MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING
OF THE
NORTHLAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OCTOBER 20, 2011
The regular meeting of the Northlake Public Library District Board of Trustees was called to order at 6:31 p.m. by Vice President Orlando Rivera. Present were Board members: Salo, Blaskey, Ukleja, Rivera. Also present were Sharon L. Highler, Library Director; and Mary Jane Garrett, Head of Technical Services. Absent Board members: Teets, Garcia, Gutierrez.
The Board approved the agenda for the October 20 meeting, with the exception that an Executive Session would not be needed.
Minutes of the Board meeting of September 21, 2011, were read and approved on a motion by Salo with a second by Blaskey:
AYES: All.
The Board read and accepted the following: the Treasurer’s Report of September 30, 2011; the Bills Payable/Paid Report for October 20, 2011; the Revenue and Expense Report for September of 2011; and the Statistical Circulation and Acquisitions Reports for September of 2011. Acceptance of the above reports was on a motion by Blaskey with a second by Salo. Roll call vote:
AYES: Salo, Blaskey, Ukleja, Rivera.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Teets, Garcia, Gutierrez.
Grand total, October: $53,034.25.
The librarians’ reports were read and accepted with the appreciation of the Board. Highler reported on attending the Illinois Library Association (ILA) Annual Conference. In addition to attending workshops, she browsed the exhibits, focusing on self-checkout upgrades and on an automated “Library Anywhere” station, a possible future idea for bringing some local library service to Stone Park.
Teets was not present to give a President’s Report.
Rivera had nothing further to report as Vice President.
The Board agreed to amend the agenda to let the auditor make his presentation first. Joseph Vlach, CPA, of McClure, Inserra and Company, distributed copies of the audit of the financial statements of the library district for the year ended June 30, 2011, to the Board. He summarized the audit and discussed important points with the Board. The management letter and significant audit findings were also presented. The Board accepted the audit on a motion by Salo with a second by Ukleja. Roll call vote:
AYES: Salo, Blaskey, Ukleja, Rivera.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Teets, Garcia, Gutierrez.
Audit documents were signed by the Board. 7:15 p.m., Mr. Vlach was thanked for his presentation and he left.
The completed Illinois Public Library Annual Report (IPLAR) has been submitted to the Illinois State Library. Anyone needing a copy, please see Highler.
For the current Per Capita Grant application, the Board is required to discuss chapter 2, “Governance and Administration,” from Serving Our Public 2.0: Standards for Illinois Public Libraries. A number of aspects of chapter 2 were discussed during the previous fiscal year. The Board and Highler discussed the need for reviewing and revising the library’s mission and long-range plan. For this, we need input from our service community. Some examples for gathering input would be surveys and focus groups.
Copies of the Per Capita Grant application for FY2012 were given to the Board and discussed. Highler directed the Board to give particular attention to #10, “Planned Use of FY2012 Grant Monies.” The Per Capita Grant application for FY2012 was accepted by the Board on a motion by Salo with a second by Blaskey. Roll call vote:
AYES: Salo, Blaskey, Ukleja, Rivera.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Teets, Garcia, Gutierrez.
Highler recommends raising our levy by only the standard 5%. The Truth In Taxation notice would still need to be printed, but without the black band required by an increase over 5%. The Board agreed to the 5% limit on a raise in the levy, on a motion by Blaskey with a second by Ukleja.
AYES: All.
Melrose Park Public Library has asked to join our SAM library consortium. SAM is the computer program we use to schedule and manage public computer usage and printing. Our library district currently houses, maintains, and upgrades the hardware and software, by Comprise Technologies, and bills the other members annually. Copies of the original SAM Participation Agreement were given to the Board. After discussion, the trustees stated that they have many questions about whether the requirements of the original agreement are being followed, if the financial arrangements are stringent enough, and whether the original agreement is legally binding enough. They requested that the members of the consortium meet to either revise or amend the agreement.
Highler distributed copies to the Board of a letter from Johnson and Colmar regarding settlement of the 2005 and 2006 tax rate objections filed against the library district. The Board authorized Johnson and Colmar to accept the settlement offer.
Board members received copies of information about the RAILS library system’s advisory group election, including a list of candidates. If Board members have any preferences about candidates, they should let Highler know before the close of voting on October 31.
Highler is proposing the next Staff In-Service Day to be Friday, January 13, 2012. The Board approved the date on a motion by Blaskey with a second by Ukleja.
AYES: All.
The Board approved the list of the Library Closing Dates for 2012 on a motion by Salo with a second by Blaskey.
AYES: All.
Board members received copies of an article by Karen Berkowitz, “Tax Rates Rise for Leyden Township Residents,” dated September 29, 2011, from the Franklin Park Herald-Journal, with news of Northlake. It explains why tax rates are up for the 2010 tax year. Copies of the Illinois State Library Budget Process Explanation were also given to the Board. A legal alert and a library law handout from Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins were also distributed. Highler reminded Board members to keep up-to-date with the legislative alerts from ILA and ALA (American Library Association).
No members of the public were present.
The next Board meeting is scheduled for November 17, 2011.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:24 p.m., on a motion by Salo with a second by Blaskey.
AYES: All.
Barbara Salo, Secretary