Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tom Bunger, Antonia Matthew, Rita Lichtenberg, Mercedes Rodriguez, Andy Rudd, Kate Paul.
Vice-President Fred Risinger called the meeting to order at 5:47 p.m.
Sara Laughlin presented the consent agenda. Steve Moberly submitted a correction to the August 20 board meeting minutes: the vote on the proposal for CATS coverage of every other month’s work session passed 5-2 with Steve Moberly voting aye. Penny Austin submitted a correction changing the name “Steve Ferguson” to “David Ferguson”. Steve Moberly moved; Janice Stockton seconded approval of the consent agenda as amended. The motion carried unanimously.
Sara Laughlin noted that her report was included in the Board packet. She added that public nominations for One Book One Bloomington and Beyond selection will be accepted from September 15–September 30. Finalists will be posted on October 15 with voting held from October 15–November 15.
Bloomington Transit will be offering free rides to anyone showing a library card on the first Saturday of each month beginning October 4. Sara is meeting with Downtown Bloomington to see if they would like to offer special incentives as well to get people into the downtown area without driving or parking. Fred Risinger asked whether Rural Transit has been contacted. Sara noted that Rural Transit does not run on weekends, but BT Access will participate.
Sara Laughlin presented the 2009 Budget for approval. She presented a history of the budget process noting that on August 18 administration learned from DLGF (Department of Local Government Finance) that all funds are included in calculating the 4% increase. In the past, only the Operating Fund was included. She reduced the budget accordingly by $265,186. Reductions were: LIRF appropriation by $240,000, to be accomplished by encumbering $200,000 for the HVAC system and $40,000 for Main Library renovation architectural services by 2008 year-end; and Rainy Day Fund appropriation by $25,186, to be accomplished by reducing the consulting line. The budget was advertised on August 20 and 27. Sara noted that the overall increase in the budget is 4% with Personnel Services increasing 5.5% and the materials budget increasing 3.3%. The 2009 budget totals $10,015,885 (Operating Fund $6,994,610; LIRF Fund $220,000; Rainy Day Fund $323,200; Library Capital Projects Fund $482,075; Debt Service Fund $1,996,000). Sara Laughlin recommended approval of the 2009 budget along with the two findings (the library’s responses to the two petitions filed against the budget).
Penny Austin expressed appreciation to the administration, staff and board for their hard work on the budget.
Janice Stockton also felt that a lot of work had been done.
Penny Austin moved and Janice Stockton seconded approval of the 2009 budget as presented along with the two findings.
Randy Paul stated that he will vote “no” on the budget and will continue his opposition. He felt the budget does not reflect the values of the community and that the public does not approve of an $80,000 expenditure for attorney representation at union negotiations. Further, three contracts totaling $175,000 have recently been awarded out of county. He felt the board has adopted an unrealistic standard of the “best money can buy” citing the selection of the attorney for union negotiations as an example. He felt the community expects total honesty, and he does not believe the board is producing it and that administration is rushing to spend money to avoid a line-by-line review of the budget by the County Council. Randy Paul reiterated his previous statements that the legislature requires County Council review of appointed board budgets increasing by more than 4% and felt that this board needed oversight. He felt that if the budget could not be defended in front of the County Council, it should be changed. He also believed that it was dishonest and administration should not have made changes (encumbering funds) without board approval. Regarding the HVAC system, he felt that the board was rushing forward without due diligence, relying on old information obtained in 2006. He believed the budget is deeply flawed and urged the public to speak out.
Randy Paul moved to amend the motion for budget approval to revoke the $265,186 reduction made by administration. Sara Laughlin noted that once the budget was published it could not be increased. The alternative would be to request an additional appropriation in 2009. The motion failed having received no second.
Dave Ferguson noted that the budget process involved compromise. He would have liked to see a larger materials budget, but realized that the budget included as much as was possible considering the Library’s multiple needs and priorities and within the funding available.
Fred Risinger noted that the Library will be facing a budget crunch for a few more years because of the impact of legislation.
Steve Moberly noted that the budget had been put together and discussed in a very transparent fashion with many public work sessions. The budget hearing on September 3 had three taxpayers in attendance. He felt that much had been made of the encumbrances and stated that he would challenge anyone to say the projects were not needed. He felt that Director Sara Laughlin and Financial Officer Bonnie Estell had done a very good job and had involved managers and employees in the process. He appreciated the salary increase and the materials budget increase. He stated that it was a very transparent budget and he supported it.
Penny Austin felt that, with the proposed budget, the Library administration had tried to accommodate community needs as shown by the community survey.
Fred Risinger commented that he had visited the library twice in the last week and on both occasions had been thanked (on behalf of the Board) for moving the HVAC repair to this year.
Janice Stockton stated that she had been on the Board for four years and the HVAC system had been discussed for that long. She felt that if the Library could move it up, it should do so for comfort reasons as well as protecting the collection. She felt that no one knew the line items and needs of the library better than administration.
Randy Paul stated that he had discussed the HVAC system with Dennis Duvali from the maintenance staff and was told that of the 133 control boxes, only 12 were broken. Two were in CATS and were being handled manually. He felt that the Library was not in jeopardy of a system failure. He reported that Dennis Duvali had suggested that the Board have companies make presentations and consider new units for high traffic areas. Randy Paul felt that the “sky is falling” attitude was not justified.
Dave Ferguson requested a copy of the 2006 specifications. Randy Paul passed his copy to Dave Ferguson. Sara Laughlin noted that she believes there have been technological improvements since 2006 and plans to update the specifications.
Janice Stockton recalled a staff presentation two or three years ago about the HVAC problems and the fact that replacement parts could not be located.
Sara Laughlin stated that older systems were “closed” systems that could only work with other components from that system. Newer systems are “open” systems allowing more flexibility.
Randy Paul reiterated that it was not an emergency situation and that it was unfair to give the public the impression that it was an emergency.
Fred Risinger commented that the decision was made based on staff input.
Randy Paul felt that administration should not make $200,000+ decisions without Board approval. Sara Laughlin responded that no decision to purchase had been made and that the Board would approve any such purchase.
Steve Moberly called the question.
Randy Paul requested a roll call vote.
The Motion carried 5-1: Austin aye; Moberly aye; Risinger aye; Stockton aye; Ferguson aye; Paul nay.
Sue Murphy presented an update on the library’s VITAL department.
Randy Paul requested items to be put on the next work session agenda: 1) HVAC system; and 2) Forming a long-term financial planning task force to study how to handle tax cuts and how to find other sources of revenue. He also noted that a member of the press has requested that next month’s work session be televised.
Randy Paul stated that in addition to the requested items for the next work session agenda, he would like the board to consider how it handles public comments in meetings. He suggested that the Board follow the practice used by the County Council, which sets aside 15 minutes at the beginning of the meeting for public comment and also allows comment before each action item. In response to a comment by Janice Stockton at an earlier meeting regarding people being fearful of commenting on camera, he suggested that public be allowed to write comments or questions to be read into the minutes by a board member.
Rita Lichtenberg stated that she was a VITAL tutor 10-12 years ago. She became very good friends with one of her students. She considered it to be an excellent program. She also noted that she has been watching the Board meetings and there seem to be many touchy issues and personalities. She felt it should be remembered that everyone brings different talents and observations to the table. She felt that everyone is involved for the good of the library. She felt there had been great improvement in the atmosphere of the current meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Contact
Us Monroe County Public Library, Monroe County, Indiana ° (812)349-3050
Updated:
October 17, 2008
° http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/board/200809min.html
