MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
NORTHLAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
The regular meeting of the Northlake Public Library District Board of Trustees was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Vice-President Sonya Teets. Present were Board members: Blaskey, Teets, Rivera, Salo, and Gutierrez. Also present were Amy Ropinski, citizen; Karen Salutric, citizen and candidate for open trustee position; Jan Schmudde, library director; and Mary Jane Garrett, assistant library director. Absent Board member: O’Cull.
The Board agreed to rearrange the agenda so that Amy Ropinski and Karen Salutric would be able to speak first. Ms. Ropinski asked about the district’s fine structure and policies about DVD’s. She has checked the fines of surrounding libraries, including Elmhurst, and says that the other libraries have lower late fines for DVD’s than this district. Schmudde described the the district’s fine policies abd the history and reasoning behind them. Ms. Ropinski requested that the Board review the DVD fines and policies, in particular those relating to older DVD’s. She also requested that the Board consider changing the present bookdrop policy. At present, items are considered to be “on time” only if they are in the bookdrop before closing time on the due date. She would like the Board to consider changing this to defining “on time” as being in the bookdrop before opening time on the day following the due date.
Board members received copies of Karen Salutric’s letter of intent to be considered for the present open trustee position. In response to a question from Rivera, Ms. Salutric spoke briefly on what she saw as the future of the library district. The Board will go into Executive (i.e., Closed) Session later in the meeting to discuss Ms. Salutric’s application for the open trustee position.
7:20 p.m., Ms. Salutric and Ms. Ropinski were thanked for their input and they left.
Minutes of the regular Board meeting and of the Executive (i.e., Closed) Session of August 20, 2009, were read and approved on a motion by Rivera with a second by Blaskey. Ayes: All.
The Board read and accepted the following: the Treasurer’s Report of August 31, 2009; the Bills Payable Report for September 17, 2009; the Revenue and Expense Report for September 2009; and the Statistical Circulation and Acquisitions Report for September 2009. Schmudde was asked how the new museum pass program was going. She reported that it was going well, but that it was just started in September. The district is putting together some policies, e.g., if a family wishes, how many museums will they be able to visit on passes during one week. Acceptance of the above reports was on a motion by Salo with a second by Rivera. Roll call vote:
AYES: Blaskey, Gutierrez, Rivera, Salo, Teets.
NAYS: None
ABSENT: O’Cull.
Grand total of all payables listed: $65,085.84
The librarians’ reports were read and accepted with the appreciation of the Board.
Ordinance #09-517, Ordinance Providing for Budget and Appropriations of the Northlake Public Library District, Cook County, Illinois, for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2009 and Ending June 30, 2010, was adopted by the Board on a motion by Rivera with a second by Blaskey. Roll call vote:
AYES: Blaskey, Gutierrez, Rivera, Salo, Teets.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: O’Cull.
The Estimate of Revenues for the Fiscal Year Beginnins July 1, 2009 and Ending June 30, 2010 was approved by the Board on a motion by Salo with a second by Rivera. Ayes: All.
A Plan for Ongoing Building Maintenance, Replacement and Repairs and an Environmental Plan were adopted by the Board on a motion by Blaskey with a second by Rivera. Ayes: All.
The Board discussed plans to replace carpeting and to change carpeting to tile in specific sections of the library. A proposal from Central Rug & Carpet was discussed. This project would be paid from funds remaining in the construction fund. The Board would like Schmudde to find out if any warranties remain for the carpeted areas to be replaced with other carpeting. The replacement of the carpeted areas with tiles was approved by the Board on a motion by Rivera with second by Gutierrez. Roll call vote:
AYES: Blaskey, Gutierrez, Rivera, Salo, Teets.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: O’Cull.
The Board approved the hiring of Ernesto Posada as part-time Circulation Clerk, effective September 1, 2009, to replace Melissa Posada, on a motion by Salo with a second by Blaskey. Roll Call vote:
AYES: Blaskey, Gutierrez, Rivera, Salo, Teets.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: O’Cull.
Copies of a letter dated August 27, 2009, from Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins , attorneys for the district, were given to the Board. The letter offered to do a research project to identify properties within a special district that should have been paying taxes to that district, but that had been overlooked by the County. The Board asked Schmudde to find out what the firm’s definition of “special district” was, and how much a project like the one mentioned would cost.
Schmudde presented the Board with a list of her current financial authority and responsibilities. The Board will read this and discuss at the next meeting which authority/responsibilities will be given to the new director as he or she begins the position.
Copies of a letter dated August 20, 2009, from Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins, attorneys for the district, were given to the Board. The letter concerned the new law in Illinois which changes the Illinois Open Meetings Act (OMA) and the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Schmudde summarized the changes as a public body will have fewer reasons under which it can legally refuse information requests, the fines to public bodies for not complying will be larger, and the library district will need to appoint at least one Freedom of Information Officer, who will be trained to receive the requests, respond to them in a timely fashion, and issue responses,
The Board went into Executive (i.e., Closed) Session at 7:45 p.m., as per Statutory Section 5ILCS 120/2 (c)(3), for “the selection of a person to fill a public office as defined in the Open Meetings Act, including a vacancy in a public office, when the public body is given power to appoint under law or ordinance, or the discipline, performance or removal of the occupant of a public office, when the public body is given power to remove the occupant under law or ordinance.” Going into Excessive (i.e., Closed) Session was done on a motion by Rivera with a second by Blaskey. Ayes: All.
The regular Board meeting resumed at 7:50 p.m.
A motion to appoint Karen Salutric to the open Board position was made by Blaskey with a second by Rivera. Ayes: All.
At 7:51 p.m. consultants Mary Jane Kepner and Sarah Hampson came into the Board Meeting to discuss the Library Director Search. Schmudde left the meeting.
There was no further public discussion.
The next regular Board meeting is scheduled for October 15, 2009.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:17 p.m.
Barbara Salo, Secretary