Library Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes

Library Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Monday, June 12, 2023

PRESENT:
Kathleen Capelli, Frank Brady, Carol Daggs, Terence Diggory, Nancy Luther, Issac (Ike) Pulver, Eric Blackman, Catherine Brenner, Jamie Chabot, Jennifer Ferriss, Don Flinton, Kelly McCombs, Trevor Oakley, Denise Feltes

ABSENT:
Heather Crocker, Jean Fei, Ric Taras

Meeting Called to Order at 5:00 PM

I. Call to Order 5:00 PM

II. Approval of May Meeting Minutes – Terry made a motion to approve the May minutes. Frank seconded. All in favor. Minutes approved.

III. Approval of Expenditures –

1. Reallocation Request – Nancy made a motion to approve the reallocation of funds. Carol seconded. All in favor. Request approved.
2. May Pre-Paid Checks 71136 to 71139 totaling $760.84
3. June Warrants/Checks 71143 to 71235 totaling $139,166.27

Frank made a motion to approve the May Pre-Paid Checks and June Warrants/Checks. Terry seconded. All in favor. Motion approved.

IV. Approval of Financial Reports – Terry made a motion to approve the Financial Reports as listed. Nancy seconded. All in favor. Motion approved.

1. May Pre-Paids and June Warrant Summary Sheet (Exhibit I)
2. Budget Report - (Exhibit II)
3. Income Report - (Exhibit III)
4. Gifts - Nothing to Report
5. Voided and Reissued Checks Report (Exhibit IV)

V. President’s Report – Katie attended 2 webinars regarding the management of public comment and the banning of books. Unfinished and New Business contain the balance of her report. See below.

VI. Public Comment – None

VII. Correspondence and Communication – None

VIII. Director’s Report

1. Director’s Written Report (Exhibit V) – Ike was the first customer of the Friends Coffee Shop and is happy to report that he, along with several SALS Trustees, is a signer of “Letter to the editor: Book bans against libraries’ core values.” https://tinyurl.com/49ak5vzc
2. Department Reports (Exhibit VI) –

Frank made a motion to approve the Revised Circulation Policy language as provided in Jen Ferriss’ report. Carol seconded. All in favor. Motion approved.

Don shared that the July Library Board Meeting will be live-streamed, and he would like to include photos of all board members on the staff website. Trevor, his department, and location sites are extremely excited about having SSPL’s “Mobile Library” hitting the road this summer. Sarah has been busy expanding her Outreach Program. Catherine is pleased to transition from “tchotchke” prizes for the Summer Reading Program to community based giveaways, such as gift cards to local shops. Jamie is excited to have the Adult Services Department fully staffed and welcomes feedback on the format of her department report. Kelly stated that the NYS Sexual Harassment Policy has been submitted to the library’s attorneys for final review.

Terry made a motion to appoint Emily Martin to Librarian I Adult Service (F/T) effective June 26, 2023. Nancy seconded. All in favor. Motion approved.

IX. Special / Committee Reports – None

X. Unfinished Business

1. Streaming of Meetings / Draft Videoconferencing Resolution (Exhibit VII) – The videoconferencing public hearing began at 4:35 PM and ended at 4:40 PM immediately preceding the present Board meeting. Frank made a motion to approve the Videoconferencing Resolution. Carol seconded. All in favor. Motion approved. ***See Videoconferencing Resolution file attachment.
2. Investments – Katie contacted 9 local banks regarding interest rates. Two of those banks have consistently higher interest rates for short term Certificate of Deposits. The goal is to complete the collateralized paperwork for 2 banks in order to reinvest in a timely fashion should interest rates increase by more than 2%. Discussion will continue at the July Board Meeting on July 10, 2023.

XI. New Business

1. Request to Appoint Emily Martin – Librarian I (FT), effective June 26, 2023 – See Department Reports.
2. Parking Lot – Lengthy discussion regarding parking lot use by our patrons versus the general public. Katie, Frank, and Ike will reach out to the mayor to discuss options.

XII. Executive Session to Discuss a Legal Matter – Katie made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting and to enter an executive session to discuss a legal matter. Carol seconded. All in favor. Motion approved.

Respectfully submitted by:
Denise Feltes

Saratoga Springs Public Library

Board of Trustees Executive Session

June 12, 2023

PRESENT:

Frank Brady, Kathleen Capelli, Carol Daggs, Terence Diggory, Nancy Luther, Ike Pulver

Call to Order: 6:25 PM

A legal matter was discussed.

Meeting Adjourned at: 6:43 PM

Respectfully submitted by:

Terence Diggory, Board Secretary

Note: Following adjournment the Board held a retreat to evaluate the effectiveness of Board operations.

Meeting Adjourned at 6:43 pm