MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE PLATTEKILL PUBLIC LIBRARY: August 20, 2019 special 

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Plattekill Public Library

Special Meeting Board of Trustees Meeting

August 20, 2019

The meeting was called to order at 6PM with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Present were:     Will Farrell, President; Luz Ledesma, Vice President; Valerie Smith, Trustee; Rose Guerrieri, Trustee; Mayleen Torres-Rivera, Treasurer; John Georghiou, Interim Director; Donna Ebanks, Acting Director/Secretary

Excused: David Padilla, Trustee and George Hickey, Trustee

6:05 Trustee Joe Egan arrived

Budget & Finance Committee Chair, Luz Ledesma, opened a discussion on the upcoming Budget Vote and Trustee Election that is scheduled for Friday, September 27, 2019, from 12noon to 9pm, and will take place in the Community Room beneath the Library.

There are three candidates at this time: Luz Ledesma, Rose Guerrieri, and George Hickey, who are seeking a place on the ballot for three open positions.  No others have come forth as yet.

L. Ledesma informed the Board that the B&F Committee is recommending an increase of 1.5 percent, which amounts to $6,791.00.  L. Ledesma noted that this amount would cover most of the expenses the Library will incur once the building is purchased.

The Board engaged in a discussion regarding the proposed increase:

V. Smith asked if this takes into account the projected replacement costs for things such as the furnaces?

L. Ledesma noted that grants the Library may receive once they own the building may cover this.

W. Farrell said that there is money on hand that places the Library in a good position to take on these costs. M. Torres-Rivera has started a spread sheet to track the projected costs based on the Town’s estimate and some added funds.

V. Smith noted a series of possible issues with the building that have not been addressed, including the poor condition of the furnaces as recorded in the engineer’s report. V. Smith stated that she does not think that we are asking for enough of an increase.

 W. Farrell said that he had a local person who works on furnaces look at them, and was told that they are old but still usable.

→           Motion to accept the Budget & Finance Committee’s recommendation for a 1.5 percent increase which comes to $6,791.00 was made by Joe Egan and seconded by Valerie Smith.  On the vote: YES: WF; JE; LL; RG. NO: VS. The motion passed.

 Adjournment:

               →           Motion to adjourn was made at 6:10 by Will Farrell.

Respectfully submitted by:

Donna Ebanks

Secretary