Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Jim Whitlatch, Antonia Matthew, Mercy Rodriguez, Steven Higgs, Kate Paul.
President John Walsh called the meeting to order.
John Walsh read a message to the board regarding Board member Randy Paul’s recent request to CATS to televise board work sessions stating that the issue had been discussed by the board two times previously and had failed by a 6-1 vote. Walsh stated that he felt Randy Paul had put the board, administration, and staff in a very uncomfortable situation. As a compromise John Walsh stated that he would be willing to consider a proposal to televise every other work session.
Fred Risinger stated that he agreed with Randy Paul on many issues but that he voted against televising the work sessions noting that other local governmental units do not tape their board sessions. He felt that the spokesperson for the board was the president and that Randy Paul’s recent letter to the H-T was hurtful to the board. He felt that Randy Paul’s recent actions had disrupted the board’s goal of doing the best job possible and that there had been no public outcry for televising the work sessions.
Penny Austin stated that she did not support a compromise on televising the sessions. The board has voted and the discussion should be done. The board in the past has worked well together for the good of the community.
Janice Stockton agreed with Penny Austin and added that, in her experience as a school board member, she has seen many people who are reluctant to speak when cameras are on them for fear of having statements taken out of context.
Randy Paul stated that his letter to the editor had a broader point and he believed it was a matter of free speech. He felt the board often discussed controversial issues in work sessions but did not discuss them in public meetings. He believed he had a right as a private citizen to request taping of the work sessions. Randy Paul reiterated his grave concerns for budgeting $80,000 for legal fees for union negotiations and spoke at length about free speech. He stated that he would like to read into the record a response that President John Walsh had made to a citizen writing in support of Randy’s request to televise work sessions.
Steve Moberly requested that the board return to the matter of CATS televising work sessions.
John Walsh agreed and noted that he would read his email response later in the meeting.
Sara Laughlin discussed the 2009 budget noting that the only changes are: 1) the Capital Projects Fund which shows slightly lower numbers due to the actual funding approved by the County Council; and 2) LIRF, where the amount was increased to reflect this year’s appropriated but unspent funding. The budget will be submitted for advertising on August 15. Penny Austin queried whether line items can be changed after advertising. Sara responded lines could be decreased but not increased.
Sara Laughlin reported on a pay increase preferences survey of staff she conducted in response to Steve Moberly’s request to survey the 12 employees at the top of the pay grade in their classifications regarding the options for 2009 pay increase. The options were: a) 2% cost of living plus 1% increment for all employees; b) 3% cost of living for all employees; or c) 2% cost of living plus 1% increment for all except the 12 people at the top of their pay range. Sara noted that a fourth option had been proposed: 2.3 percent cost of living (same as the Social Security increase) and a 0.7% increment. Sara noted that she had surveyed all staff and that the employees at the top of their range as well as those not at the top preferred the cost of living increase plus increment. The choice of how to distribute the pay increase does not to be approved with the budget but will be approved in December when the salary schedule is adopted. The staff and administration support a 2.3% cost of living increase plus a .7 increment.
Penny Austin queried the implications for the various pay increase options. Sara Laughlin explained that with a cost of living increase only, newly hired employees would make the same as someone employed for four years (since there has not been an increment in four years). The entire salary schedule will increase by 3%. With a 1% increment, the salary schedule would increase only by 2%, which would make the library less competitive for new hires, but would recognize the value of experience. All employees on the payroll on January 1 would receive the both cost-of-living and increment.
Janice Stockton queried whether most respondents were managers. Sara stated that three in classification 11, one in classification 9, five in classification 8, one in 7, and two in 6. Janice queried whether all staff had been given the opportunity to respond. Sara confirmed, noting that the choices were discussed in two All-staff sessions and that all staff received the survey by e-mail.
John Walsh requested a short bullet point list of pros and cons for each choice. He noted that he feels comfortable leaving the decision with Administration, Human Resources, and staff.
Sara Laughlin reported that the library had received four responses to an RFP seeking attorney representation for library management in negotiations with AFSCME. A committee (Sara Laughlin, Bonnie Estell, Kyle Wickemeyer-Hardy, and David Ferguson) reviewed the four proposals, interviewed all four candidates, and is recommending Paul Sinclair, Ice Miller, to be chief spokesperson. This item will be an action item at the next board meeting.
Randy Paul noted that the firm is not a local firm and that $380/hour is being taken out of county. He stated that he had received a second response from AFSCME representative David Warrick stating that AFSCME will not be hiring lawyers.
Steve Moberly queried whether any local attorneys or professional consultants were considered.
Sara replied no. Jim Whitlatch stated that it is a good policy to go out of county to avoid pre-existing relationships or pre-conceived ideas.
Steve Moberly queried what negotiator MCCSC uses. Whitlach stated they use a firm out of Gary but have also used Ice Miller on occasion. Sara Laughlin replied that MCCSC used Friel & Friel and they submitted a proposal and were interviewed. Moberly queried who the City and Bloomington Hospital use. Whitlatch stated the hospital is not unionized and both the City and County have their own legal departments.
Fred Risinger queried whether MCPL has reviewed other public libraries and whether the they had legal representation for union negotiations. Sara Laughlin said she had spoken with eight other libraries – half were part of city/county governments and used their legal departments, with the exception of one, the others had legal representation. The one library which did not hire a lawyer was renewing an existing contract and had used legal advice during their first negotiation.
Sara read two paragraphs from the RFP emphasizing that the library seeks a positively-toned negotiation, which can be resolved as soon as possible, and can benefit both parties.
John Walsh noted that AFSCME may not be hiring attorneys simply because they have attorneys and professional negotiators on staff.
John Walsh read his response to the previously mentioned email.
Steve Moberly queried whether the attorney contractual arrangement would be time certain. Sara Laughlin replied no, although that might be a possibility after the first contract.
Randy Paul asked why the board did not believe the union when it said it will not hire lawyers. Sara Laughlin noted that AFSCME has professional negotiators. Randy Paul reiterated that the union is staff.
Sara Laughlin stated that administration is recommending hiring Dr. Paul Singer and Laura Francisco, The Singer Group, to conduct a classification/compensation study. She noted that some serious inequities have crept into the current classification and compensation system. The consultants will interview staff to see what they are actually doing as compared to their job descriptions. Salaries with be evaluated compared with both local and national salaries. The consultant is being asked to design a system that can have ongoing use by administration. Attempts were made to locate local firms, but no Indiana firms responded.
Steve Moberly queried what efforts were made to locate local firms. Kyle Wickemeyer-Hardy stated that she had checked with the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and with the Indiana Society of Human Resources. Steve Moberly asked about the duration of the study. Sara Laughlin said it should take about five months. Steve Moberly queried “shelf life.” Sara stated that Singer promises to leave us with tools for the future.
Randy Paul noted that another $44,000 is going out of county and state and that it would be nice to keep the money local. John Walsh stated that the question has been asked and answered. Sara Laughlin stated that administration really did try to find a local firm.
(Steve Moberly left the meeting at 7 p.m.)
Sara Laughlin presented a proposal to increase fees to out of county residents for obituary research as follows: $3 per name for indexed obits; $10 per name for names not indexed; $10 for historical queries photocopied and mailed; $5 for historical queries digitally delivered.
John Walsh queried whether the services would remain free for county residents. Sara responded yes.
Penny Austin felt that out of state and county requests should be charged more, especially if it takes away from local patrons.
Fred Risinger asked how the staff had arrived at the $3 fee. Pam Wasmer responded that in the past, that amount would cover 10 photocopies at $.10 per page and the cost of an envelope and postage. Fred said he might make a motion for a higher fee.
Randy Paul noted that board members have received results of a survey. Sara Laughlin stated that the results are now sorted by part-time and full-time employees but can be sorted in other ways. Penny Austin thanked Randy Paul for his efforts. Randy thanked the committee. Penny Austin appreciated the survey and felt that good questions were asked.
Randy Paul stated that he has heard nothing to make him back off from requesting that next month’s work session be televised stating once again that he feels there is a big difference between work sessions and public meetings. Fred Risinger noted that there were two people from the press at this meeting. John Walsh stated that he is hopeful that his compromise proposal will pass.
Ned Powell felt that $380/hr for attorneys was outrageous and felt the library should hire a negotiator or mediator and then hire an attorney to write up the contract. He felt that negotiating with library staff through attorneys would set a bad precedent.
Steven Higgs felt that management was underestimating its powers and should do its own negotiations, then hire an attorney to finalize documents. He could not believe that the board was opposed to televising work sessions.
Antonia Matthew felt that the board has always reached out to engage the public. She noted that she has not seen a public outcry for televising board sessions. She appreciates the board and its work and that the library is an integral part of the community and noted that an adversarial spirit is becoming apparent.
Sara Laughlin announced that presentation of the Ellettsville building plans is scheduled for Tuesday, August 19, at noon at the Main Library and 4:30 p.m. at Ellettsville. Plans will later be posted on the library website; public comment is invited.
Meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
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October 1, 2008
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