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Board Meeting Minutes
OCPL Board of Trustees’ Meeting
April 8, 2009
Onondaga Free Library
4840 W. Seneca Tpk.
4:00 p.m.
ATTENDING K. Alford; R. Manning; V. Biesiada; R. McMahon; B. Fisher; D. Stack; A. Lombardi
ABSENT H. J. Hubert S. Jones; J. Kianka J. Suddaby
ALSO PRESENT E. Dailey; R. NaPier; G. Cox; K. Park; D. Bendig; R. Kushner; S. Carmer; S. Reckhow; R. Dunsmore; E. Kochian; E. Loftus
Ms. Biesiada called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m.
PRESENTATION
Ms. Reckhow, Library Director of Onondaga Free Library gave a presentation on the library expansion, providing an overview of each new area.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ms. Lombardi moved the minutes of the March 11, 2009 Board meeting.
Mr. Manning seconded, the motion carried unanimously.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Ms. Dailey gave a report on the following activities:
- Stimulus Funds: gave an update on the shovel ready projects that were submitted to New York State
- Staff Development Day: a couple of the board members attended the presentation on marketing. The overall reviews were positive, and a “Green” theme is what the Committee is looking at for next year.
- Budget Preparation: The thought is to create some general budget goals and they in turn can become the basis of the presentation the Library would make to the Legislature.
An invitation will be sent out to the Board members to meet with Administration to work on developing these goals.
- VRR Updates:
Public Information Specialist Position: will be canvassing from the list
Local History/Genealogy: Librarian I position filled by a branch employee
Library Clerk II: two retirements will be coming up in April
- Media: Ms. Dailey was interviewed again regarding lead in children’s books. She explained to the reporter that the American Library Association (ALA) is advising that children’s books are safe. ALA is working to promote to Federal Legislation that will exempt children’s books from regulations that apply to toys.
- Skaneateles Library: Ms. Carmer, Ms. Bendig, and Ms. Dailey met with Kathy Mosher, Director of Skaneateles Library. Ms. Dailey explained Skaneateles is going through a process to become chartered to serve the Village of Skaneateles. The whole process will take about a year. Once that is all in place they will be eligible to become a member of the Onondaga County Public Library system.
- Board packets: various information requested by the Board was supplied in their packets
- The Dick Casey Library Advocacy Award: nominations are due to the Empire Friends by July 24th
ACTION/DISCUSSION
Action Items
Resolution 09-07
Ms. Lombardi moved the following resolution:
Resolved, that the OCPL Board of Trustees approves the proposed Investment Policy Statement as presented by the Finance Committee; and
be it further resolved, that the OCPL Board of Trustees approves the recommendation by the Finance Committee to approve the investment strategy as proposed by Alliance Bank; and
be it further resolved, that John J. Kianka, Treasurer of the OCPL Board of Trustees is hereby directed and authorized to take any actions necessary to implement the transactions to rebalance the allocation of the portfolio, including the purchase and sale of securities, as is required by Alliance Bank and in accordance to aforementioned investment and notify the Board of Trustees when the rebalancing has been completed.
Mr. Manning seconded, discussion followed. Motion carried unanimously. (Mr. McMahon wasn’t present at the time of the vote)
Resolution: 09-10
Ms. Lombardi moved the following resolution:
Resolved, That the OCPL Board of Trustees accepts the $5,000 Excellus grant through the OCPL Foundation for the Early Literacy Program.
Mr. Manning seconded, motion carried unanimously.
Discussion Items
Request for Nominations for Strategic Planning Process
Mr. Fisher explained the Strategic Planning process, the timeline, and nominations needed for a focus group. The purpose of the focus group will be to provide valuable input in to what the community needs are. He continued by giving an overview of the next steps that would follow and the outcome they are planning to achieve from this.
Impact on Budget of State Funding Reductions
Ms. Dailey explained that we have been notified of a state funding cut, which is a bit more than 8%. However, the state’s supplemental aid amount will remain the same as in the past, which was higher than the Library anticipated they would receive. Also, Senator Valesky’s Office called and said they will be giving OCPL $50,000 for electronic resources.
Outline of Code of Conduct Policy Considerations
Ms. Loftus mentioned that the Library is reviewing the Code of Conduct, since the Mundy workgroup has reconvened. She explained that there was a committee a few years back that discussed a policy for unattended children especially during the day. One of the recommendations of that committee was to have a separate code of conduct for children, since the current Code of Conduct has many items that don’t apply to children. It would be very beneficial to have provisions/rules set in place for each library location that makes sense for their library communities. The last piece would be to have a safe child handout/safety in the library.
Ms. Dailey inquired if the Board has some guidance or questions to for Ms. Loftus. A rough outline would be put together for their review.
OCSL
Mr. Kushner introduced himself to the two newest Board members.
He covered the following topics:
- Reviving the System Services Committee
- Leadership Committee
- Welcomed Ms. NaPier in her new role as the Library Services Consultant
- Marcellus- April 29th there is a DLD construction workshop on Green Technologies.
- LaFayette- looking into a building expansion
FOCL
Mr. Kochian mentioned the Marjane Satrapi lecture was very well attended. The next lecture is April 21st, Neil degrasse Tyson.
Foundation
Mr. Kochian thanked the Board for sponsoring a table at the Literacy Volunteer’s event.
Annual Discovery Summer Project – five libraries participated in the three field trips last year and there are three dates set aside for this summer, but destinations are yet to be determined.
Book Shelf Project - new project this year and they are planning to have at least 400 bookshelves being built within the city branches.
Syracuse Opera’s Little Women Literacy Infusion Project - They are trying to get 100 women mentors and 100 female students from Grant Middle School. They have already gotten together and the mentees were illustrated the fashion of the day, followed up by book discussions with their mentors.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Roof Update
Mr. Fisher noted there still are no leaks. Mr. DeCook and Ms. Carmer itemized the needed interior repairs. County Purchasing will bid the work.
Government Relations
Mr. Manning gave an update on the key events within the last month.
He gave an update on the happenings at Lobby Day in Albany on March 10th.
Mr. Manning informed the Board of the Committee’s upcoming events.
Congressman Maffei will be attending a luncheon with the Board on April 16th. He will give a proclamation for National Library Week just before the OCPL/CNY Reads event with Charles Simic.
Strategic Planning
Mr. Fisher explained that Ms. Dailey is taking the lead on the Strategic Planning process with his support. They are beginning to think about the master plan. How do we go from this strategic plan to one for a city branch library? How do we build some core competencies from this? How do we take some of the questions that came out of the Gifford Lifecycles study and get those addressed at the Board level? He will be focusing more on these items than on the Central Library’s part of the strategic plan.
VICE-PRESIDENT’S
Ms. Biesiada inquired about who would be attending the Trustees’ Institute workshop on May 2nd.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. McMahon moved to adjourn.
Ms. Biesiada adjourned the meeting at 6:05 p.m.
Next scheduled Board meeting is May 20, 2009 at the Central Library.
Gail M. Cox
Administrative Aide
Last updated April 12, 2010