MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE PLATTEKILL PUBLIC LIBRARY: December 2013
BACK TO MINUTES INDEX BACK TO LIBRARY MAIN PAGE
Plattekill
Public Library
Board
of Trustees
December
12, 2013
The meeting was called to order at 7:07 PM
with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Present were:
Lynne Ridgeway, President; Valerie Smith, Vice President; Keith
Canfield, Treasurer; Karen Adamson, Assistant Treasurer; David Padilla,
Trustee; Joseph Egan, Trustee; John Georghiou, Director; Donna Ebanks,
Secretary
Will Farrell was excused and Joseph Egan
was expected late.
Additions to the Agenda:
None
Public Comment:
None
Correspondence:
Secretary’s Report:
→
Motion to accept the minutes of November 14, 2013 was made by Karen
Adamson and seconded by Keith Canfield; Valerie Smith abstained and all others
were in favor.
→
Motion to accept the minutes of the December 5, 2013 Board of Trustees
Special Meeting was made by Karen Adamson and seconded by Keith Canfield; all
others were in favor.
Financial Report:
→
Motion to accept payment of the bills pending audit was made by David
Padilla and seconded by Karen Adamson; all others were in favor.
Director’s Report:
Was read and discussed
→
Motion to provide an individual silver level health care plan for any
requesting qualified employee for 2014, funding monthly premiums not to exceed
$450 and an annual deductible not to exceed $2000 was made by Valerie Smith
and seconded by Keith Canfield; all others were in favor.
→
Motion to approve February 2014 as Food for Fines month at the
Plattekill Public Library was made by Valerie Smith and seconded by Karen
Adamson; all others were in favor.
John will research accounting firms that
have experience with special district libraries and get five quotes for
auditing services.
Committee Reports:
None
Lynne requested that the Planning and Operations committee set a
date to meet.
Unfinished Business:
The MHLS Annual Survey was submitted on November 15, 2013.
Update on status of
the possible new Library building as of 12/5/2013:
A representative of
RUPCO walked through the building; his comments indicated that he was of the
opinion that the building appears sound and that approximate costs of
renovations would be $150 to $175 per square foot.
Recommended due
diligence and contingencies per RUPCO are as follows:
·
Evaluation of the building by a structural
engineer
·
Evaluation of the building’s existing
conditions and feasibility study by an architect including an evaluation of
zoning/planning for proposed use with the Building Department
·
Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment
(ESA)
·
Test of well capacity/water quality
·
Evaluation of septic
·
Title search/title insurance for the
property
·
Zoning, site plan, environmental approvals
·
Successful bond referendum (the equivalent
of securing a mortgage)
Lynne suggested
that a qualifier be added to the last bulleted item, stating that this
contingency is only as needed as the Library intends to seek funding in a
variety of ways.
Joseph Egan arrived
at 8:20
Discussion ensued
regarding the scope of the proposed ESA. This
discussion determined that it would be in the best interest of the Library to
obtain at least two expert opinions of this type of evaluation.
Joe will consult with Donna Egan, who is an environmental specialist,
and Valerie will request an opinion from Bill Golling.
The Board entered
into executive session at 9:04 PM.
The Board returned
from executive session at 9:34 PM.
→
Motion to authorize Lynne Ridgeway to make an offer for the stated
amount for the cider mill property subject to the previously stated
contingencies was made by Valerie Smith and seconded by Joseph Egan; all
others were in favor.
Discussion
determined that the Library would be prudent to seek legal advice as they
proceed with their offer for the cider mill property.
→
Motion to authorize Lynne to sign the engagement letter for the law
firm of Whiteman, Osterman and Hanna LLP was made by Valerie Smith and
seconded by David Padilla; all others were in favor.
Lynne spoke with
Rebecca at MHLS regarding the Library’s calendar of days open.
Rebecca suggested that because the 2014 calendar has already been voted
on, the Board select a month to discuss the 2015 calendar and follow through
with that discussion at that time. At
the April meeting, the Board intends to review the possibility of the Library
being open more hours to accommodate the needs of the general public and
community.
New Business:
The topic of the Capital Reserve Fund was
tabled until the January 2014 Board meeting.
The Town Council meeting regarding budgets
was tabled until the January 2014 Board meeting.
Joe Egan will be attending the MHLS annual
Essential Trustee Training on December 14, 2013.
Reminder:
MHLS Legal Issues Workshop is being held
on March 22, 2014 at 6PM. Register
online at calendar.midhudson.org.
→
Motion to enter into executive session at 10:07PM to discuss sensitive
personnel issues was made by Valerie Smith and seconded by Keith Canfield; all
others were in favor.
The
Board returned from Executive Session at 11:16PM.
→
Motion to approve a $2000 increase for the Library Director’s annual
salary was made by Valerie Smith and seconded by David Padilla; all others
were in favor.
→
Motion to adjourn was made at 11:17PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Ebanks
Secretary
Attachments filed with original:
Agenda
Bookkeeper’s Summary
Director’s Report
Report on Library School Visits