Minutes: January 2021

MINUTES

CLERMONT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

JANUARY 25, 2021

MIAMI TOWNSHIP BRANCH

VIA FACEBOOK LIVE

Present: Tony Cardinal, Joe Braun, Tricia Lyons, Mary Jo Waite, Jennifer Doss, Ed Humphrey

Absent: Judith Kocica

Staff:  Chris Wick, Maura Gray, Leslie Jacobs, Theresa Herron, Lynn Baird, Julie Robinson, Laurie Henry

Guests: Dan Rosenthal and Patricia Pryor

Mr. Cardinal called the meeting to order at 6 p.m.

ROLL CALL:

Roll Call: Tony Cardinal, here; Joe Braun, here; Judith Kocica, absent; Tricia Lyons, here; Mary Jo Waite, here; Jennifer Doss, here; Ed Humphrey, here.

All present recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr. Cardinal introduced Edwin Humphrey as the new board member. Miami Township Branch Manager Laurie Henry read the oath of office to swear in Mr. Humphrey.

Mr. Cardinal addressed the audience about the appointment of the Library Board members. He said the Clermont County Commissioners and the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas appoint Library trustees.  Library trustees have no input on their decision.

Mr. Cardinal asked for a report from the Nominating Committee. Mr. Braun announced the slate of officers for 2021: Mr. Cardinal as President; Ms. Doss as Vice President; and Ms. Waite as Secretary.

Motion by Ms. Doss, seconded by Mr. Humphrey to elect Mr. Cardinal as President; Ms. Doss as Vice President; and Ms. Waite as Secretary for 2021. All present were in favor. Motion carried.

Motion by Ms. Waite, seconded by Ms. Doss to appoint Chris Wick as the Library Director and Maura Gray as the Library Fiscal Officer. All present were in favor. Motion carried.

Mr. Cardinal thanked the Library Director Ms. Wick, Fiscal Officer Ms. Gray and staff for their work operating the Library through the COVID-19 pandemic.

DECEMBER 14, 2020, MINUTES:

Motion by Ms. Doss, seconded by Mr. Braun, to approve the December 14, 2020, board meeting minutes as mailed. All present were in favor, except Ms. Lyons and Mr. Humphrey, who abstained. Motion carried.

PUBLIC DISCUSSION:

Mr. Cardinal invited any public matters to be brought forth to the board.  The following community members addressed the board:

Chris Hicks

Tracey McCullough

FISCAL OFFICER’S REPORT:

Ms. Gray presented the January financial report. She said the Library bond advisors may be attending the board meeting in February or March if legislation is necessary to exercise the call on the Union Township Branch Library bond debt.

Mr. Cardinal asked about the Public Library Fund (PLF). Ms. Gray said the state is estimating the Library will receive $5.7 million in 2021. She is watching the PLF closely.

Motion by Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Ms. Doss, to approve the January financial report. All present were in favor. Motion approved.

Motion by Ms. Waite, seconded by Ms. Lyons, to approve the January bills paid. All present in favor, except Ms. Doss who abstained. Motion approved.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Ms. Wick said the Library received recognition from the U.S. Census 2020 for helping inform the public about the census.

She shared a comment from a guest who thanked the Library and staff for excellent customer service.

Ms. Wick was contacted by the Clermont County Health Commissioner who asked for help scheduling people for COVID-19 vaccinations. The Library received a limited supply of COVID-19 care bags from Clermont County Public Health that include masks, hand sanitizer, wipes, etc., which will be distributed to guests in each branch.

Ms. Wick reported more Library staff members are being impacted by COVID-19. The cleaning and safety protocols are working and staff is doing a great job with both. So far, none of the staff members impacted by COVID-19 have been exposed at the Library. All branches have been able to stay open. The Pandemic Team met recently to discuss what would happen if the county reached the purple level on the Ohio Public Health Advisory System. That did not happen, but the Team discussed supplies on hand and what would happen if a branch closed because of a staffing shortage.

The Clermont County Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library has enrolled 4,260 children, which is about 31 percent of the eligible children in the county.

2021 goals based on the Strategic Plan were included in the Board’s packet.

Loan periods have been revised and a bookmark with information was included in the Board’s packet.

A set of the Library lockers has been delivered. All lockers will be stored at Owensville until the order is complete and installation can begin. The lockers will provide guests contact-free access to their holds 24/7.

Ms. Wick updated the Board on the programming collaboration between the Library, United Way and Success by Six. This effort is to promote early literacy.

The annual Short Story Contest will wrap up at the end of January. February is Library Lovers Month and guests who stop in will receive their choice of a pen, pencil, highlighter, or crayons to celebrate. The Library will recognize Black History Month with a virtual program about the Underground Railroad in Clermont County. The Virtual Science Fair winners will be announced February 10.

The public participation procedures for meetings has been updated.  Mr. Braun said if the Board must go back to conducting meetings virtually, public participation must be allowed.

NEW BUSINESS

Motion by Ms. Doss, seconded by Ms. Waite, to approve Resolution R-2021-01: Acceptance of Gifts to the Library: donations as listed. All present were in favor. The resolution was adopted.

Motion by Mr. Braun, seconded by Ms. Lyons, to approve Resolution R-2021-02: Disposal of Unneeded or obsolete Library Material. Roll call vote: Mr. Cardinal, aye; Mr. Braun, aye; Ms. Lyons, aye; Ms. Waite, aye; Ms. Doss, aye; Mr. Humphrey, aye. All present were in favor, none opposed. The resolution was adopted.

Motion by Ms. Waite, seconded by Mr. Braun, to approve Resolution R-2021-03: General Reserve Fund to the General Fund. All present were in favor. The resolution was adopted.

Motion by Ms. Doss, seconded by Ms. Lyons, to approve Resolution R-2021-04: Resolution authorizing the Director and Fiscal Officer to execute documents on behalf of the Board of Trustees. All present were in favor. The resolution was adopted.

Motion by Ms. Lyons, seconded by Mr. Braun, to approve Resolution R-2021-05: DAS Cooperative Purchasing Resolution. Roll call vote: Mr. Cardinal, aye; Mr. Braun, aye; Ms. Lyons, aye; Ms. Waite, aye; Ms. Doss, aye; Mr. Humphrey, aye. All present were in favor, none opposed. The resolution was adopted.

Motion by Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Ms. Doss, to approve Resolution R-2021-06: US Communities Cooperative Purchasing Resolution. Roll call vote: Mr. Cardinal, aye; Mr. Braun, aye; Ms. Lyons, aye; Ms. Waite, aye; Ms. Doss, aye; Mr. Humphrey, aye. All present were in favor, none opposed. The resolution was adopted.

Motion by Mr. Braun, seconded by Mr. Humphrey, to go into Executive Session for ORC 121.22 (G)(4) for the purpose of preparing for negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of employment. Roll call vote: Mr. Cardinal, aye; Mr. Braun, aye; Mr. Humphrey, aye; Ms. Lyons, aye; Ms. Waite, aye; Ms. Doss, aye. All present were in favor, none opposed. The resolution was adopted at 6:45 p.m.

The Board returned from Executive Session at 7:15 p.m.

Motion by Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Ms. Doss, to adjourn the meeting. All present were in favor, none opposed. The meeting adjourned at 7:17 p.m.

____________________________________                        ____________________________________

Board President                                                          Board Secretary

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