Minutes for October 21, 2010 Meeting of the Northlake Public Library District Board of Trustees (unofficial)

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING
OF THE
NORTHLAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OCTOBER 21, 2010

The regular meeting of the Northlake Public Library District Board of Trustees was called to order at 6:32 p.m. by President Sonya Teets. Present were Board members: Rivera, Blaskey, Salo, Gutierrez, Teets. Also present were Sharon L. Highler, Library Director, and Mary Jane Garrett, Head of Technical Services. Absent Board members: O’Cull, Salutric.

The agenda was approved by the Board.

The Board read and approved the following: the minutes of the public hearing of September 16, 2010; the minutes of the regular Board meeting of September 16, 2010; and the executive session minutes of September 16, 2010. Approval was on a motion by Blaskey with a second by Rivera.

Cook County has sent out its draft of tax information that the district needs in order to produce an accurate budget and levy. Blaskey asked about tax revenues, and Highler reported on tax revenues received within the last few months. Highler informed the Board that some of the data from the Statistical Circulation and Acquisitions Report has been moved to the librarians’ reports in Circulation and Technical Services.

The Board read and accepted the following: the Treasurer’s Report of September 30, 2010; the Bills Payable/Paid Report for October 21, 2010; the Revenue and Expense Report for September 2010; and the Statistical Circulation and Acquisitions Report for September 2010. Acceptance of the above reports was on a motion by Rivera with a second by Gutierrez. Roll call vote:

Grand total of all payables listed for October: $52,378.54.

Stronczek reported through Highler that he has transferred funds from other accounts in order to cover the day-to-day running of the library until enough tax revenues are received. He will then replace the funds that were transferred.

The librarians’ reports were read and accepted with the appreciation of the Board.

President Teets reported on election information, and there was discussion about the candidates running for the five Trustee seats that are open. Candidates can declare for any length of term that is open, in this case two-, four- or six-year terms. From discussion, one four-year term and one two-year term remain to be declared. There was discussion about how the district may fill Trustee seats if they remain open after the April election. Highler said that she would be glad to answer questions from candidates about the Trustee positions. Trustees who are not running for election in April stated they were willing to help get petitions signed.

Vice President Rivera reported on his attendance at the Illinois Library Association conference at Navy Pier in Chicago. He was very impressed by Mt. Prospect Public Library’s “Show Your Card” campaign. The summary and brochures from the campaign have been routed to department heads through Highler. He has more information and sources for possible grants for the Early Literacy Station. From a grant seminar, he learned how much work goes into applying for a grant. He also learned how much a good Friends group can benefit a library.

Highler reported on the Trustee Regulations review and revision. Corrections have been incorporated into the regulations and sent to the attorney for the district. The attorney has sent additional questions that Highler needs to discuss with him. The Board approved tabling the final decision on the regulations until the next meeting, on a motion by Rivera with a second by Salo.

The black-banded Truth in Taxation Act notice was presented to the Board for approval. The notice is required if the library district’s proposed tax levy increase is more than 5% over the levy for the previous year. Highler explained the amounts and percentages of the increases to the Board. Part of the increase reflects the receipt of taxes from new areas previously under a TIF district, which has expired. The total percentage increase is 6.2%, which is more than 5% but around the same percentage increases of previous years. The public hearing on the tax levy will be held November 18 at 6:00 p.m. The notice was approved on a motion by Blaskey with a second by Gutierrez. Roll call vote:

Each Board member received a copy of the district’s Per Capita Grant application for 2011. Highler reported that we have not received our Per Capita Grant for 2010 yet, but we have been informed we will receive it by the end of 2010. Because of the state’s economic situation, the district’s uses for the 2011 grant have been limited to items and projects that are not needed for the basic needs of the library. If we do not receive a grant for 2011, it will not affect the day-to-day needs of the library district. Copies of the Technology Plan and the Green Plan, also required for the application, were given to the Board. The Per Capita Grant application, including the Technology Plan and Green Plan, were approved on a motion by Blaskey with a second by Rivera.

Highler reported on the status of the Illinois library systems and the Illinois State Library. If the Metropolitan Library System (MLS) does not receive funds owed to it by the state by December 2010, it will need to close. A merger of the state’s library systems-probably into a northern system, a southern system, and Chicago-will not be in place until around June 2011. Delivery options for MLS are being considered by a committee. SWAN, the computer catalog which is now independent of MLS, is being considered as an umbrella agency for delivery.

The Board is supposed to review written and audio records of executive sessions twice per year, and vote whether or not to release them to the public. After discussion, the Board voted not to release any of the executive session minutes to the public, on a motion by Rivera with a second by Salo.

Highler would like to hold a Staff In-Service Day on December 3, 2010. The day will include an all-staff meeting and staff development programs. In order to do this, she would need to close the library to the public on that day. Signs about the closing would be posted in the library, and other members of MLS would be notified via email. After discussion, the Board granted permission to close the library to the public on December 3, 2010, on a motion by Salo with a second by Blaskey.

Copies of the list of Library Closing Dates for 2011 were given to the Board. After discussion, the Board approved the list on a motion by Blaskey with a second by Gutierrez.

The Board voted to go out of the regular meeting and go into Executive Session as per 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1): “The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee or against legal counsel to determine its validity.” The vote was on a motion by Rivera with a second by Gutierrez.

The Board came out of the regular meeting at 7:25 p.m.

The regular Board meeting resumed at 7:47 p.m.

No action was taken related to the Executive Session.

No members of the public were present.

The next regular Board meeting is scheduled for November 18, 2010.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:48 p.m.

Contact

Hours