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| Norwalk Public Library Board of Directors Meeting Minutes |
OCTOBER 11 2007
ATTENDANCE: Stan Siegel, President; Mary Mann, Vice President; Grace Vetter, Secretary; Mary Pugh Treasurer (7:15 p.m.); Charles McMullen; Regina Krummel
STAFF: Frank Ferro, Assistant Library Director; David Hepworth
ABSENT: Lori Torranno, Jannie Williams, Mohan Tracy
The meeting was called to order at 7:06 by the President.
1. MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2007
** MR. MCMULLEN MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS SUBMITTED.
** MS. MANN SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED WITH ONE ABSTENSION: MS. VETTER.
2. PRESIDENT’S REMARKS – (STAN SIEGEL)
Mr. Siegel remarked that the Library continues to receive a great deal of press exposure.
3. LIBRARY DIRECTOR’S REPORT - (FRANK FERRO)
a. Main Library Entranceway Project
Mr. Ferro reported that the entranceway project was proceeding close to schedule
and was expected to be completed sometime in December.
b. Other
Mr. Ferro said that at last count, the South Norwalk Branch had been getting about 300 visitors on Saturdays, which was approximately half of what the Library could expect during the rest of the week.
Mr. Siegel said that he’d visited the Library recently on a Saturday afternoon and he found there to be very few if any visitors there which could have been attributed in part to the nice weather of that day.
Mr. Ferro went on to say that they’d been having difficulty organizing staffing between full and part-time employees since changing to being open on Saturdays but they were doing the best they could. He went on to say that the Friends of the Norwalk Public Library book sale was approaching and the Library’s move day would be on the 20th. He said that the Friends had put up $500 toward paying a group of teenagers to help with the move and to give them a pizza lunch in the middle of the work day. Mr. Ferro asked that the board also contribute $500 toward that.
Mr. Siegel said that the Library would get that money back from the book sale.
Ms. Vetter asked how much the helpers would get paid.
Mr. Ferro answered that they’d be paid $25 for the day.
** MS. VETTER MOVED TO CONTRIBUTE $500 TOWARD THE PAYMENT FOR ASSISTANCE WITH
MOVING DAY.
** MS. KRUMMEL SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
4. NEW BUSINESS
a. The Big Read Grant
Mr. Siegel reported that the Library received a grant from the National Endowment for the Ats for the Big Read 2008. He said that the Library would be partnering with the Festival of Words but not with any other city so they would have more control over the event.
Ms. Pugh entered at 7:15 p.m.
Mr. Siegel continued, saying that he and Mr. Kozerowitz would be traveling to Minneapolis on November 4th and 5th courtesy of the National Endowment for the Arts for an orientation program for the Big Read and he would report on the trip at the following meeting.
b. POKO Partners October 21 Event
Mr. Siegel said that POKO Partners, who would be developing the mixed-use residential project in the area, was going to be having a street fair on Sunday, October 21st from 12:30 – 4:00. Mr. Siegel then read a portion of an email from POKO which was included in each Members packet. He said that there would be a table for the Library at the street fair and while usually, the Friends would have helped them at the table, they would be busy organizing their book sale. Mr. Siegel asked if one or two Board Members would volunteer to sit at that table to distribute material and answer any questions visitors had. He would also ask if Library staff members could attend as well.
Ms. Vetter, Ms. Mann and Ms. Pugh agreed to check their schedules to see if they could attend.
c. ACLB Conference
Mr. Siegel said that the ACLB Conference was being held the following day. He said that three people from the Norwalk Public Library would be given awards for their contributions to the Library but only one would be able to attend and so would accept the awards on their behalf as well as her own. He further indicated that three Board Trustees would be attending: Mary Mann, Mary Pugh, and Regina Krummel.
d. 2nd Taxing District Request
Mr. Siegel said that the 2nd Taxing District wanted to place a plaque on the
Library building, naming it the Otha Brown Building.. He requested that each
Board Member review the documentation that had been distributed to them for
discussion at the following meeting.
e. Finance Committee Report (Mary Pugh)
Ms. Pugh reviewed her report, saying that the taxable bonds were down while the mutual funds were up and the investment plan was proceeding as anticipated.
Mr. McMullen said that each member should get copies of the financial reports.
Ms. Pugh said that she would distribute copies to the rest of the Board.
Mr. Siegel suggested reviewing finance reports at the meeting following Ms. Pugh’s receipt and distribution of them so that the Board could have a chance to review them before discussion.
Ms. Pugh offered that she give the board a top line summary and a separate full financial report prior to each meeting
5. OLD BUSINESS
Mr. Siegel said that currently, the granite blocks that had been removed from the circle in front of the main entrance were placed, loosely, encircling the Phoenix statue and they would discuss, at the next meeting, plans to set the granite permanently in place.
6. ADJOURNMENT
** MR. MCMULLEN MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** MS. PUGH SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:38 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Grace Vetter / Secretary / Norwalk Public Library Board of Trustees
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