NORTHVILLE DISTRICT LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, July 22, 2010 – 7:30 p.m.
Northville District Library Carlo Meeting Room
1. Chairperson Joe Corriveau called the
Regular Meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.
1.1 Roll Call - Present:
Trustees Joe Corriveau, Robert Sochacki, Alan Somershoe, Judy Sherman,
Jean Hansen, and Jim Morché. Also
present: Julie Herrin, Director; Anne Mannisto, Assistant
Director; Judith Williams, Administrative Assistant; and Paul Snyder,
President of the NDL Friends. In the audience: Library staff
members Al Smitley and Denise LaMotte.
Absent: Trustee Mike DeFrancesco. In the absence of
Mike DeFrancesco, Chairperson Joe Corriveau asked Trustee Judy Sherman
to be acting Secretary for this meeting.
1.2 Approval of the Agenda:
MOTION: Jean Hansen made a motion to approve the agenda as
presented. Robert Sochacki seconded the motion.
Motion passed.
1.3 Approval of the Regular Board Meeting
minutes for June 24, 2010: MOTION: Jean Hansen made a motion
to accept the minutes for the Board Meeting of June 24, 2010.
Alan Somershoe seconded the motion. Motion passed.
1.4 Citizen Comments: None.
2. Correspondence:
None
3. Director’s Report:
Statistics: Julie noted that the June statistics show a
slight increase over June 2009, however, the opening of the Novi Public
Library has allowed the Northville statistics to revert to more
realistic numbers for our community.
Youth Programming: The Summer Reading Program is well
underway. 316 children and adults attended 3 performances of
“Animal Magic” yesterday. In total 1,000 children have
attended 12 Summer Reading events to date. This year
additional programs have been added for “Tweens”. The current
registration figure for Summer Reading is 830.
Adult Programming: The Adult Summer Reading Program has 189
registered. The Foreign Film this month had 45
viewers, and the Book Discussion had 18 participants.
Teen Programming: The Teen Summer Reading Program has 154
registered so far. The Teen Lock-in with a Percy
Jackson/”Lightning Thief” theme was attended by 45 teens and “tweens”
on Friday July 9 from 5 to 10 p.m. This month there were 48
Teen Corps volunteer hours.
Public Relations: Julie reported that she will be speaking
with Pam Fleming from the Northville Record tomorrow regarding the
Public Information Session that was held on July 21 and the decision
that the Board make the following night to ask for a millage increase.
4. Friends Report: Friends
President Paul Snyder reported that the Friends held sales of used
books at the Firsl Friday Art Walk and the Northville Garden
Walk. There were able to sell some books at both events;
however, the heat seemed to diminish interest. Paul announced
the Dr. Laurie Blondy had approached him regarding a position on the
Board of the Friends. The July 15th Friends Board Meeting was
cancelled due to so many members being on vacation. Paul has
also announced to the Board of the Friends that he will be a candidate
for Trustee of the Library Board and will resign his position as
President if elected. The Friends Board is involved with
planning the Fall Conference of the Friends of Michigan Libraries
(FOML), which will be focused on advocacy. He noted that with
a membership in FOML< the Board of Trustees would pay a reduced
fee to attend the Conference.
5. Budget and Finance Review:
5.1 MOTION: Treasurer Jean
Hansen made a motion to approve payment of the Northville District
Library List of Bills over $1,000 for July 2010 as presented to the
Board. Bob Sochacki seconded the motion. Motion
passed.
5.2 Jean distributed the Financial
Reports for June, noting that the expenditures were on
target. She also pointed out that two new Budget Categories
have been added to the Financial Reports. The categories
include Strategic Planning Expenses, and Endowment Fund, both Income
and Expenses.
5.3 MOTION: Judy Sherman as
acting Secretary presented Resolutions 10-2, which calls for a Public
Hearing regarding the 2010-2011 Proposed Operating Budget and the
publication of the Legal Notice regarding the Public Hearing.
Judy Sherman made a Motion to adopt Resolution 10-2; Alan Somershoe
seconded the motion. The Resolution was adopted b y a
unanimous roll call vote of the Trustees present.
5.4 Jean distributed budget estimates
that reflect 5-year income and expense figures possible with the
passage of .2 mill. The Board discussed the many suggestions
and general tone that came out of the Public Information Session held
on Wednesday, July 21, including suggestions for more user fees and a
greater emphasis on fund-raising. In regard to charging for books and
programs, the Board agreed that equitable access, regardless of
financial status, is a basic value of a Public Library. In
addition, the view was expressed that user fees would not be enough to
solve the Library’s current financial crisis. In response to
the comments that not enough people know about the Endowment and ways
to donate to the Library, there will be more attempts to let the public
know about this means of supporting the Library. The
Endowment will be in the September and December newsletters, and the
annual direct mailing will go out in November. This is in
line with the Library’s Strategic Plan to generate 20% of its budget
for materials and programming through alternative funding. However,
fund-raising is not a reliable source for operating funds.
MOTION: Robert Sochacki made a motion that the Library place
a millage proposal on the November 2010 Ballot for a .2 mill increase
for 5 years to support the Library’s Operating Budget. Jean
Hansen seconded the motion. Motion passed.
5.5 The Board of Trustees discussed the
steps required to form a Ballot Question Committee to place the millage
proposal on the November ballot.
6. Committee Reports:
6.1 The next Finance Committee meeting
will be held on Tuesday, August 22 at 10:00 a.m. in the Carlo Meeting
Room.
6.2 A Policy Committee Meeting will be
held on Wednesday, August 4 at 6:30 p.m. in the Carlo Meeting Room, to
revise the Meeting Room Policy as it relates to the use of the newly
installed equipment and the room usage fees.
7. Announcements and Comments
The Public Hearing on the 2010-2011 Library Budget will be held on
Thursday, August 26, at 7 p.m. in the Carlo Meeting Room, just prior to
the Regular Board Meeting.
The next Regular Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, August 26 at
7:30 in the Carlo Meeting Room.
MOTION: Robert Sochacki made a motion to adjourn the Regular
Meeting. Jim Morché seconded the motion. Motion
passed. The Meeting was adjourned at 9:12 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Judy Sherman, Acting Secretary
JW 7/26/10