FONDULAC DISTRICT LIBRARY

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

January 30, 2006

 

            Members of the Fondulac District Library Board of Trustees met in regular session on Monday, January 30, 2006.  President Mingus called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m.

 

            On roll call the following members were present:  Mr. Brimberry, Mrs. Cole, Mr. Goff, Mrs. Herring, Mr. Johnston and Mr. Mingus.  Also present were Ms. Falasz-Peterson, Director, Miss McKeever, Assistant Director and Mrs. Geier, Administrative Assistant.  Mr. Lasswell was absent.

 

            M/S/P (Johnston/Herring) to accept the minutes of the November 2005 meeting of the Board of Trustees.

 

            The December library statistical report showed receipts of $2,280.71 for December plus $71,399.36 from county taxes.  There was a decrease in circulation for November.  The January library statistical report showed receipts of $8,002.46 for January.  There was a decrease in circulation for December.

 

            The bills were presented for payment.

 

            Treasurer’s Report:

Fund Activity Thru 12/31/05

GENERAL FUND CHECKING

11/28/05  Balance                                                                                               1,401.81

11/17/05  Checks issued – NCPERS Group Life                                                     (52.00)

11/29/05  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                      20,500.00

11/30/05  Interest 3066700474                                                                                  3.11.

12/01/05  Checks issued – Payroll                                                                    (20,753.58)

12/02/05  Deposit – Fines, fees, misc.                                                                     687.31

12/02/05  Deposit – County Taxes                                                                    71,399.36

12/09/05  Deposit – Fines, fees, misc.                                                                     816.54

12/15/05  Checks issued – Payroll                                                                    (21,427.01)

12/15/05  Checks issued – NCPERS Group Life                                                     (52.00)

12/15/05  Checks issued – E.P. Chamber of Commerce                                     (1,550.00)

12/15/05  Deposit – Fines, fees, misc.                                                                     275.82

12/22/05  Checks issued – Bills                                                                        (65,058.07)

12/22/05  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                      36,000.00

12/22/05  Deposit – Fines, fees, misc.                                                                     501.04

12/29/05  Checks issued – Payroll                                                                    (20,756.66)

12/29/05  Checks issued – Payroll taxes & Walmart                                              (928.45)

12/31/05  Interest 3066700474                                                                                12.53

12/31/05  Balance                                                                                                  964.08      

 

GENERAL FUND SAVINGS

11/28/05  Balance                                                                                               3,496.75

11/30/05  Interest 3619307057                                                                                    .30

12/31/05  Interest 3619307057                                                                                    .39

12/31/05  Balance                                                                                               3,497.44

 

GENERAL FUND INVESTMENT

11/28/05  Balance                                                                                           600,446.54

11/29/05  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                     (20,500.00)

11/30/05  Interest 7139120393                                                                           1,932.82

12/07/05  Deposit – Replacement Tax                                                                 5,031.82

12/22/05  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                     (36,000.00)

12/31/05  Interest 7139120393                                                                           1,893.37

12/31/05  Balance                                                                                           552,804.55

 

WORKING CASH FUND

11/28/05  Balance                                                                                           258,625.57

11/30/05  Interest 7139120401                                                                              821.64

12/31/05  Interest 7139120401                                                                              884.94

12/31/05  Balance                                                                                           259,447.21

 

RESERVE FUND

11/28/05  Balance                                                                                        1,278,353.71

11/30/05  Interest 7139120419                                                                           4,061.24

12/31/05  Interest 7139120419                                                                           4,374.16

12/31/05  Balance                                                                                        1,282,414.95

 

ENTERPRISE FUND

11/28/05  Balance                                                                                             24,667.10

11/30/05  Interest 6900342215                                                                                  4.19

12/02/05  Deposit – Rent                                                                                       318.00

12/09/05  Deposit – Rent                                                                                       302.00

12/22/05  Check issued – Bill                                                                                  (23.77)

12/22/05  Deposit – Rent                                                                                       250.00

12/31/05  Interest 6900342215                                                                                  4.71

12/31/05  Balance                                                                                             25,517.52

 

Fund Activity Thru 1/30/06

GENERAL FUND CHECKING

01/01/06  Balance                                                                                                  964.08

01/06/06  Deposit – Fines, fees, misc.                                                                     453.37

01/06/06  Deposit – Insurance reimbursement                                                      1,641.07

01/10/06  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                      19,000.00

01/12/06  Checks issued – Payroll                                                                    (20,618.44)

01/12/06  Check issued – ALS                                                                             (270.00)

01/12/06  Check issued – IDES                                                                            (127.07)

01/13/06  Deposit – Fines, fees, misc.                                                                     395.39

01/20/06  Deposit – Fines, fees, misc.                                                                     272.41

01/23/06  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                      21,000.00

01/26/06  Checks issued – Payroll                                                                    (20,986.31)

01/26/06  Check issued – Credit card                                                                   (864.00)

01/26/06  Checks issued – NCPERS Group Life                                                     (52.00)

01/27/06  Deposit – Fines, fees, misc.                                                                     488.15

01/27/06  Deposit – City of E.P.                                                                          4,752.07

01/30/06  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                      33,000.00

01/30/06  Checks issued – Bills                                                                        (37,917.65)

01/30/06  Balance                                                                                               1,131.07

 

GENERAL FUND SAVINGS

01/01/06  Balance                                                                                               3,497.44

01/30/06  Balance                                                                                               3,497.44

 

GENERAL FUND INVESTMENT

01/01/06  Balance                                                                                           552,804.55

01/06/06  Deposit –  Replacement Taxes                                                           15,030.42

01/10/06  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                     (19,000.00)

01/23/05  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                     (21,000.00)

01/300/6  Transfer – Investment to checking                                                    (33,000.00)

01/30/06  Balance                                                                                           494,834.97

 

WORKING CASH FUND

01/01/06  Balance                                                                                           259,447.21

01/30/06  Balance                                                                                           259,447.21

 

RESERVE FUND

01/01/06  Balance                                                                                        1,282,414.95

01/30/06  Balance                                                                                        1,282,414.95

 

ENTERPRISE FUND

01/01/06  Balance                                                                                             25,517.52

01/06/06  Deposit – Rent                                                                                       620.00

01/27/06  Deposit – Rent                                                                                       450.00

01/30/06  Checks issued – Bills                                                                             (150.36)

01/30/06  Balance                                                                                             26,437.16

 

            Mrs. Geier made four authorized transfers in December and January.  The first on December 22nd was for $36,000, the second on January 10th was for $19,000, the third on January 23rd was for $21,000 and the fourth on January 30th was for $33,000.  All transfers were from the Investment Fund to the Checking Account.

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson stated that she has noticed a trend with our circulation decreasing.  Therefore, she has gone through some areas of our non-fiction collection and is in the process of weeding and purchasing new materials in the areas that need the most updating.

 

            It was reported that we will begin saving approximately $2,000 per year as RSA will be paying for the enhanced content of our card catalog and Kids cat.

 

            We received a letter in December from our attorney, Phil Lenzini, stating that his fee will be increasing to $150 per hour.

 

            Miss McKeever reported that she has contacted Bradley University’s business school.  She first contacted the undergraduate program and they transferred her information to the graduate school.  We have been chosen for a project and will be working with at least two MBA students.  The students will be contacting us in the near future to talk about the development of a marketing plan, which she anticipates may include a survey, all of which will be free to the library. 

 

            Miss McKeever informed the board that on January 18th and 19th we held our first two initial Friend’s Group meetings.  They were well attended and we currently have nine new members.  There will be another meeting on February 15th at 4:00 p.m.  Mrs. Herring suggested handing out a Friend’s Group brochure to each board member and to all people who come to our programs.  Mr. Brimberry asked if this would be a 501(C)(3) type of group.  Ms. Falasz-Peterson stated that they really haven’t gotten that far.  Mr. Brimberry also inquired about a creating a foundation.  Mrs. Herring suggested finding out how much money a friend’s group can raise before they have to become 501(C)(3).

 

            The finance committee reported that they have spoken via telephone and discussed when would be a good time to meet.  They thought at this committee meeting we should discuss if we are going to hire a financial planner to help us decide what kind of funding we really need, i.e. are we going to sell bonds and ask for help raising money to pay for them, get a mortgage, just what kind of funding would be best for our library at this time.  They will compare calendars and decide a date for a committee meeting.

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson touched on the highlights of chapters 7-9 of the Trustee Fact Files.

 

            We’ve been invited by the Illinois State Library to participate in a library sustainability project.  It is funded through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and it talks about continued access in rural communities.  We were chosen to take part in this project since we serve a population of fewer than 25,000 people.  Alliance Library System is hosting one of these workshops on Tuesday, March 14th from 10:00-4:00.  Ms. Falasz-Peterson stated that she would be happy to make a reservation for any interested board member.  If no board member is able to attend, she would be able to go to the workshop.  It was decided that Ms. Falasz-Peterson will attend, but if something would come up on her schedule, Mr. Johnston would attend in her place.

 

            Wednesday, March 1st is Advocacy Day in Springfield.  The Alliance Library System is taking a bus to this event.  Both Ms. Falasz-Peterson and Miss McKeever are attending, as is Mr. Johnston.  Ms. Falasz-Peterson offered to make reservations for any interested board member.  Mrs. Herring will also attend.

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson reminded the board that at our last board meeting a new Internet policy was brought before the board.  There was a motion to approve the suggested change, but then there was a lot of discussion regarding making sure we had parental signatures for children under the age of 18.  The policy has been implemented, but there needs to be a second to the amendment of the original motion.  Mr. Brimberry seconded the amendment to the original motion made at the November board meeting to require parental signatures for children under the age of 18 to use the internet.

 

            M/S/P (Johnston/Cole) to go into executive session at 7:14 p.m. to discuss personnel.  On roll call: Mr. Brimberry-yea; Mrs. Cole-yea; Mr. Goff-yea; Mrs. Herring-yea; Mr. Johnston-yea; Mr. Mingus-yea.

 

            M/S/P (Herring/Brimberry) to return to executive session at 7:35 p.m.  On roll call: Mr. Brimberry-yea; Mrs. Cole-yea; Mr. Goff-yea; Mrs. Herring-yea; Mr. Johnston-yea; Mr. Mingus-yea.

 

            There was discussion on the Kolb certificate of deposit which comes to term on February 3rd.   Ms. Falasz-Peterson informed the board at this time that we have also received our inheritance from the Kathryn Poff-White estate.  Included in the board handouts were rate sheets from area banks for CD and money market accounts.  The board discussed putting the Poff-White inheritance with the Kolb inheritance into one CD or money market.  M/S/P (Herring/Johnston) to put the Kolb and the Poff-White inheritances together into a six month CD at Morton Community Bank at 4.47% interest.

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson reported that Norma Smith will be retiring as of March 1st.  She has been contracting with us to do our cataloging.  We are fortunate enough to have Susan Sullivan on staff who can take over these cataloging duties.  Susan has her MLS from University of IL.  In with board handouts, there is a letter of resignation from Mrs. Smith as well as copies of past board minutes from July 31, 1989 and April 30, 2001 in which these boards agreed to pay Mrs. Smith’s health insurance indefinitely and in her January 26, 2006 letter she requests that there be no change in that status.  There was much discussion on this subject and the interpretation of the minutes by this board.  Mrs. Herring asked Mr. Johnston if in 2001 he interpreted the boards meaning to be to cover Mrs. Smith indefinitely, whether she contracted with the library or not.  Mr. Johnston stated that he did feel that was the intent of the board at that time.  Mr. Brimberry suggested that possibly the board insure Mrs. Smith but not her husband.  Mr. Goff suggested contacting our attorney to make sure this is not illegal or misuse of public funds.  Mrs. Herring would also like a legal opinion.  This subject was tabled until the next meeting.

 

           

            M/S/P (Herring/Brimberry) to adopt the Gift Policy as distributed.

 

            Mr. Johnston reported on ALS news.

 

            M/S/P (Johnston/Herring) to accept the evaluation of the director and the salary schedule discussed in the June 2005 executive session retroactive to January 1, 2006.  On roll call: Mr. Brimberry-yea; Mrs. Cole-yea; Mr. Goff-yea; Mrs. Herring-yea; Mr. Johnston-yea; Mr. Mingus-yea.

 

            Mr. Mingus adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m.