July 25, 2007
John Anderson, Tom Bunger, Sherry Dick, Antonia Matthew, Janet Patterson, Suzanne Owen, and Margaret Stockton.
President Steve Moberly called the meeting to order at 5:48pm.
Steve Moberly began by going over the ADOLPLI Benefits Survey (June 2006) of index libraries, and reported that these are libraries comparable to our library. The Board took a moment to look over this survey and the MCPL professional services detail 2006 and partial 2007.
Penny asked if there were any major differences. Cindy Gray replied our library input is not much different today, but we did not have this information available last year. This information became available as of noon today.
Steve asked if there were any other questions from the Board about this. There were no questions on the professional services.
Steve asked if there were any other budget issues to discuss.
Randy Paul asked about any cuts in benefits in 2006, and stated "I think it is a bad idea to go back on past Board decisions and question them for several reasons. You should feel comfortable as a Board member to feel your decisions should not be questioned. But, I would like to look at the health care benefits, as of age 65 for 2008. The other reason is there is no other decision that can impact a family as of this one. You are looking at what can happen to a person who can get cut off because of health care. All I want to do is bring up a discussion to see if what was done last year and see if anyone wants to take the vote back. I question some of the motives behind it, not from the Board perspectives but from an e-mail that I received asking why this is being done." Randy told the Board that he was going to meet with Bonnie tomorrow regarding the operational costs involved.
Penny Austin replied that she voted no last year, but she was with Randy on his suggestion, and thinks the Board should revisit health care benefits. She also stated that she doesn't think the Board should keep redoing what a Board does in the past though.
Linda Hunt responded about the Trustees beginning a pattern. She stated "We just did this with the renovation, now we are doing it with the benefits."
Steve Moberly reported on the many staff that are looking towards retirement. Steve stated that when the bond issue for this building is paid off in 2012, we are going to lose thousands of dollars in tax revenue. We cannot wait to address shortfalls, which is why decisions were made last year (a year in advance) regarding health benefits. By doing this, we gave staff the opportunity to retire in advance with the benefits that we offered. Steve reminded the Board in the future we will be faced with reducing staff, reducing services and programs, and reducing other things. With a judiciary duty to the taxpayers, Steve encouraged the Trustees to give good thoughts as to how we can put the library in good financial standing.
Randy replied that if we cannot find the funds to fund the health benefits for retiring staff, he will not bring it up again, but he asked the Board if they would consider finding ways to support it and to consider discussion on this again in a future meeting.
Fred Risinger said that he would like to further examine the comparison of our employees to like employees, such as school employees, as he sees benefits of comparing our library to other libraries and schools. Fred indicated he would like a little time to pour over those figures and compare before the Board makes any decision, especially since this is a tough time for tax payers, and an election year coming up.
Linda reminded the Board that this is an accounting issue; a planning situation, involving financial and budget issues, and that the Board spent a lot of time last year discussing this issue.
Steve stated that he does not want to revisit this issue. Penny and Janice responded that they were interested in revisiting it.
Discussion continued regarding the benefit survey and employee benefits, and why a decision was made last year regarding benefits for staff nearing retirement.
Steve asked if the staff or public had any comments. Bara Swinson spoke to the Board stating "I think there may be other options. If we are concerned that 70% of the budget is allocated towards staffing, then perhaps people who have been here long time, who make higher pay, will have some type of a consensus."
As the Board looked over the budget, Fred requested information on the money that supports CATS. Cindy Gray responded that the library contributes $16,000 in cash to CATS. Bonnie responded that the revenues and franchise fees for CATS come to the library, and we have include revenue in our operating fund.
Fred asked Michael White to approach the Board and provide additional information.
Michael reported on the City meeting he went to on Monday night and gave a quick overview of CATS and the money CATS receives from the City, County, and Library.
Discussion followed regarding CATS staff, funding, and cost of tapes that patrons request. Steve said that the Board can revisit the cost for tapes in the future. It currently is $5.
Steve asked if anyone had any other budget issues to discuss. Cindy stated "At some time you will have to come to consensus with budget increase for staff payroll". Steve replied that he hoped we could have a 4% increase in 2008 for staff. He asked Cindy to prepare information for next week's work session on the increase, which would include numbers for a 3% cost of living across the Board and a 1% increment that will benefit lower paid employees. Bonnie Estell responded with the figures; 3% COLA would be $133,787.00 and 1% increment would be $28,296.00
Discussion followed regarding staff working 40 hours a week. Cindy said the staff management feels we need to look at this and the real benefits of this before we propose a 40 hour work week. Steve suggested that the staff, administration, and Board should make this a top priority for discussion in the 2009 budget. Linda asked to hear staff comment about 40 hours a week.
Chris Jackson and Bara Swinson responded and explained the importance of part-time people who give the library bodies to cover public service desks.
Cindy presented an executive summary of the VITAL program. Cindy reported the VITAL program is deeply seeded in the library. It's collection was severely outdated, and not fully accessible online for users and tutors. Cindy provided a copy of the 2006 VITAL Advisory Council strategic plan, and gave the Board a copy of a letter Sherry Dick from MCCSC Broadview Learning Center had sent to her relating to VITAL. Cindy announced that VITAL had recently received a $10,000 donation anonymously for the VITAL operation. Half of it will be established as an endowment, and the other half will be designation to the collection.
Discussion followed.
Randy stated that VITAL is very important to the community. It is a tremendous program, and clearly there needs to be changes in VITAL. Randy told Cindy that he had been taken off of the VITAL Advisory Council roster and mailings, but he is on the Council. Randy expressed his concerns about the survey comments and two missing tutor comments that were not included in the VITAL information. Randy stated "It gives you the feeling that the survey comments were cherry picked."
Discussion followed regarding the VITAL collection, renewal procedures, changes in VITAL (Resource room and classroom), the possibility of a task force, and the reason for providing security and safety procedures in the VITAL area (locking doors, upgrading computers with passwords, and enforcing VITAL policies).
Steve Moberly asked if there were people in the audience who would like to speak about VITAL.
Sherry Dick from MCCSC Broadview Learning Center spoke to the Board. Sherry addressed her letter to Cindy Gray and explained how Broadview Learner Center could partner with the library. BLC will send a school psychologist to the library once a month and be available to do testing. BLC will also send staff to help train VTAL tutors.
Amal Altoma spoke to the Board and shared her experience of working with Cathy Rogers and her work in VITAL. Amal explained that she helped to evaluate the VITAL collection and assisted Elizabeth Gray in ordering new materials for the collection. Amal announced that the new collection items have now been cataloged and are available for viewing in the Resource Room.
Marilyn Stockton spoke to the Board, announcing that she has been a volunteer for VITAL for 11 years. Marilyn said that she is excited about all of the changes in VITAL, and stated, "Lets go for it".
Suzanne Owen spoke to the Board, relaying her experience with VITAL. Suzanne stated, "I have found in recent times that I am encouraged by the overview. The VITAL program has not been enough a part of the library. Materials I have dealt with, soliciting things for the Silent Auction, did not represent the library well. I have heard that there have been people who have tried to volunteer, but they never were assigned to a tutor. I am encouraged that it is being brought into the fold now. I'm sure any new coordinator will go to the end of the world to implement some new things. The library has a bookmobile that goes to the people. I have been concerned that VITAL didn't have an outreach like this. I love having the resource room repositioned. I think having it out here is good."
Following patron comments, the Board continued their discussion on the VITAL program.
Bara Swinson thanked the Board for responding to the comments from the Bloomington Alternative, and for putting the Associate Director position on hold.
The meeting adjourned at 8:17pm.
Contact
Us Monroe County Public Library, Monroe County, Indiana ° (812)349-3050
Updated:
September 7, 2007
° http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/board/200707wrk.html
