Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Meeting Room 1B &1C
Tom Bunger, Bob Guindon, Charles Hunsberger, Kevin Huse, Rita Lichtenberg, Antonia Matthew, and Carol Tomasic.
President John Walsh called the meeting to order at 5:50 p.m.
Sara Laughlin introduced guest Charles Hunsberger, director of MCPL from 1964-1971. Mr. Hunsberger gave a short history of his career at MCPL and later at the Las Vegas-Clark County (NV) Public Library.
The consent agenda (minutes of May 20, 2009 Board Meeting; minutes of May 20, 2009 Work Session; Minutes of June 10, 2009 Work Session; monthly bills for payment; monthly financial report; personnel report; Board calendar) was presented for approval. Fred Risinger moved; Kari Isaacson seconded approval of the consent agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously (Dave Ferguson absent for vote).
Sara Laughlin reported that the Ellettsville branch addition is a little behind schedule due to weather conditions. She included some photos in the director’s report. The official move-in will be after the summer program schedule is completed. Sara also reported that a recent Monday was a record-breaking day with 11,718 items checked out in one day.
Fred Risinger and Kari Isaacson commended staff on the excellent summer programming.
Sara announced that the Friends Annual Board meeting will be held Wednesday, June 24 at 5:45 p.m., followed by an author event.
John Walsh explained that the Classification/Compensation Study recommendations are presented in three parts: 1) Compensation Philosophy (Sara Laughlin noted that a revised copy had been distributed); b) Classification Structure; and c) Salary Structure. Fred Risinger asked about staff reactions to the recommendations. Sara Laughlin explained that the study has not yet been shared with all staff, but 16 staff members served on the Advisory Committee and have been involved throughout the study. The managers and union negotiating team have also seen the recommendations.
Fred Risinger moved; Randy Paul seconded approval of the Compensation Philosophy as presented. Motion carried unanimously (Dave Ferguson absent for vote).
Kari Isaacson moved; Fred Risinger seconded approval of the Classification Schedule as presented. Motion carried unanimously (Dave Ferguson absent for vote).
Discussion ensued regarding the recommended Salary Structure. Randy Paul stated that even though he would like to support the salary structure he does not feel that it is good for the library long-term; we cannot control the economy but can position ourselves better to deal with it; increasing costs increase uncertainty; other agencies (i.e., county government) are cutting, freezing, and laying off people. He asked why the library is proposing salary increases when no one else is doing so. Based on responses to an email survey he conducted personally, he felt that staff thinks job security is more important than pay raises. He felt the staff should be polled and brought into the process.
Regarding Monroe County government, Kari Isaacson believed that perhaps their salaries were already more equitable. Sara Laughlin noted that the county is still trying to implement a study they completed several years ago and are struggling with the same issues. Our issue is whether we choose to continue to pay salaries below market averages.
Sara Laughlin explained that implementation of the salary structure is not tied to a certain budget number. A partial implementation can be handled with whatever amount of money is available in the budget and suggested that the Board focus on setting the totals in each budget category. She noted that it is not appropriate to cut the budget before it is submitted. Although the Assessed Value Growth Quotient is not yet available, we have been advised that we will be allowed to request a 5% increase in the budget; we should request that amount. Should we face a large cut in the future, difficult choices may be necessary.
John Walsh noted that the choice is not simply a matter of approving the salary schedule vs. layoffs.
Randy Paul asked why the decision to adopt the proposed salary structure must be made now. John Walsh clarified that it necessary to determine if the Board is supportive of the structure in order to allow Sara to proceed with implementation (partial or full) in the regular budget process.
Following additional discussion, Randy Paul moved; Fred Risinger seconded approval of the salary structure. Motion carried 4-1 (Randy Paul dissenting).
A resolution to procure a temporary tax anticipation loan up to $1,000,000 was presented for approval. It is anticipated that the June 30 tax settlement will be received late this year due to bills being sent out late with a later payment due date. Kari Isaacson moved; Fred Risinger seconded approval of the resolution to procure temporary tax anticipation loans up to $1,000,000. Motion carried unanimously.
John Walsh stated that the board is required by law to review the library’s Internet policy annually. The policy has not changed since last year. The board discussed “filters.” Ned Baugh explained that MCPL librarians continue to feel that we do not want to filter content. One reason is that we do not want to give parents a false sense of security with regard to filters. The library maintains quality links on the library website and provides information about filtered sites to parents on request. Fred Risinger moved; Kari Isaacson seconded approval of the Internet policy as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Sara Laughlin and Bob Guindon (Woollen Molzan Architects) presented proposed changes to the parking lot. Sara and Bob have met with City Planner Pat Shay. The Planning Department recommended changes to the parking lot to eliminate the proposed new curb cut into the parking lot, revise the handicapped parking, and not include the three proposed new spaces near Sixth Street. The architects revised the drawing, incorporating Shay’s suggestions, to include an angled drive adjacent to the building, which would mean those parking and those using the drive-through would use the same entrance. No parking spaces would be lost, although the lay-by in the earlier version would be eliminated in favor of additional spaces, some dedicated to handicapped parking, and the proposed new spaces would not be included, as they would encroach into the right-of-way. The new drawing also shows 18 covered bicycle parking spots required by City ordinance. The Planning Department also recommended filling in the curb cut on Grant Street where the current drive-up window is located and adding four street parking spaces.
Discussion ensued regarding the new drawing. Randy Paul felt that the proposed changes would still have people with disabilities being dropped off in the middle of the traffic in the lot; he stated that BT Access drivers are not permitted to back up, so would not be able to back into parking spaces. Dave Ferguson stated that he had voted against the previous drawing and this drawing is much worse. He felt that there are many good reasons to seek a variance for the curb cut, i.e., safety issues and adding parking. John Walsh and Randy Paul also felt that the library should pursue a variance.
The board discussed the various problems related to handicapped access to the library. An elevator/lift for the Kirkwood entrance was discussed. Randy Paul suggested amending the Capital Projects Fund in the future to fund a lift. The board agreed that pricing should be examined.
Fred Risinger moved; Randy Paul seconded closing curb cut on Grant Street and pursuing a variance for the parking lot cut as well as for the relocated drive-up window. Motion carried unanimously.
Sara Laughlin distributed a budget handout listing all 2010 funds with a total budget of $10,900,835 (Operating: $7,848,828; LIRF $364,000; Rainy Day Fund $180,000; Capital Projects $512,007; and Debt Service $1,996,000). Bonnie Estell attended a Budget Clinic where DLGF representative Dan Jones suggested that an Assessed Value Growth Quotient of 5% be used rather than the 4% previously suggested.
Dave Ferguson asked if unemployment rate changes had been taken into consideration. Sara Laughlin noted that MCPL is self-insured for unemployment; the budget does take into account PERF increases as well as FICA and Medicare. The 4% increase included for insurance is probably not adequate to fund health insurance at the current level, but we will not have new rates until October or November.
Randy Paul stated that if health insurance costs increase more than 4%, costs cannot be passed on to employees.
The book budget was discussed. Dave Ferguson felt that it would be nice to move up the book budget in future years.
The overall budgeting process was discussed. Sara Laughlin suggested advertising a budget with a conservative assessed valuation figure. Randy Paul asked whether we have a verified assessed valuation number yet. Sara responded that the official number will not be announced until August 1; we must use a conservative estimate in order to assure we receive the funds needed. Randy Paul noted that the system for preparing the budget with unknown numbers is a bad system and asked whether our state representatives could work on this issue.
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Pam Wasmer and Mickey Needham presented an update on the weeding process.
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Updated:
August 7, 2009
° http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/board/200906min.html
