Board Minutes
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
January 17, 2006
The regular meeting of the Des Plaines Public Library Board of
Trustees was held in the second floor conference room on Tuesday,
January 17, 2006. President Noreen Lake called the meeting to
order at 4:10 PM.
ROLL CALL.
Roll call indicated the following board members were present:
Eldon Burk, Susan Burrows, Mary Ellicson, William Grice, Jerry
Mahony, Noreen Lake, Rhys Read, Elaine Tejcek, Susan Weinberg.
Also Present: Sandra Norlin, Martha Sloan, Hector Marino,
Leslie Steiner, Carol Kidd, Veronica Schwartz, John Haupt,
Alderman Carla Brookman, Alderman Rosemary Argus, Alderman Laura
Murphy, Alderman Dick Sayad, Pat Krochmal.
CONSIDERATION OF THE AGENDA.
MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by William Grice, to
accept the agenda, as written. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None.
MOTION CARRIED.
Susan Weinberg entered the meeting at 4:12 PM.
VFW PRESENTATION.
John Haupt, VFW Post #2992, presented Veronica Schwartz, Head
of Youth Services, with an imprinted t-shirt to thank the library
for supporting the troops in Iraq by sending letters and personal
care items.
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.
None.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE – Alderman Carla
Brookman.
Alderman Brookman reported that the City of Des Plaines
immediately acted on patron requests to have more handicapped
parking spaces and to improve signage in the parking garage
adjacent to the library.
Alderman Brookman stated that she approves the library’s
request for an increase in the tax levy, but does not approve the
increase asked for by the City of Des Plaines.
CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Susan Burrows, to
accept the Consent Agenda, as written. VOTE: AYES: All.
NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.
MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Susan Burrows, to
approve the Financial Reports for December 2005, as presented.
VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.
Following monthly reports to be reviewed and placed on file for
audit:
1. Over the Counter Receipts $ 21,635.73
2. Petty Cash Expenditures $ 6.12
3. Budget Expenditures for December $ 491,243.94
4. Expenditures Year to Date $ 5,406,754.85
5. Revenue for December $ 28,386.75
6. Revenue Year to Date $ 5,378,791.05
MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Susan Burrows, to
approve, subject to audit, expenditures authorized by the Library
Director and Board Representatives for library Warrant Registers
as follows:
December 05, 2005 $ 86,052.20
December 19, 2005 $ 99,977.41
Total $ 186,029.6
ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Burk, Burrows, Ellicson, Grice,
Lake, Mahony, Read, Tejcek, Weinberg. NAYS: None. MOTION
CARRIED.
MOTION by Eldon Burk, seconded by Susan Burrows, to
approve, subject to audit, expenditures for salaries made by the
Library Director as follows:
December 08, 2005 $ 115,641.58
December 22, 2005 $ 122,565.31
Total $ 238,206.89
ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Burk, Burrows, Ellicson, Grice,
Lake, Mahony, Read, Tejcek, Weinberg. NAYS: None. MOTION
CARRIED.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
I have received no official requests for confidential
information since my last report.
PERSONNEL
There were no new employees from December/January. Resignations
or separations: Thomas Rice, and John Kim, Part-time Pages,
Circulation Services.
STAFF DEVELOPMENT
Five staff members will attend the Public Library Association’s
Biannual Conference in Boston, MA March 21 through 25.
Gail Johnson and an associate have worked with the circulation
staff and observed their customer service skills.
A clinical supervisor from Maine Center for Mental Health met
with me and two department heads to discuss how she can help staff
understand the behaviors of people with mental health problems and
how to become more skilled in providing library service while
being both compassionate and professional.
I will attend the NSLS program on Advocacy on January 16.
PATRON SERVICES
Although we surpassed a million circulations for the third year
in a row, we did experience an overall decrease in the number of
items that were checked out in 2005 compared to 2004. The
decreases in use were in children’s fiction and video cassettes.
Forty-eight percent of all items checked out were print items; 63%
of the children’s items were print, 42% of the adult items were
print. Twenty percent of the circulation was managed by our
patrons using the self-check machines.
The Mobile Library received a new look with a complete paint
and partial vinyl wrap. We also had new carpeting installed.
Unfortunately, on one of its first trips out after this facelift,
the starter failed and the vehicle had to be towed in for service.
At year’s end, we have 303,289 items in our collection, a
slight decrease from this time in 2004.
We have increased our number of cardholders by 478, which
represent 62% of the population of Des Plaines.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
On December 22 I received a $1200 check from the now disbanded
Special People, Inc. They have asked us to use these funds for
assistive devices for people with visual or hearing impairments.
I attended a meeting of the CCS Long Range Planning Committee
(1/5), a Trends Discussion moderated by Miriam Pollack (1/9), a
CCS Executive Committee meeting (1/11), participated in the
selection of the Synergy class of 2006 (1/12), and will attend the
Library Cable Network Executive Committee meeting (1/17)
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
MOTION by Susan Burrows, seconded by Rhys Read, to open
the meeting up for discussion to include visitors. VOTE:
AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.
President Lake thanked the Aldermen for attending the Board
meeting.
President Lake stated that library employees receive one
increase per year based on their evaluation and that library
employees do not receive a general wage increase. Library Director
Sandra Norlin stated that this merit based system began two years
ago and that most employees receive a 5.5% annual increase. Sandra
Norlin explained that the salary for a beginning librarian who has
a Master’s Degree would be paid the same as an incoming teacher in
the local schools who also has a Master’s Degree.
Aldermen Murphy, Argus and Sayad asked the library board to
re-examine their 2006 budget and library salaries.
Alderman Murphy stated that a 5.5% increase to library employee
salaries was excessive and not warranted in these economic times.
Alderman Murphy also stated that the City Council is held
accountable for the library’s increased expenses.
Alderman Sayad asked the Board to notify the Chair of the
Finance Committee in the future when the Board meets to discuss
the library budget. Alderman Sayad also stated that the conversion
to a district library has been suggested as a way for library
trustees to be more accountable to the public.
Alderman Argus stated that she voted no for both the library
budget and the city budget because she wants expenses cut by both.
She also stated that a lot of people do not use the library,
including seniors.
The Board of Trustees thanked the Aldermen for attending their
meeting and for expressing their concerns about the library
budget. President Lake will increase the communication between the
Board and the City Council.
NEW BUSINESS
MOTION by William Grice, seconded by Susan Burrows, to
have Board meetings recorded for television broadcasts for the
months of April, July and October in 2006 and January in 2007.
VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.
Eldon Burk will attend the February 6 City Council meeting,
Rhys Read the March 6 meeting and Jerry Mahony the March 20
meeting. Alderman Brookman will advise the City Council that the
Library Board meets on February 21 and will not attend the Council
meeting.
Sandra Norlin reported that the contract with Wagner Office
Solutions, Inc. was renegotiated with reduced copier costs. The
approximate cost based on per copy costs, repair and maintenance
and copier supplies is estimated at $9,900.00. The costs for 2005
were approximately $14,000.00, which is a savings of about
$4,100.00.
MOTION by Jerry Mahony, seconded by Susan Weinberg, to
approve the photocopier contract with Wagner Office Solution that
includes per copy costs, repair and maintenance and copier
supplies and is estimated at $9,900.00 for one year, which is in
the best interest of the Des Plaines Public Library. VOTE:
AYES: Burk, Burrows, Ellicson, Grice, Lake, Mahony, Read, Tejcek,
Weinberg. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.
William Grice asked that either President Lake or another Board
member attend the Chamber of Commerce annual dinner and
installation of officers to be held on Friday, February 3, 2006.
William Grice also asked that the library pay for the Board
president and a guest to attend (or designated Board member) and
asked that the library pay for the Library Director and a guest to
attend the dinner. William Grice stated that this is an important
business networking dinner.
MOTION by William Grice, seconded by Eldon Burk, to ask
President Lake and a guest to attend the Chamber of Commerce
annual dinner and installation of officers on February 3, 2006 and
to ask Library Director Sandra Norlin and a guest to attend the
dinner and that the library pay for the tickets. ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Burk, Burrows, Ellicson, Grice, Lake, Mahony, Read, Tejcek,
Weinberg. NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
President Lake and Library Director Norlin attended “Lobbying
for Smarties” at North Suburban Library System on Monday, January
16, 2006. The class reviewed some of the strategies for advocating
for libraries.
Sandra Norlin invited the Board to attend Illinois Library Day,
which will be held in Springfield on Wednesday, March 1, 2006.
Noreen Lake invited interested Board members to apply for one of
three scholarships to attend National Library Day in Washington DC
on May 2 and 3, 2006.
William Grice invited the Board to again participate in the Des
Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s Board of Directors “Food
Fight”. The Board also invited library staff and the Friends of
the Library to participate by bringing non-perishable food items
to the library during the month of February.
Eldon Burk asked Sandra Norlin for permission to place a
collection container in the library lobby for patrons to deposit
their used inkjet cartridges. The Kiwanis Club will recycle the
cartridges and all money from the recycling will be returned to
the community.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
MOTION by Rhys Read, seconded by Jerry Mahony, to enter
into an Executive Session at 5:40PM to discuss Probable or
Imminent Litigation. Vote: Ayes: All. Nays: None. MOTION
CARRIED.
The regular session reconvened at 6:43PM and was called to
order by President Noreen Lake.
EXECUTIVE SESSION ACTION
Motion by Susan Burrows, seconded by William Grice, to affirm
the decisions agreed to during Executive Session pertaining to
Probable or Imminent Litigation and to direct Sandra Norlin to
take appropriate action. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Burk,
Burrows, Ellicson, Grice, Lake, Mahony, Read, Tejcek, Weinberg.
NAYS: None. MOTION CARRIED.
MOTION by Rhys Read, seconded by Jerry Mahony, to adjourn
the regular meeting. VOTE: AYES: All. NAYS: None. MOTION
CARRIED.
The meeting adjourned at 6:46PM.
Minutes prepared by Carol Kidd.
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