Minutes: December 2023
MINUTES
CLERMONT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
DECEMBER 18, 2023
MIAMI TOWNSHIP BRANCH
Present: Jennifer Doss, Tony Cardinal, Mary Jo Waite, Tricia Lyons, Ed Humphrey, Ernie Ramos
Absent: Judith Kocica
Staff: Chris Wick, Melanie Smithey, Leslie Jacobs, Julie Robinson, Theresa Herron, Lynn Baird, Beth Barker
Ms. Doss called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Jennifer Doss, here; Tony Cardinal, here; Mary Jo Waite, here; Tricia Lyons, here; Ed Humphrey, here; Ernie Ramos, here.
All present recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
NOVEMBER 20, 2023 MINUTES:
Motion by Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Mr. Ramos, to approve the November 20, 2023, board meeting minutes, as mailed. All present were in favor, none opposed. Ms. Waite abstained. Motion was adopted.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
None.
BOARD OF TRUSTEE BRIEFS:
Mr. Ramos presented information on the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) statutes the library follows.
OLD BUSINESS:
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Motion by Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Mr. Cardinal, to enter into Executive Session for ORC Section 121.22(G)(1) to consider the employment, appointment, and compensation of a public employee or official. Roll call vote: Ms. Doss, yes; Mr. Cardinal, yes; Ms. Waite, yes; Ms. Lyons, yes; Mr. Humphrey, yes; Mr. Ramos, yes. All present were in favor, none opposed. The motion was adopted.
Board members entered executive session at 6:08 p.m.
Board members returned from executive session at 6:54 p.m.
GET TO KNOW THE LIBRARY:
Ms. Doss announced the Union Township – Get to Know the Library presentation would be rescheduled.
FISCAL OFFICER’S REPORT:
Ms. Smithey submitted and discussed the November 2023 Financial Report.
Motion by Mr. Cardinal, seconded by Ms. Waite, to approve the November 2023 Financial Reports, as mailed. All present were in favor, none opposed. Motion was adopted.
Motion by Ms. Waite, seconded by Mr. Ramos, to approve November 2023 Bills paid. All present were in favor, none opposed. Motion was adopted.
Motion by Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Mr. Ramos, to approve November 2023 Bills paid – Anthem. All present were in favor, none opposed. Ms. Doss abstained. Motion was adopted.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT:
Ms. Wick presented two videos about the League for Animal Welfare Meowy and Bright event. CCPL partnered with the League to decorate a cat room for the holidays. The Library partners with the League every month to offer the Purrfect Tales program, for kids to read to adoptable cats.
Ms. Wick reported 7,576 children, or 64.6%, of those eligible in Clermont County are enrolled in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Clermont County Ohio (DPILCCO). Ms. Wick announced the Director of the United Way Director of the Eastern Area has been hired and was looking forward to joining the DPILCCO steering committee.
Ms. Wick presented information about the FAN Club pilot featured in the Jan/Feb Library Insider.
Ms. Wick informed the Board about department information being added to the monthly HR Notes. Each month a different department will present information and responsibilities to create a broader understanding of the CCPL system.
DEPARTMENT PRESENTATION: HUMAN RESOURCES, HIRING LANDSCAPE:
Ms. Robinson presented information on the challenges of hiring and retaining staff with the constant changing of workforce trends including talent shortages and employee retention, the focus of health and wellness of staff, and providing education and training on various topics. The Human Resources Department will concentrate on a holistic approach to a system wide sense-of-belonging in order to build relationships and broader understanding of CCPL as a system.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Budget Committee met on December 14, 2023. Mr. Cardinal discussed the proposed 2024 Appropriation as presented at the December 14, 2023, Budget Committee meeting and suggested a 4% increase for non-bargaining unit staff. Increases for bargaining unit staff are set by the CBA agreement.
NEW BUSINESS:
Motion by Mr. Cardinal, seconded by Mr. Humphrey, to approve Resolution 2023-30: Acceptance of Gifts to the Library, donations as listed. All present were in favor, none opposed. Motion was adopted.
Motion by Ms. Waite, seconded by Ms. Lyons, to approve Resolution 2023-31: Disposal of Unneeded or Obsolete Inventory. Roll call vote: Ms. Doss, yes; Mr. Cardinal, yes; Ms. Waite, yes; Ms. Lyons, yes; Mr. Humphrey, yes; Mr. Ramos, yes. All present were in favor, none opposed. The motion was adopted.
Motion by Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Mr. Cardinal, to approve Resolution 2023-32: Permanent Appropriation 2024, which includes a 4% increase for non-bargaining unit staff. All present were in favor, none opposed. Motion was adopted.
Motion by Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Ms. Lyons, to approve Resolution 2023-33: Advance Taxes. All present were in favor, none opposed. The motion was adopted.
Motion by Mr. Ramos, seconded by Mr. Humphrey, to approve Resolution 2023-34: Transfer of Cash from General Fund to Capital. Roll call vote: Ms. Doss, yes; Mr. Cardinal, yes; Ms. Waite, yes; Ms. Lyons, yes; Mr. Humphrey, yes; Mr. Ramos, yes. All present were in favor, none opposed. The motion was adopted.
Motion by Mr. Cardinal, seconded by Ms. Lyons, to approve Resolution 2023-35: Transfer of Cash from the General Fund to the Debt Service Fund. Roll call vote: Ms. Doss, yes; Mr. Cardinal, yes; Ms. Waite, yes; Ms. Lyons, yes; Mr. Humphrey, yes; Mr. Ramos, yes. All present were in favor, none opposed. The motion was adopted.
APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR:
Motion by Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Mr. Cardinal, to approve the appointment of Christine Wick as Director of the Clermont County Public Library for calendar year 2024. All present were in favor, none opposed. The motion was adopted.
APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY FISCAL OFFICER:
Motion by Ms. Waite, seconded by Mr. Cardinal, to approve the appointment of Melanie Smithey as Deputy Fiscal Officer of the Clermont County Public Library for calendar year 2024. All present were in favor, none opposed. The motion was adopted.
OFFICER SLATE COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT:
Ms. Doss appointed Ms. Lyons, Mr. Humphrey and Mr. Ramos as members of the Officer Slate Committee.
Motion by Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Mr. Cardinal, to adjourn the meeting at 7:41 p.m. All present were in favor, none opposed. Motion was adopted.
Because he rotates off the board at the end of the month, Board President, Ms. Doss, recognized Mr. Cardinal for his 21 years of service as a Trustee. Board and administrative team members thanked Mr. Cardinal for his leadership, time, and dedication.
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Board President Board Secretary
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