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NORTH CANTON PUBLIC LIBRARY The Board of Trustees of the North Canton Public Library held a regular meeting on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at the library. Mr. Shoup called the meeting to order at 8:06 a.m. with following members present: Mr. Fonte, Mr. Luikart, Mr. Shoup, Mrs. Ziarko and Mrs. Zollinger. Absent: Mrs. Rankin and Mr. Smetana. Staff: Karen Sonderman,
Mr. Fonte moved and Mrs. Zollinger seconded to approve the minutes of the May 27, 2009 and June 2, 2009 meetings. Ayes: Mr. Fonte, Mr. Luikart, Mr. Shoup, Mrs. Ziarko and Mrs. Zollinger.
Report of the Fiscal
Officer: Mrs. Kroll reviewed the financial report for May, 2009. The cash balance in all funds for May was about $649,037.00 and encumbrances were about $417,921.00. The ending balance in all funds was about $231,115.00. Mrs. Kroll noted that the unencumbered balance in the Permanent Improvement Fund at the end of May was about $67,641.00. Month to date revenues in all funds was about $163,930.00 and year to date was about $762,178.00. Month to date expenses for all funds was about $377,697.00. We have spent approximately $1,321,425.00 year to date. Also, Mrs. Kroll submitted the investment report for May, 2009 (attached). The Fiscal Officer’s report for May, 2009 was accepted as presented to be filed for audit. Mrs. Kroll reviewed the 2007 - 2009 Public Library Fund report (attached). She noted that the library’s PLF revenue is down 10% from June, 2008 and overall year to date we are down 16.4% compared to 2008. Mrs. Kroll also reported the following gifts received in May, 2009: GIFTS- General Fund – Friends of the Little Art Gallery donated $740.00 - 05/26/2009. Memorial & Gift Fund
– Patricia Heckaman donated $100.00 in memory of Lu Peters – 05/21/2009. North Canton Ladies Literary Club donated $25.00 in memory of Kathleen C. Gross – 05/27/2009. Permanent Improvement Fund – N/A Capital Art Fund – N/A Mrs. Ziarko moved and Mr. Luikart seconded to accept the gifts with appreciation. Ayes: Mr. Fonte, Mr. Luikart, Mr. Shoup, Mrs. Ziarko, and Mrs. Zollinger.
Report of the Director:
Committee Reports: Art – Mrs. Sonderman reported the Gallery is featuring the works of artists Lynn Digby and Trudy Runyon, June 14 to July 11, 2009. An opening reception was held Sunday, June 14 for 2 to 4 p.m. The works of artists Randy Slaughter and Jack Valentine will be featured from July 25, 2009 – August 22, 2009 with an opening reception of Saturday, July 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. Budget & Finance – Personnel – A meeting was held on June 10, 2009 to discuss the process for hiring a Director. (Minutes attached) Future Planning – None Nominating - None Negotiating – None Records Retention – None Bylaw/Policy Ad Hoc - None Communications: None Old Business: None New Business: Mr. Shoup stated the Board will be appointing an interim director in open session at the conclusion of the meeting after discussion in Executive Session. He reported a Director’s vacancy has been posted on the Ohio Library Council’s and NEO-RLS websites with an application deadline of July 17, 2009. Hopefully, the new Director would be employed by the September Board meeting. Staff Presentation: Bob McCartney, staff, offered some suggestions on possible cost savings for the library such as staggering library hours, closing on Saturdays and Sundays, selling some of the art from our permanent collection. He felt the union did not have enough time to prepare other solutions. Mrs. Sonderman and Mr. Shoup agreed that we all were blind-sided by this sudden reduction in funds. Mrs. Sonderman added that she and Mrs. Kroll addressed the union meeting for 90 minutes explaining and answering questions regarding the possible impending lay-off. She and Mrs. Kroll replied that they heard good suggestions from the union meeting, however, many of them had already been considered by the administration, and unfortunately were not enough to cover the additional $142,000 reduction in revenue that we are facing. Mr. Fonte responded to a suggestion to cut the hours the library is open to the public by stating that the library would not save much money doing this without also reducing staff hours. Mrs. Babik stated that she did not see any reduction in
management. Mrs. Kroll responded that one
full-time management position had been eliminated.
Mrs. Babik added that she would still like to address some suggestions of
savings. Mr. Shoup noted that the
Board would entertain any written ideas the Mrs. Sonderman reminded everyone we cannot consider short term
fixes for the current budget shortage because it is a long-term problem that
will continue to affect us into 2010 and beyond.
Mrs. Kroll noted that the library simply cannot spend more than we
receive as this is a non-compliance issue for public libraries in Mr. Shoup added we are facing two issues: 1) our immediate 2009 budget shortage, and 2) ways to increase our revenue in 2010, which may include a small levy to be placed on the ballot. Mr. Shoup stated that before we offer a levy to the public, we must demonstrate our need to the public, and that the approved staff reduction plan is already in place and must continue. Mrs. Steele, staff, inquired as to why Pages cannot bump other Pages of lower seniority. Mrs. Sonderman answered that issue is clearly addressed in the Union contract. Mrs. Brown, staff, asked what the savings amount of the staff reduction was. Mrs. Kroll stated that she cannot calculate those savings until all of the bumping is complete. Rachel Jordan, OAPSE Union Representative, read a prepared statement addressing the reduction in staff. Mr. Fonte moved, Mrs. Ziarko seconded, to adjourn the meeting to Executive Session at 9:00 a.m. for the purpose of appointing an Interim Director. The roll call was taken as follows: Fonte Aye Luikart Aye Shoup Aye Ziarko Aye Zollinger Aye Rankin Absent Smetana Absent Regular session was reconvened at 9:44 a.m.
Mr. Luikart moved and Mrs. Ziarko seconded, to appoint Sandra Lang as the Interim Director effective July 1, 2009 until a permanent director is appointed. Mr. Shoup added that the Board had a choice of two excellent candidates for the position and that it was a difficult choice. Ayes: Mr. Fonte, Mr. Luikart, Mr. Shoup, Mrs. Ziarko, and Mrs. Zollinger.
Adjournment: Mr. Fonte moved and Mrs. Ziarko seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 9:46 a.m. Ayes: Mr. Fonte, Mr. Luikart, Mr. Shoup, and Mrs. Ziarko, and Mrs. Zollinger.
Thomas Shoup, President |
