June 23, 2022 in board-minutes

LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
Monday, May 16, 2022
Central Library Workshop (or view online via Zoom)
7:00 P.M.

CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

President Jillian Bernas called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT

Jillian Bernas, President, Julie Wroblewski Bosshart, Vice-President/Secretary;

Theresa Seyring, Treasurer; Anita Forte-Scott, Emily Gilbert, Amy Mueller, Carole Pye

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT

None

STUDENT ADVISORY TRUSTEES PRESENT

Araha Uday, Ameenah Zawahir

STUDENT ADVISORY TRUSTEES ABSENT

None

OTHERS PRESENT

Amber Creger, Peter Hegel, Cassie Henwood, Jennifer Hunt, Tom Mihalopoulos, Annie Miskewitch, Jason Santos, Bobbi Sloan, Sarah Strzalka, Beth Valenziano

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Patron Bobbi Sloan made a comment regarding walkways and other areas around the Central Library that are trip hazards.

BOARD COMMENTS

Vice President Wroblewski Bosshart attended an excellent in-person Library program about the Illinois pension plan problems. She also attended an ILA Trustee Workshop called Streamlining the Budget Process and found that to be informative.

Treasurer Seyring received feedback from the community that they had hoped the Library would have promoted the pension program more broadly.

Trustee Pye attended the Trustee Workshop through ILA and found that helpful. She also reviewed the United for Libraries website from ALA and plans to use that resource more. She attended the fundraiser for the Children’s Advocacy Center in Hoffman Estates. Ms. Pye completed her interview for the 60th anniversary. She shared feedback from patrons regarding senior programs available during the day.

Trustee Forte-Scott thanked Executive Director Miskewitch for the ongoing communication to the Board. She is excited to see the Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab™ exhibit being installed and appreciates the information to the community about the associated Summer Challenge. She was able to catch up with former Trustee Frankel when at the Library for her 60th anniversary interview. She asked if the Nominating Committee has met recently. President Bernas noted she’ll address that in the President’s report.

Trustee Gilbert also completed her interview with Jane Rozek for the 60th anniversary. She too is excited for the special exhibit and Summer Challenge. She also enjoyed listening to the Dr. Airwaves album produced by a teen through the Library.

Trustee Mueller is excited to have more time available to enjoy the Library this summer as her busy school year winds down.

RAILS - Ms. Gilbert

None

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Trustee Gilbert moved and Treasurer Pye seconded that:

The April 18, 2022 Regular Board Minutes be approved.

There was no discussion.

The motion passed unanimously.

APPROVAL OF BILLS

Trustee Pye moved and Vice-President Wroblewski Bosshart seconded that:

The Library Board approve the April 2022 Bill List.

Discussion included questions regarding the special exhibit, presenter fees, Unique collection services and elevator maintenance.

Roll Call Vote:

Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart Yes

Mrs. Seyring Yes

Ms. Forte-Scott Yes

Ms. Gilbert Yes

Mrs. Mueller Yes

Mrs. Pye Yes

Ms. Bernas Yes

The motion passed unanimously.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Treasurer Seyring reviewed the balances of the various funds. She compared revenues and expenses to budget projections for the fiscal year, and also compared them to the previous year. She gave updates on investments and cash flows.

Trustees discussed the timeline for property tax receipts and the impact on the Library’s finances.

ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA

There will be an Executive Session under section 2(c)01. Additionally, the presentation from Mesirow Financial will be before the Presidents Report.

PRESENTATION FROM MESIROW FINANCIAL

Peter Hegel from Mesirow Financial gave an overview of the Library’s investment portfolio and answered Trustee questions.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

President Bernas noted the Nominating Committee met and recommends the current slate of officers continue on for the next fiscal year. Ms. Bernas noted that the current officers are all up for re-election in 2023 and the Board should consider appropriate succession plans and training opportunities for other trustees. The slate of officers will be on the agenda for approval at an upcoming meeting.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Executive Director Miskewitch highlighted some specific statistics from her written report and gave updates on personnel interviews, hires and departures. Ms. Miskewitch asked HR Generalist Cassie Henwood and Public Safety Supervisor Tom Mihalopoulos to introduce themselves.

Ms. Miskewitch called attention to eLearning opportunities available through ALA, mentioned the April Pop-Up Book Shop event, reminded Trustees to pick up their budget binders and called attention to upcoming events.

Executive Director Miskewitch answered questions about summer hours, patron traffic in the Library, the application for the renovation grant and the Personnel Committee.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Deputy Director Hunt noted the Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab™ special exhibit will be at the Central Library through Sept. 12 and that it supports the Summer Challenge, which incorporates characters and themes within the exhibit. Ms. Hunt highlighted the Library of Things page on the website and congratulated Araha Uday for her volunteer of the year award in Schaumburg.

Ms. Hunt called attention to the Strategic Plan activity plan, included in the board packet. She also made a call for Trustees to join Library staff at the 4th of July parade that will be on July 2, 2022.

Deputy Director Hunt answered questions about the upcoming Ofrenda and Day of the Dead program.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Digital Services – Sarah Strzalka

Digital Services Manager Sarah Strzalka gave an overview of the department and shared some website and eLibrary statistics. She highlighted some of the team’s projects from the last year, including changes to the homepage, the Library of Things page, Coming Soon page, and Accessibility page.

Sarah answered questions about the website and eLibrary resources.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Student Advisory Trustee Report

SATs noted many students are studying for finals now and the Library is a great resource for this. They also continue to update the PowerPoint presentation that’s shared at the area high schools and recommend Brainfuse online tutoring to classmates.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

Approval of Travel Expense and Reimbursement policy update.

Trustee Forte-Scott moved and Trustee Gilbert seconded that the Board approve the Travel Expense and Reimbursement policy update.

Discussion included the changes to the policy, which includes an increased threshold for Board approval of travel expenses, and use of Library credit cards for travel expenses.

Roll Call Vote:

Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart Yes

Mrs. Seyring Yes

Ms. Forte-Scott Yes

Ms. Gilbert Yes

Mrs. Mueller Yes

Mrs. Pye Yes

Ms. Bernas Yes

The motion passed unanimously.

Approval of contract to Product Architecture + Design in the amount of $750,600.00.

Trustee Gilbert moved and Treasurer Seyring seconded that the Board approve the contract to Product Architecture + Design in the amount of $750,600.00.

Discussion included specific details of the contract.

Roll Call Vote:

Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart Yes

Mrs. Seyring Yes

Ms. Forte-Scott Yes

Ms. Gilbert Yes

Mrs. Mueller No

Mrs. Pye Yes

Ms. Bernas Yes

The motion passed.

Approval of contract to Featherstone, Inc. for the management of the construction project for the second floor renovation.

Trustee Forte-Scott moved and Trustee Gilbert seconded that the Board approve the contract to Featherstone, Inc. for the management of the construction project for the second floor renovation.

Discussion included specifics of the contract, including phases of the project.

Roll Call Vote:

Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart Yes

Mrs. Seyring Yes

Ms. Forte-Scott Yes

Ms. Gilbert Yes

Mrs. Mueller No

Mrs. Pye Yes

Ms. Bernas Yes

The motion passed unanimously.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Trustee Forte-Scott moved and Trustee Mueller seconded the Library Board move into Executive Session under sections 2(c)01 at 8:38 P.M.

Roll Call Vote:

Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart Yes

Mrs. Seyring Yes

Ms. Forte-Scott Yes

Ms. Gilbert Yes

Mrs. Mueller Yes

Mrs. Pye Yes

Ms. Bernas Yes

The motion passed unanimously.

Trustee Mueller moved and Trustee Gilbert seconded the Library Board exit executive session at 9:09 P.M.

Roll Call Vote:

Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart Yes

Mrs. Seyring Yes

Ms. Forte-Scott Yes

Ms. Gilbert Yes

Mrs. Mueller Yes

Mrs. Pye Yes

Ms. Bernas Yes

The motion passed unanimously.

BOARD ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION

Trustee Gilbert moved and Trustee Forte-Scott seconded an award of merit for annual performance review to Executive Director Miskewitch in the amount of $15,000.00.

Roll Call Vote:

Mrs. Wroblewski Bosshart Yes

Mrs. Seyring Yes

Ms. Forte-Scott Yes

Ms. Gilbert Yes

Mrs. Mueller Yes

Mrs. Pye Yes

Ms. Bernas Yes

ADJOURNMENT

Trustee Wroblewski Bosshart moved and Trustee Mueller seconded the meeting adjourn at 9:12P.M.

The motion passed unanimously.

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