MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE OLD BRIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY
JUNE 8 , 2005
Present:
Joseph Nuzzo, President
Mary Chamberlain, Vice President
Steven Goldman, Treasurer
Tara Flynn-Rozanski, Trustee
Linda Seiler, Trustee
Dr. Patricia Johnson, Superintendent of School’s Alternate
Margery Cyr, Director
Absent:
Kathryn Arabia, Secretary
Dr. Joan George, Trustee
Barbara Cannon, Mayor’s Alternate
Guests:
Mary Gannon
The President called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. and announced the meeting had been advertised and would be conducted in accordance with the Sunshine Law. Tara Flynn-Rozanski called the roll in the absence of the Secretary.
Mr. Nuzzo welcomed Mary Gannon and presented her with a gift on behalf of the Board for her ten years of service on the Library Board.
Mr. Goldman stated he has seen Board members come and go; but the Board has never had a member with the knowledge of library services as Mary Gannon had. While Mary was on the Board, she worked well with the Director and Trustees to make the Library a better place. Mary Gannon also worked very hard on the Board committees, especially the Personnel and Policy Committees. Mrs. Chamberlain said with her twenty-four years on the Board there is no one she will miss more; Mary was always honest; always knew what she was talking about and always a pleasure to be with.
Mary Gannon thanked the Board for the gift and nice words and said it was a pleasure and honor to serve on the Library Board with everyone.
Minutes
Motion: made by Steven Goldman, seconded by Linda Seiler, to approve the minutes from the May 11, 2005 meeting. Vote: Yes: Joseph Nuzzo, Steven Goldman, Mary Chamberlain, Linda Seiler; Tara Flynn-Rozanski and Dr. Patricia Johnson abstained.
Finance
Motion: made by Steven Goldman, seconded by Dr. Patricia Johnson, to approve the bill listing in the amount of $122,194.85. Unanimously approved
FY 2005/2006 Operating Budget
Mrs. Cyr distributed the Library’s amended proposed operating budget for FY05/06 showing the projected municipal allocation at a 4% increase from the current year’s allocation. The Library has been told that this is the amount it can expect to receive as the Mayor’s recommendation. The amended proposal includes some further cuts and some options to consider for the balance that will need to be cut.
Mrs. Cyr spoke with Michael Jacobs this morning to verify the municipal allocation. He asked her to inform the Board that it was important for them to understand that the Township provides the Library not just with a municipal allocation for our operating budget, but an allocation for our medical insurance. What is impacting the Library this year is the capital expenditures for the lighting project and there will be the roof project as well. The Board needs to be aware that these are also expenditures for library purposes.
Mrs. Cyr said the Library has asked the Township for an 11% increase in the FY 05/06 budget in dollars. This is $170,003. The Library can expect a 4% increase which is $60,097.
On the income side of the budget, the interest income has been increased by $1,000. Some of the Library’s money has been moved into higher paying accounts to try to increase the interest income. This still leaves the budget with a deficit of approximately $79,000.
After a lengthy discussion; the consensus of the discussion was that the only option available to the Board for fiscal year 2005/2006 was to close the Library on Sundays and all holidays. This will be a savings of approximately $78,000. Sundays and holidays can be restored if additional funding is received from Township. The Board made the following motion:
Motion: made by Steven Goldman, seconded by Dr. Patricia Johnson, due to lack of funding in the projected budget for fiscal year 2005/2006, effective September, 2005, the Library will be closed on Sundays and holidays. Vote: Yes: Tara Flynn-Rozanski, Dr. Patricia Johnson, Steven Goldman and Joseph Nuzzo; Linda Seiler and Mary Chamberlain abstained.
The Board asked Mrs. Cyr to draft a letter to Mayor Phillips letting him know of their decision. Mrs. Cyr will e-mail a draft letter to Mr. Nuzzo tomorrow.
Personnel
Resignation
Motion: made by Steven Goldman, seconded by Linda Seiler, to accept the resignation of Library Page, Virgil Wong, effective June 2, 2005. Unanimously approved
New Appointment
Motion: made by Steven Goldman, seconded by Dr. Patricia Johnson, to approve the hiring of part-time Custodian Rhona Rhodes, effective April 11, 2005 at an hourly salary of $13.28. Unanimously approved
Director’s Report
Grant
The Library has received a $2,100 grant from the Old Bridge/Sayreville Rotary Club to update and enlarge the Literacy Collection at the Library.
SIRSI Training
The Library is ready to go with the migration to SIRSI. Patrons will not be able to place books on hold between June 15 and August 1, 2005, the Library has publicity out about this.
The Board reviewed and accepted the Director’s Report.
Old Business
Lighting Project
Mrs. Cyr reported the Library has received all the As-Builts and the project has been closed out. Mr. Nuzzo will visit to look at the As-Builts
Roof Inspection
Mrs. Cyr has met with Joe Criscuolo and Mr. Jacobs about the Library’s roof replacement project. There are three roofs in the municipal complex that need replacement. Mr. Jacobs wants to do one roof a year to balance the financial needs. Mr. Criscuolo informed Mr. Jacobs that the Library roof should be the first one to be replaced; because of the potential harm to the inside of the building and its contents.
Mr. Criscuolo believes the roof should be repaired before it is replaced. It is anticipated that the roof design and bidding process will take about a year. Both repair and replacement of the Library’s roof will be placed on the Council’s agenda for June 20.
Laurence Harbor Hours
Motion: made by Steven Goldman, seconded by Dr. Patricia Johnson, to permanently change the hours at the Laurence Harbor Branch to Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and closed on Fridays. Two positive comments and two negative comments have been received from the public. The staff reports that the trial has been positive. Wednesday morning children’s programming is gaining in popularity and the seniors are visiting then. Unanimously approved
New Business
Letter from Dr. Patricia Johnson
Mr. Nuzzo read the letter from Dr. Johnson announcing her new appointment as school superintendent in another school district. She will leave Old Bridge at the end of the school year. The Board wished Dr. Patricia Johnson luck in her new position.
Adjournment
Motion: made by Mary Chamberlain, seconded by Steve Goldman to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 p.m. Unanimously approved
Respectfully submitted,
Kathryn Arabia, Secretary
Library Board of Trustees
Date Approved: July 13, 2005
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