Minutes: November 2024
MINUTES
CLERMONT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
NOVEMBER 18, 2024
MIAMI TOWNSHIP BRANCH
Present: Ernie Ramos, Mary Jo Waite, Judith Kocica, Trisha Lyons, Ed Humphrey, Katie Bock
Staff: Chris Wick, Melanie Smithey, Debbie Williams, Lynn Baird, Don Carpenter, Theresa Herron, Andrea Brofft
Guests: Joe Violand
Mr. Ramos called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Ernie Ramos, here, Mary Jo Waite, here; Judith Kocica, here; Tricia Lyons, here; Ed Humphrey, here. Katie Bock, absent; Jennifer Doss, absent.
Katie Bock arrived at 6:21 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
All present recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
OCTOBER 21, 2024 MINUTES:
Motion by Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Ms. Waite, to approve the October 21, 2024, board meeting minutes, as mailed. All present were in favor, none opposed. Motion was adopted.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
None.
Joe Violand, RedTree Investment Group, discussed the investments his firm makes for the Library. The Library is projected to earn $480,000 in net profit by the end of the year. The total investment profit realized by the Library since RedTree began working with the Library is expected to reach $1 million by the end of February 2025.
BOARD OF TRUSTEE BRIEFS:
Mr. Ramos discussed the Ohio Sunshine Law. He suggested including in the Board By-Laws language that clearly states how guests can address the board during meetings. Mr. Humphrey agreed. The issue will be referred to the By-Laws and Policy Review Committee.
GETTING TO KNOW THE LIBRARY
Ms. Brofft, manager of Collection Services, outlined her department operations.
FISCAL OFFICER’S REPORT:
Ms. Smithey submitted and discussed the October 2024 Financial Reports.
Motion by Ms. Waite, seconded by Ms. Lyons, to approve the October 2024 Financial Reports, as mailed. All present were in favor, none opposed. The motion was adopted.
Motion by Ms. Bock, seconded by Ms. Lyons, to approve the October 2024 Bills paid. All present were in favor, none opposed. The motion was adopted.
Motion by Ms. Kocica, seconded by Ms. Waite, to approve the October 2024 bills paid – Anthem. All present were in favor, none opposed. The motion was adopted.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT:
Ms. Wick presented the Director’s Report.
The Library2Go program has met the goal of having 16 childcare facilities enrolled by year’s end. Library personnel were on hand recently to receive the $5,000 Connect Clermont grant that will help pay for the Library2Go program. The first purchase made with the funds was for bins to ship the collections to the childcare centers. The service is now delivering more than 60 bins a month. The program continues to grow. Another application has been submitted for a grant from the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
The University of Cincinnati Evaluation Services Center is rethinking the third pop-up event that is part of the Community survey that ended in October. They will make a recommendation for how to conduct this pop-up once they analyze the existing data. They expect to have a preliminary report to the Library in January.
Ms. Wick recognized Assistant Director Leslie Jacobs on her recent retirement after 36.5 years with the Library. Ms. Jacobs recently focused on public services, senior programming, and system programming by Adult Services staff members. The Library thanked her for her many years of service. The library is currently reviewing applications from qualified candidates for the Assistant Director’s position.
Letters 2 Literacy is a non-profit in Batavia that tutors young children in reading. The Library will be working with this group to create Science of Reading-based activity sets designed to help children learn how to read. They will be housed at the branches.
Ms. Wick said there is no update on the development plans being considered in Pierce Township.
Ms. Wick and Ms. Smithey are almost done with the 2025 budget. They will meet with the Board’s Budget Committee December 4.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Clermont County now has 7,609 children enrolled, which is 64.9 percent of the children eligible for the program in the county. The committee is working on fund raising.
The annual Cozy Winter Read program will start in January.
The Program Promotion Challenge is proving to be successful. Branches have recorded a 19-percent increase in program attendance this year over 2023.
DEPARTMENT BRIEF
Mr. Carpenter, Facilities manager, discussed the possibility of adding handicapped parking spaces outside the Miami Township Branch. He also discussed the repair of the gas line to the generator at the Miami Township Branch.
COMMITTEE REPORT
The Board discussed three changes to the updated HR Policy Manual.
Motion by Ms. Lyons, seconded by Ms. Bock, to approve the updated HR Policy Manual. All present were in favor, none opposed. The motion was adopted. The Manual became effective immediately.
NOMINATION COMMITTEE
Mr. Ramos asked Ms. Lyons, Mr. Humphrey, and Ms. Bock to serve on the Nomination Committee. They are expected to make a recommendation on Board officers for 2025 at the December Board meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
Motion by Ms. Lyons, seconded by Ms. Bock, to approve Resolution 2024-26: Acceptance of Gifts to the Library, donations as listed. All present were in favor, none opposed. The motion was adopted.
Motion by Ms. Waite, seconded by Mr. Humphrey, to approve Resolution 2024-27: Disposal of Unneeded or Obsolete Inventory. Roll call vote: Mr. Ramos, yes; Ms. Waite, yes; Ms. Kocica, yes; Ms. Lyons; yes; Mr. Humphrey, yes; Ms. Bock, yes. All present were in favor, none opposed. The motion was adopted.
Motion by Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Ms. Bock, to adjourn the meeting at 7:31 p.m. All present were in favor, none opposed. Motion was adopted.
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Board President Board Secretary
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