FONDULAC DISTRICT LIBRARY

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

August 30, 2010

 

 

            President Hale called the Budget and Appropriation Hearing to order at 5:45 p.m.  Members present were: Mrs. Cole, Mr. Coziahr, Mr. Hale, Mrs. Herring,  Mr. Johnston and Mr. Lasswell.  Also present were Ms. Falasz-Peterson, Director and Mrs. Geier, Business Manager.  There was some discussion on the budget.  Mr. Hale closed the Budget and Appropriation Hearing at 6:01 p.m.

 

            Members of the Fondulac District Library Board of Trustees met in regular session on Monday, August 30, 2010.  President Hale called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.

 

            On roll call the following members were present:  Mrs. Cole, Mr. Coziahr, Mr. Hale, Mrs. Herring, Mrs. Humphrey, Mr. Johnston and Mr. Lasswell.  Also present were Ms. Falasz-Peterson, Director and Mrs. Geier, Business Manager.  

 

            M/S/P (Johnston/Lasswell) to accept the minutes of the July meeting of the Board of Trustees.

 

            M/S/P (Coziahr/Johnston) to accept the Treasurer’s Report and payment of bills subject to audit.

                       

            Treasurer’s Report:

GENERAL FUND CHECKING

07/26/10  Balance                                                                                         496,654.17

07/19/10  Returned check                                                                                       (5.05)

07/28/10  Aflac payment                                                                                    (229.76)

07/30/10  Deposit – Fines, fees, misc.                                                                 517.33

07/30/10  Interest 185736                                                                                    726.37

08/03/10  Waste Management payment                                                             (88.02)

08/05/10  Checks issued – Payroll                                                                 (23,963.05)

08/05/10  Check issued – State Farm                                                              (1,693.00)

08/05/10  Deposit – Replacement tax                                                              1,837.63

08/06/10  Deposit – Fines, fees, misc.                                                                 700.14

08/10/10  AmerenCilco payment                                                                          (47.18)

08/11/10  AmerenCilco payment                                                                        (109.34)

08/12/10  AT&T payment                                                                                    (112.91)

08/12/10  AmerenCilco payment                                                                     (2,325.30)

08/13/10  Deposit – Fines, fees, misc.                                                                 727.69

08/13/10  Visa payment                                                                                      (448.45)

08/17/10  AT&T payment                                                                                    (230.69)

08/19/10  Checks issued - Payroll                                                                  (23,529.98)

08/19/10  Checks issued - NCPERS Group Life Ins.                                               (64.00)

08/20/10  Deposit - Fines, fees, misc.                                                                  318.61

08/23/10  Checks issued - BlueCross/Blueshield                                             (7,884.96)

08/23/10  Checks issued - Fort Dearborn                                                           (144.00)

08/25/10  AT&T payment                                                                                    (170.11)

08/26/10  Aflac payment                                                                                    (229.76)

08/27/10  Deposit - Fines, fees, misc.                                                                  540.52

08/30/10  Checks issued - Bills                                                                      (22,491.03)     

08/30/10  Balance                                                                                         418,255.87

 

WORKING CASH FUND

07/26/10  Balance                                                                                         257,141.10

07/27/10  Transfer  - Working Cash to Reserve Fund                                   (57,141.10)

07/30/10  Interest 185701                                                                                    319.94

08/30/10  Balance                                                                                         200,319.94

 

RESERVE FUND

07/26/10  Balance                                                                                      2,658,932.42

07/27/10  Transfer – Working Cash to Reserve Fund                                     57,141.10

07/30/10  Interest 185728                                                                                 3,419.03

08/30/10  Balance                                                                                      2,719,492.55

 

ENTERPRISE FUND

07/26/10  Balance                                                                                           35,206.76

07/30/10  Interest 185698                                                                                      46.10

08/27/10  Deposit - Rent                                                                                      250.00

08-30/10  Check issued - Bill                                                                            (1,663.63)

08/30/10  Balance                                                                                           33,839.23

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson informed the board that a patron has been banned from the library property until January 3, 2011.

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson reported that the gentleman the does our mailing for the newsletter is quitting immediately due new postal regulations.  She is looking for a replacement and will keep the board informed. 

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson informed the board that there will be four board seats open in the  2011 election.  There are two six year terms, one four year term and one two year term. Packets can be picked up in Mrs.  Geier's office beginning September 21 and must be returned the week of December 13-20.

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson asked the board if they wanted to move the November board meeting to November 22 due to her impending maternity leave.  The board stated that they would like to move the meeting.  Ms. Falasz-Peterson will include the change on the September agenda.

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson reviewed the Annual Report comparisons with the board.

 

            M/S/P (Lasswell/Coziahr) to discuss the approval of contracts. 

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson stated that she has tried to contact the library's attorney, Brian Mooty, about his comments regarding the contracts.  In correspondence from earlier today, Mr. Mooty stated that Ms. Falasz-Peterson should hear more later this week.  Ms. Falasz-Peterson is sensing that the board has become frustrated, based on conversations with several board members,  due to the fact that the library is not seeing results when other projects seem to have taken precedence.  She reported that in the past, the attorney has advised the library to approve both the PSA and PCM+d contracts at the same time as they are two parts of a whole. 

 

            Mrs. Herring stated that she feels the library changed plans to fit in with the city's needs and now she feels they are not cooperating with the library board to get a contract so the library can move forward with building plans.  She stated that several members of the public have approached her inquiring about the new library building.  Mrs. Herring stated that she realizes the referendum passed based on the library building with the city, but if the city doesn't have the money or enough planners to move forward with their section because they are working on other projects, then perhaps the library needs to move forward on their own.    She also feels that the library board needs to decide if they wish to move ahead with the city's plan without them or move forward alone with the library's own plan.   Mrs. Herring does not feel the board should wait another three months for a contract.

 

            Mr. Hale stated that he feels the board should approve the PSA contract.  He also feels that if the library were to begin the design process, perhaps they would feel some progress was being made.  Mr. Hale also stated that he would like to see Mr. Mooty be more proactive.

 

            Mr. Johnston feels that by going ahead with PSA , the library would be spending money to design a building on a property where there are no clear definitions of where the library will be located and he is not in favor of that.  Mr. Lasswell stated that if the library were to change directions, the money spent would be wasted.

 

            Mr. Johnston is questioning when waiting becomes a problem of administration and fulfilling the obligations the board was elected to do, which is to provide the best library service to the citizens of East Peoria.  He reminded the board that there are four seats up for reelection.  He feels the board needs to think about which direction they want to go regarding the project.  He also questions when does the board continue to wait for an entity that may not come to the table or may decide there is something else to build, when does the library stop becoming a partner.  Mr. Johnston stated that the library is a district library not a city library.  He feels that for the past 17 months we have been acting like a city library.  He reminded the board that the intergovernmental agreement has an "out" that states if one of the parties is not ready to go forward, the agreement can be separated.  Mr. Johnston feels that clause was put in the agreement by the city as they thought the library wouldn't be ready, but just the opposite has happened.

 

            Mrs. Herring agrees with Mr. Johnston and feels the library owes the citizens that voted to pass our referendum to get at least the land plotted, a road for construction and utilities.  Mr. Lasswell stated that the utilities should not be a problem as they are coming from the other side of Washington Street and construction could begin using Washington Street as the entrance.  He feels the problem is with the attorneys and getting the contracts.  It is his understanding, based on the email Ms. Falasz-Peterson shared, that currently the library's attorney is in possession of the contracts.

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson stated that since the July board meeting she has contacted Mr. Mooty no less than once per week and the week prior to this board meeting she either called or emailed him once per day with no response.  She stated that she does not know if Mr. Mooty has had the contracts at any time within the last month, made comments and sent them back to the city.  Mr. Coziahr asked if the board truly knew on which end the hold-up has been.  Ms. Falasz-Peterson stated that she is not sure where the contracts are currently.  Mr. Lasswell feels that the library needs more feedback from both the attorneys and the city.

 

            Mrs. Herring feels that it is time for the board to contact people.  She asked Ms. Falasz-Peterson to send the board members contact information for the city council.

 

            Mr. Coziahr asked if it was fair to say that the library will give the city 30 days and then revisit the subject.  He feels it would be hard to "jump ship" at this point and start over at the beginning until the library really states what is expected and if it's not done have some consequences.  Mr. Hale stated that he asked to have something by the August meeting and he feels that the library does have something, it's just not ready to approve.

 

            Mr. Hale stated that he still believes in the project and doesn't believe the library can back out of the city agreement and tell the citizens the library will be located someplace else.  Mrs. Herring agrees and stated that she would still build in that location, just not with the city.

 

            Mrs. Cole stated that the library didn't ask for enough money for a standalone building.  Because of the shared spaces, the referendum was for significantly less.  Mr. Coziahr stated that if the library pulled out, it would set the building project back 6-8 months with new design work.  Mr. Hale feels that a lot will happen over the next 30-60 days.  Ms. Falasz-Peterson will follow up with Mr. Mooty before the board contacts the city council.

 

            M/S/P (Lasswell/Herring) to amend the previous motion to table the approval of the architects contracts.

 

            M/S/P (Cole/Herring) to adopt Budget and Appropriation Ordinance #10-257.  On roll call, all present voting yea.

 

            Ms. Falasz-Peterson reported that the holiday closing list for 2011 is the same as 2010. 

 

            M/S/P (Lasswell/Coziahr) to approve the 2011 proposed holiday closing dates.

 

            M/S/P (Lasswell/Cole) to approve the FDL Technology Plan.

 

            M/S/P (Lasswell/Herring) to approve the updated staff organizational chart.  There was some discussion on the new position listed on the chart.

 

            Mrs. Herring reported on ALS news

 

            Mrs. Herring moved  to adjourn the meeting at 6:35 p.m.