year’s highlights, which included a major cosmetic overhaul and the positive impact it has had on the library. She shared circulation statistics with the board that demonstrated a marked increase from the same time period last year (March). She said that increased circulation continues, with record breaking highs achieved during July. Summer Reading Program statistics for participants have already increased 25% over last summer.

 

Report of Executive Director (submitted in writing)

Executive Director Martina Kominiarek distributed a draft BCFL Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives to the board members to see if the format was acceptable to them as a means of reporting progress and updates. There being no objections, the proposed format will be used going forward.

 

She also distributed sample web pages of the BCFL web site that is under development. Board members were pleased with the redesign and had positive critiques of it thus far.

 

Ms. Kominiarek next gave an update of the state budget and library funding. She said that although the state senate has proposed deeper cuts, more legislators are proactively mentioning library aid and its importance.

 

 

Report of Public Services Director (submitted in writing)

 

 

Report of Chief Financial Officer

MOTION to APPROVE the payment of bills for June 2009 in the amount of $434,798.40 was made by Beltz, SECONDED by Balchis and APPROVED unanimously.

 

MOTION to APPROVE the June 2009 financial statements (subject to audit) was made by Foerst, SECONDED by Draper, and APPROVED unanimously.

 

Introductions to two BCFL staff members were made:  Joe Thompson, Facilities Manager and Betsy Hafer, Finance & Facilities Assistant.

 

 

Board Committee Reports:

No committees met.

 

Det Ansinn introduced the newly-appointed board trustee, Robert Ciervo, Ph.D., to everyone and noted that he will serve on the Finance Committee.

 

Correspondence – Submitted in writing

 

 

Public Comment – No public commented.

 

 

Unfinished business – The BCFL Staff Handbook was on the agenda for approval. Ms. Kominiarek noted that there was one question raised by the union on the section on Outside Employment. A change was made to address the concern, and the revision would be presented at the July Labor-Management meeting. Board president Ansinn said that it would be best to wait until after the union had an opportunity to review the section, and then the board could vote on it at the next board meeting. Dr. Ciervo recommended that under Section 12.8 – Sleeping on the Job – the wording should be revised. It should be revised to read that sleeping on the job “will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.” President Det Ansinn asked that board members be sent a revised staff handbook after the Labor-Management meeting.

 

 

New Business

 

Bensalem Branch Light and Ceiling Tile Replacement – Nine bids were received. It was recommended that Indian Creek Electric, Inc. be awarded the contract for submitting the lowest bid at $215,320. As part of the cost they will redo all wiring to bring it to code.

 

A MOTION to APPROVE the awarding of the light and ceiling tile replacement contract to Indian Creek Electric, Inc. in the amount of $215,320 was made by Foerst, SECONDED by Balchis and APPROVED unanimously.

 

Retirement Bonus – BCFL is proposing a Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive Program (VERIP). The VERIP is considered a best practice for workforce reduction, and the bonus will be an added enticement for those who are poised to retire (age 62 or above). If a number of employees take advantage of it, it would allow some flexibility should staffing cuts be necessary in light of the proposed state budget. There would be three different bonus amounts offered depending on the employee’s length of service.

 

The board had additional questions regarding the plan, and they continued in Executive Session at 6:18 p.m.

 

The Executive Session adjourned at 7:10 p.m.

 

The Regular Session reconvened at 7:11 p.m.

 

A MOTION to APPROVE the Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive Program was made by Beltz, SECONDED by Balchis and APPROVED unanimously.

 

There being no further business, a MOTION to ADJOURN was made at 7:15 p.m. by Foerst, SECONDED by Beltz and so MOVED.

 

        

Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                                    Pamela J. Riley

 

Executive Assistant

 

 

 

APPROVED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

AUGUST 18, 2009