Larchmont Public Library
Board Of Trustees
Minutes of Meeting
January 11, 2017
The Larchmont Public Library Board of Trustees met on January 11, 2017 at 6:45 p.m., attended by Board Chair Pamela Dubitsky (PD), Trustees Jennifer Conley (JC), Lauren Gottfried (LG), Barbara Liptack (BL), John McGarr (JM), and Linnet Tse (LT), Town of Mamaroneck Liaison Ernie Odierna (EO), Village of Larchmont Liaison Carol Miller (CM) and Friends Liaison Sandy Bernstein (SB), Library Director Laura Eckley (LE), Head of Library Reference Liam Hegarty (LH), and Library Staff Assistant Ryan Madonna (RM). Trustee Maureen LeBlanc was excused.
Board Chair PD called the meeting to order at 6:47 p.m.
The Board reviewed and unanimously approved the Minutes of the Board Meeting of December 14, 2016.
Friends of the Larchmont Public Library Liaison Report
SB reported that a screening of the movie Larchmont on 12/18 had a large attendance and was well received by the community. SB announced upcoming Friends’ sponsored programs by columnist Ben Zimmer on the language of “Hamilton” on 1/29/17 and the annual Watanabe Concert on 2/5/17. SB further reported that the Friends voted at their December Meeting to increase their contribution to the Library’s FY17/18 operating budget from $8,000 to $10,000 for programming and approved an additional $3,000 to purchase new book carts for the library. PD thanked the Friends for all of their fundraising efforts and support of the library.
Committee Reports
Schedule of Bills and Performance Report: The Board reviewed and unanimously approved the Schedule of Bills dated 1/6/17 and 1/11/17 with an amendment noting that, in accordance with New York State law, the MTA Tax should no longer be paid by the library. The Board approved the Performance Report dated 1/6/17.
JM made a motion, seconded by LT, to approve the following resolution, which the Board then passed unanimously:
Resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the Larchmont Public Library hereby directs Village Treasurer Denis Brucciani to transfer $50,000 from the Library Fund Balance to the Library Transformation Fund in order to pay invoices related to the Transformation Project, with such invoices ultimately to be funded through New York State grants once they are received.
Finance Committee:
LE, JM and LT presented a draft of the FY17/18 to the Board. PD reported that the Finance Committee held a preliminary budget meeting with officials of the Town of Mamaroneck in November, and will hold a preliminary budget meeting with officials of the Village of Larchmont later in January. PD reminded the Board that the formal budget presentation to the Village and the Town will take place on 2/6/17 at 6 p.m.
Building and Grounds:
Transformation: LE reported that the coffee bar is now fully operational. LE further reported that changes to staff work areas are now complete and updates to computer and phone lines have been made. LE stated that Library Interiors would be onsite in January for 2-3 weeks to complete additional items related to shelving and furniture. LE further stated that plaques and signage were being fabricated and would be installed in approximately 5 weeks. LE stated that MVM’s punch list is close to completion.
Director’s Report
Upon the recommendation of Director Eckley, the Board unanimously approved the hire of Alexandra Gaete as a full-time Librarian I, Step IV, and effective 1/9/17 at a salary of $59,521. LE reported that vacation week programs in the Children’s Room were popular and very well attended. LE also reported on changes to the online databases provided by WLS.
The Board unanimously voted to change the date of the April Board Meeting to April 5, 2017 at 6:45 p.m.
Board Chair Dubitsky adjourned the meeting at 7:38 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board will be held on February 8, 2017.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ryan Madonna
Staff Assistant