MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE PLATTEKILL PUBLIC LIBRARY: SPECIAL MEETING OF JUNE 30, 2015

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Plattekill Public Library

Board of Trustees Special Meeting

June 30, 2015

The meeting was called to order at 7:08 PM with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Present were:               

Lynne Ridgeway, President; Valerie Smith, Vice President; Karen Adamson, Assistant Treasurer; Joe Egan, Trustee;  Will Farrell, Trustee;  David Padilla, Trustee; Luz Ledesma, Trustee; John Georghiou, Director; Donna Ebanks, Secretary

Lynne Ridgeway administered the oath of office to Board Secretary Donna Ebanks.

Public Comment:

None

Review and Approval of the Fiscal Year 2016 Operating Budget:

David asked what the recommendation of the Finance Committee was.  Lynne stated the committee had no recommendation as they were deadlocked on the decision. 

The Board engaged in relevant discussion to determine how to best provide services to the community within the confines of a nominal increase to the budget. The following points were discussed and debated:

·      The Library should not retain any excess money in the operating budget

·      Retaining some dollar amount from the operating budget is essential to provide for a contingency

·      Excess money from the budget is often times the results of frugal spending that avoids waste

·      The Board was required by NY State mandate to reduce spending

·      The Library is limited in its ability to offer more programming due to lack of physical space

·      Employee costs are inherently a large part of the operating budget

·      Staff is essential to providing the services that are offered

·      A nominal increase of 1% will allow for an increase in services

·      The proposed 2016 budget does not include raises for the staff

·      The budget has included sufficient money to cover the costs of replacing antiquated public computers

·      The Board should set a mid-year date to evaluate the accuracy of projected spending

·      An increase in the budget should include expanded operating hours

·      Some Trustees strongly believe the staff should get raises

→           Motion for a 1% budget increase was made by Valerie Smith and seconded by Joe Egan; all others were in favor. No abstentions.

Will reiterated that the Board should review the 2016 budget at its sixth month benchmark.

Meeting adjourned at 8:00pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Donna Ebanks

Secretary                                                                                             Attachments filed with original:                Agenda 

PROPOSED 2016 BUDGET: