Larchmont Public Library
Board of Trustees
Minutes of Meeting
March 14, 2018
The Larchmont Public Library Board of Trustees met on March 14, 2018 at 6:49 p.m., attended by Trustees Jennifer Conley (JC), Maureen LeBlanc (ML), Barbara Liptack (BL), John McGarr (JM) and Linnet Tse (LT), and Friends Liaison Sandy Bernstein (SB), Library Director Laura Eckley (LE), Library Head of Reference Liam Hegarty (LH) and Staff Assistant D.J. Brucciani (DB). Board Chair Pamela Dubitsky (PD), Trustee Lauren Gottfried (LG), Village of Larchmont Liaison Carol Miller (CM) and Town of Mamaroneck Liaison Jeffery King (JK) were not in attendance.
Maureen LeBlanc (ML) called the meeting to order at 6:49 p.m.
The Board reviewed and unanimously approved the Minutes of the Board Meeting of February 14, 2018 and the Minutes of the Special Board Meeting of February 21, 2018.
Friends of the Larchmont Public Library Liaison Report
SB discussed the upcoming programs sponsored by the Friends and announced that the Annual Spelling Bee would be held on April 15, 2018 at the Larchmont Temple. SB reported that the Friends approved the following grants to the library at their March meeting: 1) annual donation of $2,500 to fund enhanced wireless services at the library, 2) $500 for books in honor of retiring Board Member Gerry Kolbert, 3) $500 for books in honor of retiring Board Member Miriam Cohen, and 4) $500 for reception at April One Book, One Community Art Exhibit.
Committee Reports
Schedule of Bills and Performance Report: The Board reviewed and unanimously approved the Schedule of Bills dated 3/9/18 and 3/16/18. The Board approved the Performance Report dated 3/16/18.
The Board discussed costs associated with the Library’s Museum Pass program and requested that LE provided detailed statistics regarding usage and cost at the April Board Meeting.
The Board reviewed a Grant Disbursement Agreement from the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) for a $125,000 grant obtained through the office of NY State Assemblyman Steve Otis to help cover certain costs incurred during the 2016 Library Transformation Project. 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 (1) has reviewed a Grant Disbursement Agreement (GDA) between the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) in reference to Project ID #7164, in the amount of $125,000, for the purpose of the Library Transformation Project, completed in 2016 (2) pending the review of said GDA by Library counsel, authorizes Library Board Chair Pamela Dubitsky and Library Director Laura Eckley to sign said GDA on behalf of the Board.
Building and Grounds
LE reported that a failure to the Library’s main building sump pumps resulted after recent heavy rains. The pump has been replaced and the elevator machinery has been serviced and cleaned. LE further reported that 1) the painting of the Children’s Room Lobbies is underway and 2) the public Keurig and vending machine are being repaired.
LE presented a proposal from Open Systems for work on the library’s boiler, water and panic alarms. The Board unanimously approved the expenditure of $4,500 for this work. LE reported that three bids had been received for HVAC service contracts and are being reviewed by consulting engineers Werner Teitjen P.E.
Director’s Report
LE reported that she is now holding monthly department head meetings with the staff and that staff wide sexual harassment/workplace violence training will be given by library labor attorney Tom Marcoline in April. LE further reported that 1) Children’s Librarian Rebecca Teglas has worked with the Mamaroneck Library to create a universal library card application to be used by both libraries, 2) Reference Librarian Frank Connelly is starting a new book group this summer featuring videos of author interviews, 3) a security update of the library’s website was successfully completed, and 4) a showing of the film “Wasted”, sponsored by the Town’s Sustainability Collaborative and the Village’s Environmental Committee, was attended by over 120 people.
Maureen LeBlanc (ML) adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board will be held on May 9, 2018.
Respectfully Submitted,
Laura Eckley
Library Director