LARCHMONT PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MINUTES OF MEETING
May 11, 2016
The Larchmont Public Library Board of Trustees met on May 13, 2016 at 6:45 p.m., presided over by Board Chair Pamela Dubitsky (PD), and attended by Trustees Jennifer Conley (JC), Maureen LeBlanc (ML), Barbara Liptack (BL) and John McGarr (JM), Town of Mamaroneck Liaison Ernie Odierna (EO), Village of Larchmont Liaison Carol Miller (CM), Friends of the Library Liaison Sophia Bernstein (SB), Library Director Laura Eckley (LE), Head of Reference Liam Hegarty and Library Staff Assistant Ryan Madonna. Trustees Lauren Gottfried (LG) and Iven Taub (IT) were excused.
Board Chair Dubitsky called the meeting to order at 6:49 p.m.
The Board reviewed and approved by unanimous vote the Minutes of the Board Meeting of April 13, 2016 and the Minutes of the Special Board Meeting of May 6, 2016.
Friends of the Larchmont Public Library Liaison Report
SB reported that the Friends held their annual meeting and elected Richard Levy to be the new president, and Juliet Konvisser and Marcus Siotkas as new Board members to replace resigning members Suzanne Zenkel and David Kettig. SB reported that the Friends had a successful fundraising year, despite simultaneous fundraising for the Transformation Project. PD expressed the Board’s gratitude to the Friends for their support and generosity.
Committee Reports
Finance and Budget Committee
Schedule of Bills and Performance Report: The Board reviewed and unanimously approved the Schedule of Bills dated 5/6/16 and 5/11/16. The Board received the Performance Report dated 5/6/16. LE and JM reported on the new PLDA finance model, which will be voted on by PLDA in June. JM thanked LE for her hard work on the PLDA Finance Committee over the past four years.
Transformation
LE reported that construction is on schedule for a late-summer soft opening, and noted that the exterior ramp repair is in progress and the new chiller has been installed and is ready for summer. LE stated that BL spoke with Frank Webers of Collins Brothers Moving and that Mr. Webers offered to donate the cost of unpacking all the books for reopening the library. PD expressed the Board’s gratitude to Collins Brothers Moving for their role in packing and unpacking in connection with the Transformation.
Building and Grounds
LE presented proposals Rolling Stone Masonry of $12,000 for replacing the brick walkways at the front of the library and for extending the walkway to Ryder’s Garden, and the Board then voted to approve the proposals, with BL abstaining. LE presented a $7,500 proposal from Library Interiors to replace furniture in the Children’s Room, which the Board then voted unanimously to approve.
Director’s Report
Upon the recommendation of Director Eckley, the Board unanimously approved the hire of seasonal Library Clerks Veronica Berger at an hourly rate of $12.50 and Nick Vanderpool at an hourly rate of $13. LE reported that the New York Presidential Primary was held in the Village Center on 4/19 (during which time no library services were available) and she thanked the staff for their cooperation and assistance during the primaries. LE further reported that Teen Librarian Kim Larsen is working with MPL and MHS on a project with the Transition Academy and that Children’s Librarian Rebecca Teglas attended PLA, returning with many new and exciting ideas for children’s programs this summer. LE also reported that all One Book, One Community Read events are now complete and that the program was a terrific success.
LE presented WLS’s Free Direct Access Plan for 2017-2021. After discussion, and upon the recommendation of LE, the Board unanimously approved the plan.
Executive Session
The Board voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session to discuss personnel matters at 7:50 p.m. The Board voted unanimously to exit the Executive Session at 8:52 p.m. The Board then voted unanimously to approve 1) management staff salaries for FY 16/17, 2) the creation of a Librarian III position and salary schedule for the position, 3) a stipulation agreement with a certain Library employee and 4) the hire of Shawn Grey as Library Caretaker, effective June 1, 2016, at the annual rate of $41,119.
Board Chair Dubitsky adjourned the meeting at 9:08 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board will be held on June 8, 2016.
Respectfully submitted,
Ryan Madonna
Library Staff Assistant