HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Library Board of Trustees - 05/09/2019
Minutes South Burlington Library Board of Trustees
Thursday, May 9, 2019 @ 5 p.m. Location: Library Meeting Room
Members Present: Patrick Leduc, Stacey Pape, Jay Pasackow, Penne Tompkins, Mark
Coel, Nancy Fawley, Margaretann Cross, Bonnie Finnigan
Members Absent: Linda Darlington, Diane Bugbee, Lee Freeman
Staff Members Present: Jennifer Murray
Friends of the Library
Present:
Katherine McConnell
Guests: Penrose Jackson
Chair Patrick Leduc called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m., and a quorum was established.
Additions or deletions to the posted agenda:
None
Comments and questions from the public not related to the items on the agenda:
None
Consent Agenda. Approval of the April 11, 2019, regular board minutes, the April
Friends of the Library Report and April Director’s Report.
Upon a motion made by Trustee Jay Pasackow and seconded by Trustee Penne Tompkins, the
Trustees voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda.
Chair’s Report
Chair Leduc led the trustees into a discussion of potential approaches to a potential strategic
planning process including the form and function of the outcome of such a process. The current
strategic plan is available on our website. Patrick offered a couple of samples from other
libraries. Jennifer said staff and trustees should be using the strategic plan in planning our work.
The trustees agreed to a less narrative approach and Jay suggested that general strategies
would be easier to adopt and follow in this format. The overall consensus is that we make it a
shorter directional document instead of a larger narrative document.
Patrick shared the current Vision, Values and Mission for the SBPL and asked all trustees to
review the text and provide feedback to Jennifer but May 23rd as a first step in the process.
Jennifer will also review with her staff. If it looks good, we can get going on the Strategic plan
soon which will help both Advocacy and Fundraising Committees.
Friends of the Library Report:
The FOL will have Mark Pendergast speaking Saturday, May 18th at 10:00. He is the author of
Uncommon Grounds. The annual meeting will be held June 1, 2019. A slate of officers is ready.
Marj will be retiring from the Chair position after many years of exemplary service. Stacey has
agreed to organize Board recognition of Marj.
Advocacy Committee Report:
Committee Chair Bonnie shared a proposed purpose statement for the committee, provided
backdrop on the committees and fielded questions from the trustees.
Upon a motion made by Trustee Stacey Pape and seconded by Trustee Jay Pasackow, the
Trustees voted unanimously to approve the Advocacy Statement of Purpose.
The Advocacy Committee’s latest meeting was covered in this week’s Other Paper. The committee
discussed the issues related to the stormwater conflict currently under review with the School Board
and the City and the Board’s ability to be a part of the discussion. Patrick and mark offered to do some
additional outreach.
Governance and Nomination Committee Report:
Patrick shared that the Trustees who will end their terms this year are Jay, Stacey and Lee and that he
has spoken with each of them and they have agreed to reapply for their appointments. Jennifer
mentioned that she was hoping these renewals would not require another interview with the City
Council. Patrick then discussed that in our first meeting in July we will need to vote in the trustees’
officers, and he will need to either appoint or re-appoint committee chairs. He went on to emphasis
that any trustee that is prepared to take on an officer or committee chair role should reach out to him.
2019-2020 term. Any new applicants should be reminded that they will serve on both the Board and
the Foundation. The City has posted 4 open positions and we are unclear if their intent was to add an
additional member. If we were to add a member, we would look for skills in Accounting, Finance or
Marketing.
Finance Committee Report:
Jennifer and Penne have been tasked with reconciling any potential foundation funds that may have
been expensed or received in the library gift account. They are continuing with their work and will be
reporting back to the Trustees in an upcoming meeting. Stacey commented that it appeared that the
annual letter that was sent this past year did indicated the donations were to the foundation. Penne
will continue to oversee this work and the trustees emphasized the unanimous goal of transparency
on this topic, even if the numbers are small.
Design Committee Report:
Ilona has sent a summary to Jennifer and Mark and architects have asked what furniture will be
making the move to the new library. Penne also wanted to remind all that May 16th will be the Public
Art Presentation at 6 p.m. in the Champlain Room at City Hall. The Arts Committee is taking
comments. Samples of the proposed art is at the front of the Library. Those who post on Front Porch
Forum are reminded to post about this meeting and to view the art before the meeting.
Director’s Report:
Jennifer is preparing a comparison of salary and benefits for review by the City. After some discussion,
the Board supported a comparison with other Chittenden County libraries thinking this would be most
valuable. Jennifer also highlighted a few items in her written report and then reminded the trustees
of the annual Trustees and FOL Conference which will be held on May 21st. She encouraged all to
consider attending. The library will be closed on May 22, 2019 so that our library staff might attend
the Staff Conference.
Adjourn
There being no other business, Chair Patrick Leduc adjourned the meeting at 6:28 p.m.
Next meeting: 6/13/19 at 5:00pm
Respectfully submitted by Bonnie Finnigan