Minutes
ALLEGAN DISTRICT LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
September 21, 2009

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by President Susan Jerkatis. Present were Trustees: Jerkatis, Hellmann, Antkoviak, Watts, Director Perrigo and Administrative Assistant Lyzenga.

Trustee Watts made a motion, seconded by Hellmann, to excuse Trustees Jo Bortz, Carol Garofalo and Mike Kiella. Motion carried.

The minutes of the August 17th board meeting were reviewed. Minutes were approved with correction of Finance Committee to read “Budget Committee”.

The statistical reports showed that visits, circulation & computer usage were up over last year August statistics. Circulation and computer usage up by 700 and visits increased 1200. It was noted that the financial report has a new format.

A motion was made by Antkoviak and seconded by Watts to approve the August bills totaling $10,921.98. Motion carried.

LIBRARIAN REPORT:

Director Perrigo stated she had been very busy with book ordering and cataloging. Director Perrigo reported that our new circulation clerk on duty, Holly, is working out very well.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Friends Committee: Director Perrigo gave the report on book sale last Saturday that netted $363.15. Friends have agreed to buy materials to help our children’s librarian, Barbara, with the upcoming story hours. Director Perrigo had requested of Friends if they could help replace the flag by the grandfather’s clock in the library. Friends member, Carol Garofalo, has arranged for a flag that has flown over the State Capitol. It will be presented next month.

Budget Committee: The committee did meet and will present next month.

OLD BUSINESS:

Downloadable audio is being promoted by the library staff who has signed up more patrons. Director Perrigo did say that there will be a day scheduled for downloadable audio registration. Date has not been set as yet.

Soffits and exterior lights - Director Perrigo has spoken to Rossman about our soffit repair. When Rossman went to replace soffit hangers, he found that the fascia is rotten around the new side of the building. It will require that all the soffit and fascia come down and then be reinstalled and replaced where rotten. Rossman has given an estimate – it is quite a large amount – around $6,000. Director Perrigo intends to get 2 more estimates. It has also come to light that the lights in the soffit area are not available anymore and maybe these should be replaced at the same time. There seems to be no urgency to this replacement.

Director Perrigo had requested an estimate from Ron Stark on the masonry work on the front steps. To date she did not have it. Trustee Antkoviak knows of a mason. He will call Director Perrigo with that person’s name. Trustee Hellmann knows a mason and will call him.

Budget – proposed amendments – none this month.

Pre-approve standing bills - Director Perrigo requested that she be given authority to get the utilities bills paid by their due dates to avoid late payments. Trustee Antkoviak moved that Director Perrigo be given authority to pay utilities – telephone, gas, electric, water & sewer, garbage. Trustee Hellmann seconded. Passed.

Salary schedule – Director Perrigo has collected a great deal of information. She will make copies to give to members of the Personnel Committee – Trustees Antkoviak and Kiella.

Bylaws Committee did not meet (Hellmann & Watts). Director Perrigo has sent bylaws information out. Both trustees will check to see what information they have. A meeting will be scheduled before October board meeting.

Board reviewed a calendar of their commitments and decided to continue to meet on 3rd Monday of each month.

Director Perrigo reported that she had done two employee performance reviews. She now has a performance review form that is easy to use and will review all staff.

NEW BUSINESS:

Trustee Watts saw on the Kalamazoo Gazette’s website an internet ad for the Otsego library listing their upcoming activities and other items of interest. He felt we should do some advertising of our library. He will look into the cost of internet advertising. Did not think the cost was very much.

Trustee Watts has talked to Trustee Kiella about May 2010 for a millage election. A May election would mean that we could share the cost of the election with the Allegan Public Schools. Trustee Antkoviak said he needed more information on what date would work for a millage election.

Trustee Hellman said that her mother-in-law, Linda Clark, is head of the Arts Council. Linda had wanted to host a panel of children authors for the spring. In their discussion, Trustee Hellman shared with Linda the costs that authors charge and what an event of a group of authors would cost. The Arts Council will probably have to rethink but in the meantime they had allotted $500.00 in their budget for this spring event. Now the Arts Council wants to know if the library would like to have the $500.00 to bring in a children’s author. Director Perrigo will get back to Linda at the Arts Council.

Meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m. The next meeting will be October 19th.

Respectfully submitted,

Evelyn Lyzenga
Administrative Assistant