SHAKER HEIGHTS PUBLIC LIBRARY
Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting
Monday, May 9, 2005
Attendance
Members Present: Dr. Benning, Mr. Bergholz, Mrs. Karon, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Schorgl, Dr. Whyte
Members Absent: Mr. Parsons
Staff Present: Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Piskac, Mr. Pulver, Mrs. Schiller
Others: Evelyn Krent, League of Women Voters Representative
Mr. Bergholz called the regular meeting of the Shaker Heights Public Library Board of Trustees to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Main Library Boardroom.
Mr. Bergholz asked board members to review tonight’s agenda and welcomed any comments for additions or deletions. Mr. Dickinson added an employee personal leave request under Personnel and a policy discussion item under New Business. Board members unanimously approved the agenda.
2005-40 Mr. Schorgl moved and Mrs. Karon seconded the motion to approve the April 11, 2005 regular board meeting minutes.
Roll Call: Ayes: Dr. Benning, Mr. Bergholz, Mrs. Karon, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Schorgl, Dr. Whyte
Nays: None. Motion carried.
A. Financial Statements
Mr. Piskac asked if there were any questions regarding the April 30, 2005 financial statements. There were none. Mr. Piskac reviewed the summary year-to-date April 2005 revenue and expenditure financial reports and reported the library received $2,354,991.35 ($2,103,578.15 – 2004). Mr. Piskac said if the $250,000 inter-fund revenue transfer is subtracted from the 2005 year-to-date revenue amount, the library actually received only $1,413.20 more than last year. For year-to-date expenditures, Mr. Piskac reported the library expended $2,119,333.60 ($1,721,891.73 - 2004). Mr. Piskac also said if the $250,000 inter-fund expenditure and $169,755.46 city renovation note payment were removed in comparison to 2004, the library actually spent $22,313.59 less than last year. Mr. Bergholz asked Mr. Piskac about the cause of the reduced expenditures. Mr. Piskac said the primary reason for less year-to-date expenditures is due to no salary or benefits paid for the director’s position. Mr. Piskac reported the year-to-date bank report showed the library had $2,104,991.35 in deposits and $1,869,333.60 in withdrawals. The ending bank balance was $1,549,241.16. Mr. Piskac also reported the ending unencumbered fund balance report was improved by $432,930.77 in comparison to last year. Mr. Piskac attributed the improvement to the closing of outstanding 2004 purchase orders by March 31, 2005. Mr. Piskac explained that the timing of cash receipts and issuance of 2005 blanket purchase orders resulted in a small negative balance in the general fund. Mr. Piskac said the unencumbered balance would turn positive and stay positive for the remaining balance of the calendar year after the library receives additional real estate tax advances in late June or July. Lastly, Mr. Piskac reviewed the monthly investment summary and reported the Federal Reserve Bank hiked interest rates for the eighth time and the library is starting to realize a better rate of return from Star Ohio. Mr. Piskac said that Fifth Third Bank and other commercial banks set their rates based on Star Ohio plus a few basis points to attract new business. Currently, our commercial bank, Fifth Third is offering 2.70% and our investment bank, Star Ohio is offering 2.65% for the month of April. Mr. Piskac recommended the Board of Trustees approve the April 30, 2005 financial statements as submitted.
2005-41 Mr. Schorgl moved and Dr. Whyte seconded the motion to accept the April 30, 2005 financial statements.
Roll Call: Ayes: Dr. Benning, Mr. Bergholz, Mrs. Karon, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Schorgl, Dr. Whyte
Nays: None. Motion carried.
B. 2006 Tax Budget
Mr. Piskac presented the 2006 Tax Budget and said the library is requesting $3,357,529.18 in general property tax from the county budget commission. Mr. Piskac said he added $92,472 to the requested amount due to the anticipated 5% LLGSF reduction for 2006. After reviewing the various 2006 tax budget schedules, Mr. Piskac asked if there were any questions. Mr. Schorgl asked if there was any substance in the amount of the funding request. Mr. Piskac said no. (The Clerk-Treasurer notes the library has not received additional funding in prior Tax Budget requests because there were no additional funds available for Budget Commission consideration.) Mr. Piskac recommended the Board of Trustees approve the 2006 Tax Budget as submitted.
2005-42 Mr. McGovern moved and Dr. Benning seconded the motion to approve the 2006 Tax Budget as presented.
Roll Call: Ayes: Dr. Benning, Mr. Bergholz, Mrs. Karon, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Schorgl, Dr. Whyte
Nays: None. Motion carried.
A. Director Search
Mr. Bergholz said the search is over and welcomed Mr. Dickinson as the library’s new Director.
Mr. Bergholz extended his thanks to library staff and Mr. Pulver for serving the library during the extended search.
B. County Library Consolidation Update
Mr. Bergholz reported that Mr. Dickinson, Mr. McGovern and he would be meeting with Mr. David Akers to discuss county library consolidation ideas. Ms. Linda Murray of the Ohio Library Council said their organization is reviewing the statewide effects on libraries from any merging activity. Board members unanimously agreed that all potential merging libraries should participate in merger discussions. Mr. Bergholz said he would update the board after their meeting with Mr. Akers, including Mr. Akers’ role in potential future discussions.
Interim Director’s Report
A. Written Report
Mr. Pulver asked if there were any questions regarding his written report. There were none.
New Business
A. Gifts to be accepted and appropriated to the designated funds
Restricted Contribution – Individual (101-6110)
Elizabeth and Thomas Schorgl
In memory of Grant Roth for the purchase of
It’s Outta Here! The History of the Home Run $24.95
Marilyn Kammer Memorial Fund (711-6510)
Randy Kammer
In memory of Bill Baxter and $50.00
In honor of Joy Korman being selected a
“Woman of Power” by the NCJW
In memory of Clarice Wood and $50.00
In honor of Karen Ignani being selected a distinguished
Italian American by the Sons of Italy
2005-43 Dr. Benning moved and Mrs. Karon seconded the motion to accept and appropriate the above gifts.
Roll Call: Ayes: Dr. Benning, Mr. Bergholz, Mrs. Karon, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Schorgl, Dr. Whyte
Nays: None. Motion carried.
B. Personnel Actions (information only)
Kimberly Rodriguez, Circulation Services Assistant, half-time to substitute, Level 106, effective April 19, 2005
Wendy Simon, Early Literacy Specialist, full-time, Level 111, effective April 18, 2005
C. Personal Leave Request
Mr. Dickinson recommended a personal leave request from Mrs. Gowri Sakthivel from June 6, 2005 to August 18, 2005 for Board of Trustee approval since the leave request is greater than 30 days.
2005-44 Mr. Schorgl moved and Dr. Benning seconded the motion to approve Mrs. Gowri Sakthivel’s personal leave request from June 6, 2005 to August 18, 2005.
Roll Call: Ayes: Dr. Benning, Mr. Bergholz, Mrs. Karon, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Schorgl,
Dr. Whyte
Nays: None. Motion carried.
D. Community Meeting Room Policy Discussion
Mr. Bergholz reported that he received a letter from the Alliance Defense Fund located in Arizona regarding a complaint filed on behalf of Ms. Ezella Ford a Shaker Heights resident. Ms. Ford alleges that the library’s community meeting room policy violated her First Amendment rights to use a room for religious purposes. Ms. Ford applied in April 2005 to use a meeting room for a bi-weekly bible meeting and was denied. Mr. Bergholz said the matter would be turned over to Ms. Joyce Dodrill of the county prosecutor’s office for review. Dr. Benning recommended that a thank you letter be sent to Ms. Ford and advise that her policy concern is under advisement by the board.
Community Comments
None
Announcements
Mr. Dickinson reported that the library was an unprecedented fourfold winner in the LAMA PRMS Swap and Shop Best of Show Competition. The library received two awards for Best of Show in the following categories:
1. Summer Reading materials for the Buggy for Books material
2. Bibliography for our Home Improvement bibliography
In addition, the library received two honorable mentions for the following:
1. Fund raising materials for our An Evening of Literary Laughter which benefited the library endowment fund
2. Original Adult & Family Reading materials for our “A Mind of Her Own” brochure
Mr. Piskac said the next board meeting would be held at the Bertram Woods Branch.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Mrs. Karon moved and Dr. Whyte seconded to adjourn the regular board meeting at 7:18 p.m. The next regular meeting of the Shaker Heights Public Library Board of Trustees will be Monday, June 13, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. in the Bertram Woods Community Room.
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David Bergholz, President
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David D. Piskac, Clerk-Treasurer
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Mimi Friedman Karon, Secretary