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