Allegan District Library

Minutes-Board of Trustees

March 16 , 2009

The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by President Susan Jerkatis. Present were: Trustees Antkoviak, Bortz, Garofalo, Hellmann, Jerkatis, Smuda, Wott, and Director Perrigo.

The minutes of the February 16, 2009, meeting were approved. The monthly statistics and financial reports were reviewed. Director Perrigo pointed out the rise in Total Visits, which means a rise in everything. Trustee Bortz indicated that she has used the Inter-Library Loan online three or four times, and that it works beautifully.

Director Perrigo responded to a question regarding the “Other Sundry” line. She explained that it has been used for staff gifts, memorials, and other items no longer appropriate for public funding. A motion was made by Trustee Antkoviak and seconded by Trustee Bortz that we pay February bills totaling $8,274.75. The motion passed unanimously.

LIBRARIAN’S REPORT:

Administrative Assistant: Director Perrigo reported she has hired an Administrative Assistant. Her name is Evelyn Lyzenga. She lives in Hamilton and will start work next Monday, March 23 rd.

Tornado Program: The Friends will sponsor a program Sunday, March 22 nd at 4:00 p.m. Ernie Ostuno (of the National Weather Service office in Grand Rapids) will speak on the tornado that swept through Allegan on April 3, 1956.

Book Club: The book club continues to go well, with lively discussions.

eBay Class: The “how-to” class on eBay will be held at the library on Saturday, April 25 th, from 10:00 to 3:00. The charge will be $15, which includes lunch. It is hoped that 20 people will sign up.

Newsletter: The newsletter has been mailed.

Gift Books: Director Perrigo noted that the library has been flooded with gift books this Spring.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Friends Committee: Trustee Bortz reported a lower than average income from February’s book sale, probably because of weather conditions on that day. Trustees from the jail and Cheever House volunteers have been a big help with lifting, etc. She also pointed out a typo on the Friends minutes on the “2009 budget” in the last line. There will be a sale this Saturday from 10:00 to 1:00.

Finance Committee: Trustees Wott and Antkoviak will be getting information shortly. Trustee Wott asked who would be responsible for tax documents. Director Perrigo said this will be the accountants’ responsibility.

Personnel: Trustee Jerkatis has been evaluating various policies from similar-size libraries. She feels the Parchment employee policy is nearest to what we want, and would like to see the subcommittee go through and insert what we need. Trustees Jerkatis and Garofalo, and Director Perrigo, will meet Thursday, March 26 th at 1:00 p.m. to go over this.

Insurance: Director Perrigo said she is still waiting to hear from MEBS. No one has called back in six weeks. She suggested we could stay with the City with no administrative cost because we would be a “second classification.” We don’t have pricing yet from MEBS and have been looking elsewhere to get ideas. Trustee Antkoviak moved, seconded by Trustee Wott, that we go with the City’s insurance, but that we stipulate that we have the right to review on a yearly basis. Motion passed unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS:

May Election: Director Perrigo reminded Trustee Antkoviak to file for his write-in status on the ballot. She suggested he send out postcards for voters to carry showing the proper spelling of his name, as Mike Kiella will be doing. Candidate Jason Watts has begun campaigning.

Township Responses: Heath Township has decided to go with Herrick Library in Holland for the portion of people not in our school district. The Cheshire Township Clerk has agreed to send $4,600.00, but didn’t know about the contract. Director Perrigo will send another letter and contract to Cheshire. She has still not heard from Valley Township.

Voice Mail: Director Perrigo found that through Verizon it is not possible to have anything other than a situation where the library phone would continuously ring until it finally goes to voicemail. She thanked Trustee Antkoviak for having Carole (from his office) bring information on their system. That system would be out of the question for us as it is over $4,000.00.

NEW BUSINESS:

Budget: Director Perrigo asked for volunteers to help with the library Budget. Trustees Bortz and Jerkatis will help. The Budget meeting will be Wednesday, March 25 th at 1:00. Trustee Antkoviak asked if we will elect new officers when we have the newly elected board in May. Director Perrigo said yes, and that the new board will actually be sworn in and seated the third Monday in July, same as the new School Board. Trustee Antkoviak suggested we publicize this historic first ADL Board.

Star Award: Trustee Bortz mentioned an invitation was received for the Star Award breakfast in Kalamazoo in April. Our library has nominated Mrs. Phillip McElwee of the Friends Committee for this honor. Since four persons, including Mrs. McElwee, will be attending this recognition breakfast, it was moved by Trustee Antkoviak and seconded by Trustee Bortz that the library pay for four tickets to the breakfast at $12.00 each, from the library’s General Fund. The motion passed unanimously.

Rotary News: Director Perrigo will be President of the Allegan Rotary for this year.

Meeting Snacks: The Allegan District Library will be hosting the SW Michigan Library Cooperative meeting of Library Directors next Friday, March 27 th. Snacks are needed. Trustee Smuda said volunteers can be recruited at Tuesday’s Friends meeting.

Outdated Info: Trustee Jerkatis noted that the last Board of Trustees was still listed on the present newsletter, and this should be corrected.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:47 p.m. The next meeting will be held April 20, 2009.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol B. Garofalo, Secretary