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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Library Board of Trustees - 07/08/2021 Approved Minutes South Burlington Library Board of Trustees Thursday, July 8, 2021 @ 6 p.m. Location: Zoom meeting & Allard Square meeting room Members Present: Jay Pasackow, Ted Lenski, Lee Freeman, Patrick Leduc, Alicia Lamonda, Stacey Pape, Margery Vagt, Rebecca Stazi and Donna Swartwout Members Absent: Lauren Ballard Staff Members Present: Jennifer Murray Friends of the Library Present: Sue Raatikainen Call to Order Patrick Leduc called the meeting to Order at 6:04pm Additions and deletions to the posted agenda None Comments and questions from the public not related to items on the agenda None Approval of regular board minutes of May 13th, 2021 and June 10th, 2021 Upon a motion made by Trustee Lee Freeman and seconded by Trustee Ted Lenski, the Trustees voted unanimously to accept the minutes of May 13, 2021 and June 10, 2021 board meetings. Chair’s report The Chair welcomed new trustees Rebecca Stazi and Donna Swartwout to the BOT. Patrick Leduc also thanked them for their commitment and notes that we’re looking forward to working together. Members introduced themselves. Patrick also thanked outgoing members Diane Bugbee and Penne Tompkins for their dedicated service, acknowledging that they have both shared they will continue to support the library in other ways. Welcoming Jessie Baker, SB City Manager Chair Leduc then introduced City Manager Jessie Baker and thanked her for joining the trustee meeting. Jessie then spoke about her gratitude for the trustees, and all city volunteers and shared some of her vision for the city moving forward. Jessie also noted that the collocation of the library and city hall offer a special opportunity for civic engagement. Patrick then asked that Jennifer provide an update on the moving and opening plans. Jennifer Murray reported SBPL closes at 5:00 PM June 11th for the move to the new building. Moving day is June 18th, and new shelving is coming in next week, no later than June 25th. The library will reopen July 19th. Friends of the Library report Sue Raatikainen introduced herself as the new Friends of the Library president. She reports that there is a new bookstore in the library. It will officially open on July 1st. Eileen Beckwith, new VP, is helping prepare the books and store. 20 volunteers will help work in the shop. 9/23—25 first book sale. They are accepting book donations. Board Officers Chair Leduc then opened the discussion on the slate of officers for the upcoming year. Stacey indicated she is still willing to be vice chair; Patrick commented that he is willing to remain as chair for no more than one more year and Ted Lenski said is he is willing to stay on as treasurer. Donna Swartwout volunteered to be the new Secretary if the trustees would like. Patrick then asked multiple times if there were any other nominations and the closed the nomination process. Upon a motion made by Trustee Jay Pasackow and seconded by Trustee Lee Freeman, the Trustees voted unanimously to accept the officers nominated. Committee membership Patrick then reminded the trustees that the committee membership, as outlined in the bylaws are named by the Board as a whole. He then outlined the various committees and asked the current chairs of each committee to explain the role of their committee. Members decided to stay on the committees they are currently on and Rebecca expressed interest in joining the Advocacy committee. Donna Swartwout volunteered to join the Finance committee. Upon a motion made by Trustee Ted Lenski and seconded by Trustee Lee Freeman, the Trustees voted unanimously to confirm the committee assignments. Committee Chairs Chair Leduc then re-appointed Lee Freeman as Chair of the Advocacy Committee and Ted Lenski as the chair of the Finance Committee. He then appointed Margery Vagt as the Chair of the Nomination and Governance Committee. Committee Reports Finance Committee Report Ted Lenski reported that during their May meeting the committee discussed various library fees. Proposed categories of fees are being taken under consideration. (Black and white and color photocopies; fees for library staff proctoring events; room use fees; faxing; replacing lost library card; lost item and restocking fees; temporary library card fee; non-resident use fee; consulting SBPD chief RE security requirements for events; fee for reconnection of a wifi hotspot). Interests of equity guide the fee structure to only charge for services which cost the library money, keeping open access to as many library services for free as possible. Recommends finalizing numbers and amounts of fees with Jennifer Murray and report at the next meeting. Upon a motion made by Trustee Stacey Pape and seconded by Trustee Jay Pasackow, the Trustees voted unanimously to approve the recommended list of items to have fees associated with them and that the Committee and Jennifer can set the Fees. Governance and Nomination Committee Report Stace Pape reported that the committee has been working on policies and will be scheduling a short meeting soon to present and vote on these policies. . Advocacy Committee Report Lee Freeman asked board members to write a letter or postcard to a friend, family member, or coworker to tell them about the new building and inviting them to check it out. Director’s Report Staff morale and exhaustion are high. The CO allowing the library to formally operate has been granted. Employees are starting to plan for how various activities and departments will have to operate differently from how they were at the Mall location. Safety and access are the two priorities for the library leadership for the soft opening on July 19th. City training is ongoing and will continue as the library moves closer to opening. Self-checkout machines are coming next week. Jennifer and Holly from the Recreation Department are working together to avoid duplication of services between the Senior Center and the library. Working with and for the BIPOC community is a priority, and the library is working with local schools & the city to ensure this. Jennifer Murray is heartened by the staff’s resilience and dedication to making the new library work and called them out for special acknowledgment. The grand opening of the library, with 30 programs for 30 days, is slated for September. Patrick Leduc noted that the staff should be thanked for all their efforts. Potential Executive Session - For the purpose of discussing a personnel matter Patrick suggested that there was a personnel matter that needed to be discussed. Upon a motion made by Trustee Ted Lenski and seconded by Trustee Jay Pasackow, the Trustees voted unanimously to go into Executive session. At 7:20PM Patrick declared that the committee had exited Executive session. Meeting Adjournment Seeing no other Business, the Chair adjourned the meeting at 7:21pm