Library Board of Trustees Minutes – October 23, 2019

MINUTES
October 23, 2019 at 4:30pm
East Lansing Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting
Library 3/4 Meeting Rooms
950 Abbot Road

1) Call to Order 4:30pm

2) Roll Call

Trustees present were Lance Wilkinson, Diane Goddeeris, and Polly Synk. Trustees Zaagman and Cervenak were absent. Also, in attendance were City Council Liaison Erik Altmann, Friends Representative Sheila Taylor, Assistant Director/Head of Customer Experiences Brice Bush and Director Kristin Shelley.

3) Opening
A) Approval of September 18, 2019 Meeting Minutes
Goddeeris moved.
Synk seconded.
All in favor.
Motion carried.

B) Approval of Current Meeting Agenda

Goddeeris moved.
Synk seconded.
All in favor.
Motion carried.

4) Communications
A) Audience: None

B) Written Correspondence

Shelley shared two email correspondences:  one from patron Tedda Hughes, the other from an OCLC representative.

5) Reports
A) City Council Liaison Report:
Altmann reported:

  • Hannah Community Center Committee presentation.
  • Deer management presentation.
  • The Evergreen project was voted down.

B) Friends of the East Lansing Public Library Report
Taylor reported:

  • The next Friends meeting will be held on 10/28/2019.
  • Marta Litos was announced as the new Friends Board Treasurer.
  • Courtney Trunk has joined the Friends Board as an At-Large member.

6) Old Business

A)  Staffing Update

  • Marques Moore has joined the staff as the STEAM Educator.
  • Natalie Johnston joined the Library as the Youth Services Specialist.

7) New Business:  

A)  Paid Time Off Pay Out Policy

Discussion of possible changes to the PTO, Bereavement, Resignation, Grandfathered Sick Time, and Educational Reimbursement personnel policies. No action taken, topic to be revisited next meeting.

B)  City Charter Changes

Discussion of possible changes to the City Charter Chapter 17, City Library. No action taken, topic to be revisited next meeting.

8) Library Reports
A) Financial Report
Shelley provided a written Financial Report.

B) Director's Report
Shelley Reported:

  • East Lansing Welcomes the World was a success held on a Friday evening for the first time; attended by nearly 400 people
  • Author and professional Chef Anna Gass presented her book “Heirloom Kitchen” with a panel discussion moderated by the chair of the Middle Eastern Studies department at MSU, to an audience of 50 people.
  • The films “Class Divide” and “The Public” were screened as part of the One Book One Community events, and well received by attendees.
  • Shelley, Bush and Hawley attended training for serving patrons experiencing homelessness with Ryan Doud at the Clinton-Macomb Public Library.

C) President’s Report: none

9) Announcements
Shelley announced:

A) Kristin out of the country.
Shelley announced:
She will be out of the country from November 4-13 on vacation, Brice is in charge while she is away.

B) Second meeting with community stakeholders
Shelley announced:

The second meeting of city officials, ELPD, ELPS administrators & board members, ELPL staff and board members regarding the teen after school program went well. High school and middle school administrators shared what is being offered to students afterschool. ELPL staff briefed the group on the numbers of teens and activity happening Monday – Friday. The group agreed to schedule another meeting for January 2020.

10) Executive Session
Goddeeris moved.
Synk seconded.
Meeting moved into Executive Session at 5:48pm
Synk moved.
Goddeeris seconded.
Meeting moved out of Executive Session at 6:09pm

11) Adjournment
Goddeeris moved.
Synk seconded.
All in favor.
Motion carried.

Wilkinson adjourned the meeting at 6:10 pm

Board of Trustees
Amy Zaagman, President
Lance Wilkinson, Vice President
Diane Goddeeris, Secretary
Paul Cervenak
Polly Synk

City Council Liaison
Erik Altmann

Staff Liaison
Kristin Shelley