Library Board Minutes- December 2016

Allegany County Library Board of Trustees

Regular Meeting

December 13, 2016

Frostburg Library – 4:00 p.m.

PRESENT:  

Bill Devlin, Tom Finan, Deb Hendrickson, Stephanie Marchbank, Terry Michels, John Persons, Jason Willetts, and John Taube.

The meeting was called to order by Bill Devlin.

Welcome Stephanie Marchbank, Our newest Library Trustee!

A motion to accept the minutes of the regular meeting of the November 8, 2016 meeting was made by Terry Michels seconded by  Deb Hendrickson and was approved.   

• Review of Usage Statistics
• Review of Income & Expense Report for the months of November 2016.
• Review of Special Accounts

A motion to accept both the statistical report and the financial reports of November 2016 was made by John Persons seconded by Tom Finan and was accepted.    

NEW BUSINESS

Budgeting Priorities for FY2018

John Taube reviewed our recent efforts to secure funding to restore hours of operation one branch per year over the next several years.  In FY2018, we were targeting the South Cumberland Library to coincide with its reopening after renovation.  

John and the Board discussed a preliminary draft of a budget that funded a 4th staff position at the South Cumberland library due to John’s expectation that the branch will be very busy when it reopens.  The preliminary budget also included a 4th member of the story corp to maintain momentum on our goal of promoting early childhood and family literacy.    These changes are funded by the approved increase in state funding for the library and the expectation that the county will match the state increase.  

John noted that the budget does not include funding to restore hours of operation at South, wage adjustments for staff, nor address the slight increase in health insurance costs expected in FY2018.

For consideration at the January 2017 meeting, the Board requested that John draft a budget proposal that included a 2% wage increase for staff as well as the positions included in the preliminary budget discussed at this meeting.

General Assembly Preview and Discussion

In the 2016 General Assembly Session, Maryland Libraries spearheaded an initiative to accelerate the return of approved mandated increases to the state funding from FY2022 to FY2018.    Both Senate President Miller and Speaker Busch, stated that “there will be painful cuts to essential programs” to balance the FY2018 budget due to the predicted $800,000,000 shortfall over the next 2 years.    John Taube stated that given these state budgeting challenges, that Maryland Libraries will have to work very hard to preserve our approved increases this session.    If the State defers or eliminates our increase slated for July 1, 2017, we will need to make significant adjustments to our FY2018 budget, priorities,  and plans.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

South Cumberland Library Renovation –Update

Adding the additional Insulation is 98% complete and its cost expected to be closer to $45,000.

The City has agreed to pay for the new ADA compliant corner to completely redo the sidewalk on First Street.

Furnishings and shelving components have been selected and the contract will be approved by the County Commissioner on Thursday December 15, 2016.  We anticipate a June 1, 2017 delivery date.

Drywall is being installed and the window installation began this week.  

Washington Street Library Columns Restoration  – Update

County Staff have submitted an application to the Maryland Historic Trust on November 10, 2016 to replace the columns instead of repairing them as the estimated cost is comparable.  The MHT met on December 8, 2016 and John Taube reported that he has not heard of any outcome or decision yet, but will inquire.

FY2016 Financial Audit has been completed

The Audit was completed and copies were submitted to appropriate agencies on November 28, 2016.

PUBLIC COMMENT

ANNOUNCEMENTS and UPDATES

John Taube reported that Staff are working to design a system where every child in ACPS gets a library card.

As of January 1, 2017, Health Insurance co-pays will increase

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

John Taube reported that the Guys Read initiative is coming back and the schedule is coming soon.  Guys Read is a program targeting 3rd grade boys to show them that reading can be fun with exciting and humorous titles read to them over lunch breaks by other men from the community.

Next Board Meeting is Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 4PM at the Washington Street Library

 

Advertisement