Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Meeting Room 1B &1C
Tom Bunger, Rita Lichtenberg, and Antonia Matthew.
President John Walsh called the meeting to order at 5:50 p.m.
The consent agenda (minutes of June 17, 2009 Board Meeting; minutes of July 8, 2009 Work Session; monthly bills for payment; monthly financial report; personnel report; Board calendar) was presented for approval. Steve Moberly moved; Melissa Pogue seconded approval of the consent agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously (Dave Ferguson absent for vote).
Sara Laughlin reported that MCPL has been ranked #4 (according to population) in the recent HAPLR ratings. Last year MCPL was rated #2. Sara reported that circulation continues to be very high and summer programs have been very well attended.
Bonnie Estell presented a resolution to transfer $112,000 from the Library Improvement Reserve Fund (LIRF) to the Debt Service Fund. The transfer is to cover a temporary deficit in the Debt Service Fund due to outstanding settlement receipts from property taxes in June 2009. Approximately 80% has been received to date.
Steve Moberly moved; Melissa Pogue seconded the Resolution to Transfer Funds from LIRF to Debt Service Fund in the amount of $112,000. Motion carried unanimously.
Randy Paul expressed concern with the 4% budgeted increase for health insurance in 2010. He felt that 4% was a very low amount and he was concerned with the necessity of finding the money elsewhere in the budget once the rate increase was received. He was also concerned with the amount of time invested by the Health Insurance Task Force in seeking expanded coverage and holding down costs for staff and was adamantly opposed to passing increased costs on to staff. He was concerned with the assessment by the Long Range Financial Planning Committee that the current health insurance benefit may be “too rich”.
Steve Moberly concurred with Randy Paul regarding the budgeted 4% increase for health insurance and felt that the budgeted amount should be at least 10%, making it easier to transition should we receive a 15 or 20% increase.
John Walsh supported the 10% increase in budgeted amount but noted that the difficulty will be in finding the funds since personnel costs are already 70% of the total budget.
In answer to a question from Melissa Pogue regarding library contributions to health insurance, Sara Laughlin explained that the library contributes roughly $5,500 per employee and explained the breakdown among full-time and part-time employees. Sara noted that one dilemma in offering health insurance to part-time employees is that many cannot afford the insurance but the fact that it is offered to them automatically excludes them from participating in the Healthy Indiana Plan.
Randy Paul reiterated that the Health Insurance Task Force has spent many hours on the issue with the intent of building on it annually and that he hopes the library will continue to build on it and not take it backwards. He proposed a compromise on enacting the Compensation Salary recommendations due to funding uncertainties. He proposed extending the transition from two years to three to four years with economic benchmarks for accelerating the transition (e.g., if the Library’s budget shortfall appeal was successful or consistent property tax revenue was available).
Randy Paul moved modifying the schedule for adopting salary study recommendations to four years with a successful appeal as a benchmark for Year 1 and consistent property tax revenue as a benchmark for Year 2.
Discussion ensued. Randy Paul felt the Board should address such issues as the possibility of losing the appeal or additional lost property tax revenue. John Walsh felt that by extending implementation of the proposed recommendations to four years, it would be five years before the Board could return to regular pay raises. He favored moving ahead noting that if funds were not available the second year changes would not be enacted.
Sara Laughlin noted that the .4% per year decompression issue could be reviewed, perhaps considering a lower percentage. Sara also explained that the salary recommendations affect about 170 employees where insurance issues affect about 85 employees.
Randy Paul withdrew the motion stating that he would like to review the numbers with Sara Laughlin. Randy Paul noted that he would not have supported the Compensation Philosophy had he known that health insurance would be considered. Sara Laughlin felt that the total compensation package should be reviewed. Steve Moberly commented that had the library not done the compensation study, we would likely be still be considering what percentage of raise would be affordable for next year. He felt that the compensation study brought with it many issues (compression, decompression, etc.) and the numbers should be carefully reviewed.
Sara Laughlin suggested an August 5 Special Board Meeting to approve construction documents. The board discussed whether the special meeting could be combined with the August Work Session. The board decided to hold the Special Board Meeting followed by a Work Session on Wednesday, August 5. The regular Board Meeting will be held as scheduled on Wednesday, August 19.
John Walsh wished absent board member Fred Risinger a happy birthday.
Randy Paul commended CATS for their work on the weekly news wrap-up program. Michael White announced that the program runs about 9 times every weekend.
Antonia Matthew publicly thanked Penny Austin, former board member, for her two terms on the Board, noting that she was a fine example of “grace under pressure.” Ms. Matthew also commented that she was happy to see the current Board Meeting conducted in a more calm manner than the previous work session. She also felt that staff should never be put on the spot at a board meeting. Lastly, Ms. Matthew commended the staff on the Fine Option Program for Children.
Meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
Contact
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Updated:
September 9, 2009
° http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/board/200907min.html
