MINUTES

Board of Trustees Regular Meeting

Thursday, November 9, 2000

Traverse Area District Library

(minutes are unofficial until approved by the Board of Trustees)

           

  The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by President Welch.  Present were Welch, Brown, Maxson, and Lawrence.  Mesch and Schermerhorn were absent.  Also present were Roe (Counsel), McGuire, Nowinski, Schneider and Buchanan (Staff).

 

            Welch declared open a Public Hearing on the proposed 2001 Budget.  McGuire announced that the millage request in Elmwood Township was defeated.  The millage would have generated about $95,000 for TADL.  Loss of that income will require the transfer of $72,000 to the General Fund budget from another fund, probably the Budget Stabilization fund.  There was no public comment on the proposed budget.  The hearing was closed at 5:35.

 

            Motion by Maxson, supported by Brown to amend the agenda to add as item e. under New Business:  Consideration of awarding a grant in the amount of $5,600 to Fife Lake Public Library.  Carried.

 

            Motion by Brown, supported by Lawrence to approve the minutes from the Regular Meeting of October 12, 2000.  Carried.

 

            McGuire again mentioned the defeat of the millage request in Elmwood Township.  The absentee votes were about two to one against the proposal.  Non-resident user fees will be on the agenda for the Strategic Planning Session.

 

            McGuire reported that work on the elevator in the Sixth Street facility is progressing.  All of the asbestos has been removed from the building.

 

            Long Lake Township is beginning a Build-a-Branch campaign this coming weekend.

 

            Next year the Library will receive $8150 in LSTA funds for the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.  In 2002 the amount will be reduced to $4000.  After 2002 the federal funds will be discontinued, but state funds will increase.

 

            The Library has been awarded a grant of $2000 from the American Library Association for the Live at the Library author series.

            There will be a dance recital in the meeting room on December 3 in conjunction with the December art display.

 

            McGuire reported that the Technology Department had been working on some recent computer problems.  S. Bonhag explained the source of the problems and said that they had been corrected at Woodmere and his staff is working on getting them fixed at the other libraries. 

 

            McGuire suggested that the Facilities Committee meet to discuss a recent letter to the editor of the Record-Eagle regarding the possibility of a branch library in Blair Township.

 

            Maxson reported that the Finance Committee had met right before the Board meeting.  A financial report for September was included in the meeting packets.  Welch mentioned that the financial reports are still showing some extraordinarily high expenses.  Schneider explained that the Professional Services line item was over budget because payments to NuGen have been higher than anticipated because the number of items added to the collection has been higher than anticipated.  The Repairs and Maintenance line item is high partly because the amount budgeted was too low and partly because of changing to a different cleaning company with a higher fees.  Next year’s budget has been corrected to be more in line with expenses as they have been since the move to the new facility.

 

            There were no other committee reports.

 

            J. Gray, Fife Lake Public Library, reported that FLPL’s circulation for October was up 14% over October 1999.  They are still hoping to be able to build a new library, and there will be a public meeting on November 29 to inform the public and seek support for the idea of a new library.  They will host a Christmas Tea on December 3 to raise money for the building fund.

 

            S. Murray, representing Interlochen Public Library, announced planned activities for November and December.  IPL will be closed Thanksgiving Day and December 23, 24, 25 and 31 and January 1.  Attendance has increased each Sunday that they have been open.

 

            J. Maxson, Peninsula Community Library reported that they have had help from a lot of people to get their millennium garden in before the weather gets too cold.  They will be hosting a lighthouse program by Joanne Moore from the Sleeping Bear Park Authority.  She thanked Bonhag for his update on the computer problems and commented that the technology staff works very hard and may be stretched too thin.

 

            A. Burns, Friends of the Library, reported that the Live at the Library Fall Author Series had concluded on Wednesday, November 8.  There will be more programs after the first of the year.  Poet’s Night Out will be held at the Opera House on Friday, November 10, and the Friends will be having a preview of their gift shop on December 1,2 and 3.

 

            Motion by Brown, supported by Maxson to authorize the expenditure of up to $40,000 for external repairs to the Sixth Street facility, such funds to come from the project construction fund.  Carried.     

 

            Discussion of year-end budget adjustments was postponed until the Finance Committee has had a chance to review them.

 

            Motion by Maxson, supported by Lawrence to adopt the 2001 Budget Resolution as presented.  Carried.

 

            Motion by Brown, supported by Lawrence to sponsor a holiday dinner for TADL staff at a cost not to exceed $3,000.  Carried.

 

            Motion by Maxson, supported by Lawrence to award a grant of $5,600 to Fife Lake Public Library to enable its Director to devote the extra time necessary to determine the feasibility of raising funds for construction of a new library building.  Carried.

 

            The meeting was opened for public comment.  S. Murray complimented the Library on the author series.  There was no further public comment.

 

            Schneider reported that the consultant contracted by the statewide committee looking into public library funding in Michigan would be back in Michigan on December 4 to address the library community regarding his findings.  His address will be shown via satellite at various sites around the state, including Traverse City (probably at Northwestern Michigan College).  Schneider urged the trustees to attend if possible.

 

            Welch asked for a report on the Quix program for the next meeting and complimented the staff on the party celebrating McGuire’s 25 years at the Library.

 

            The meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Dawn Buchanan, Recording Secretary

 

John Welch, President

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