June 11, 2014 The Cherry Hill Public Library Board of Trustees President, Art Simons read the following statement:
In accordance with section 5 of the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231.p.l. 1975, notice of this meeting was posted on the Cherry Hill Public Library plasma screens designed for that purpose, on May 22, 2014, as well as the library web page. Notice was also sent to the Cherry Hill Township to be posted on the township bulletin board designated for that purpose on May 28, 2014. Notice was also e-mailed to the courier post, Philadelphia Inquirer, the Patch & the Sun on May 28, 2014.
Mr. Simons called the meeting to order at 5:51 p.m.
The board clerk called the roll and those present were:
Present: Mr. Art Simons, Mrs. Mona Noyes, Mrs. Cathy Schwartz, Ms. Susan Bass Levin, Esq., Mrs. Diane Koury Alessi
Other present were: Mrs. Laverne Mann, Library Director
Mrs. Jennie Purcell, Library Services Manager
Ms. Katie Hardesty, Director of Marketing & PR, Cherry Hill Library Mr. Robert Wright, Esq., Cherry Hill Township Solicitor
Mrs. Michelle Samalonis, Cherry Hill Township Controller
Mrs. Lenore Rosner, Cherry Hill Township Business Administrator
Ms. Carla Geppi, Cherry Hill Township Human Resources Manager
Ms. Madeline Gavin, President, Friends of the LibraryMs. Phyllis Burstein, Friends of the Library
MinutesMr. Art Simons asked for a motion to approve the minutes of May 21, 2014 board meeting as there were no questions or changes.
MOTION: Moved by Mrs. Koury Alessi, seconded by Mrs. Noyes All in Favor: Mr. Art Simons, Mrs. Cathy Schwartz, Mrs. Noyes Abstentions: Ms. Bass Levin, Mrs. Koury Alessi
Motion Approved
RESOLUTION 2014-6-1
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF BILLS MOTION: Moved by Mrs. Noyes, seconded by Mrs. Koury Alessi
All in Favor: Mr. Art Simons, Yes; Mrs. Mona Noyes, Yes; Mrs. Cathy Schwartz, Yes; Ms. Bass Levin, Esq., Yes; Mrs. Koury Alessi., Yes
RESOLUTION 2014-6-2
RESOLUTION FOR THE AWARD OF HVAC MAINTENANCE CONTRACT FOR THE
CHERRY HILL PUBLIC LIBRARY TO PETERSON SERVICE COMPANY, INC.
Discussion: Amount not to exceed $24,250; Johnson Controls is current company, their serviceagreement expires June 30, 2014. Gathered quotes and Peterson Service Company’s quote is $1,000 less for service agreement. Peterson provided service to old Library. MOTION: Moved by Ms. Bass Levin, seconded by Mrs. Noyes
All in Favor: Mr. Art Simons, Yes; Mrs. Mona Noyes, Yes; Mrs. Cathy Schwartz, Yes; Ms. Bass Levin, Esq., Yes; Mrs. Koury Alessi., Yes
Motion Approved
RESOLUTION 2014-6-3
RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE PERSONNEL POLICIES MANUAL AND EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK FOR THE CHERRY HILL PUBLIC LIBRARY
MOTION: Moved by Mrs. Noyes, seconded by Mrs. Koury Alessi
All in Favor: Mr. Art Simons, Yes; Mrs. Mona Noyes, Yes; Mrs. Cathy Schwartz, Yes; Ms. Bass Levin, Esq., Yes; Mrs. Koury Alessi., Yes
Motion Approved
Ms. Katherine Wade, Esq. arrived at 6:03 p.m. Administrators’ Report
A. Director’s Report – Ms. Laverne Mann
1. Snapshot of May 2014: a. 31,239 Active Members
b. Circulation: 16,964 Adult items and 13,118 Youth items.
c. Purchases: 794 print volumes; 103 E-Books; 73 Audio Music; 41 Audio Books; 40 Video 2. Library Policies
a. Supervisors and Administration are updating or creating Library policies on confidentiality of library records, gifts, circulation procedures, internet access, unattended children, volunteers, meeting rooms and collection development.
3. American Girl Dolls
a. Three American Girl Dolls available for check out by patrons. Bundle includes doll, book, case, with historical information on that era in Cherry Hill and a journal to track doll’s travels. The program launches with a June Tea Party.
b. Dolls acquired by donation and donated monies to Youth Services. 4. Assisted Listening Devices
a. Now circulating two ALD’s for the hearing impaired to check out, and a larger device to be used in-house with meetings.
5. Adult Summer Reading Program begins June 16
a. NFI (National Freight Industries located in Cherry Hill) is sponsoring Teen Summer Reading and the Summer Children’s Carnival.
i. Thank you Mayor’s office for connecting Library with NFI 7. Instagram
a. New Social Media connection: http://instagram.com/chplnj. 8. New public PCs
a. Twenty five new PCs arrived to replace public computers. 9. Entrepreneur Fair July 30
a. Speaker Alex Freund, information tables, technology class for startups, entrepreneurs 10. Meetings attended:
a. Volunteer Appreciation Presentation 5/22/14 b. Friends Gift Shop volunteer breakfast 5/27/14 c. Book Expo America 4/29/14
d. New Jersey Library Association annual conference 6/2-6/4/14 – seven staff attended e. Surrounded by Madness author& book discussion 6/10/14
B. Library Services report - Mrs. Jennie Purcell
1. Health Benefits Open Enrollment runs June 1-30, 2014 with an effective date of July 1. 2. Notified employees of increase in pension from 6.78% to 6.92% starting first pay in July. 3. All four open positions have been filled:
a. Temporary PT PR & Events Intern (during Katie’s maternity leave) - starting June 17th. b. Temporary Help Desk Support Technician in IT Department –starting June 16th. c. Technology Center Assistant in Computer Lab –started June 10th.
d. Seasonal Student Page in Children’s Department –starting June 16th .
4. Now that insurance and approvals are finally complete, ABJ Sprinkler Co. Inc. today worked on Reading Room sprinkler system that was temporarily fixed after it froze & broke in January.
a. Township (Bill Cattell) will inspect.
5. Met with landscaper Merit Service Solutions to discuss schedule and cleanup along with planting; they were behind schedule due to harsh winter/ rainy spring.
6. Worked with Township on obtaining HVAC preventative maintenance contract for the new fiscal year. Current provider, Johnson Controls contract ends June 30; Peterson begins July 1.
7. Attended Volunteer Appreciation Presentation on May 22nd. It was a great program thanking Library volunteers and hearing from student volunteers.
8. Carpeting is finished in the Reference Reading Room, very nice job. Thank you Friends.
9. Friends approved purchase of a new book drop for front of building. Current book drop emptied daily but still fills up quickly, especially during closed Sundays. Additional book drop should help ease overflow. Thank you to Friends.
10. Township Clerk sent out the Financial Disclosure Statements to Board that are to be done electronically with unique pin numbers along with name. The deadline is Friday June 13th. Discussion on tree replacement in Friendship Grove:
Friends provided Admin with contact information on free tree replacement to volunteer groups. Admin is currently reaching out to this organization to request tree replacement. Contact information provided is not accurate due to changes in their organization; will report to Board after contact is made. This is not a grant; it is an organization that replaces trees.
C. Budget Report - Mrs. Michelle Samalonis
1. Revenues & Expenditure Report to date distributed.
D. Director of PR & Special Events Report – Ms. Katie Hardesty
1. Temp PR & Events Intern is starting June 17th, will train her on PR first. 2. Maternity leave scheduled to begin July 14th.
3. Bulk of Meeting Rooms will be managed by Valerie Carita.
E. Friends of the Library– Ms. Madeline Gavin
1. Members – 580 but purge starts soon. 2. Gift Shop is doing well.
3. Friends Book Sale runs July 17-19 for public; July 16th is members’ Preview Sale. 4. Friendship Grove problems
a. Cement in soil (discarded from building’s erection) prevents planting flowers near sign so considering using planters instead. Planters are costly so this is under consideration. b. Looking into endangered species grant to replace trees in Grove. Goal to replace
diseased trees by September.
c. Two outdoor trash cans and two picnic tables ordered. 5. Junior Friends Carnival is August 21st.
6. Friends Library Week is October 20-25, 2014; Better Book Sale is October 24 & 25. a. June Better Book Sale made over $1,000.
7. Flea Mart on May 31st had 70 vendors, made $1,615.
a. Organized by Jim Gibson; publicity by Maryann LoBianco. b. Used Library security guard rather than police officers. c. Junior Friends provided excellent help.
d. Java City (Aramark) agreed to open early for vendors.
8. Approved Library purchases of two security cameras & Youth Services diner booth. 9. May plan fall trip to Grounds for Sculpture to see Seward Johnson show, which closes
mid-September; looking into dining venues at site.
Additional thank you from Library Services Manager to Friends for approving purchase of additional book drop for front of building.
New Business
A. none
Public Discussion
A. none
Next regular meeting date: Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at 5:45 p.m. Please note this is not the second Wednesday.
Executive Meeting-Closed Session
RESOLUTION 2014-6-4: RESOLUTION CLOSED SESSION.
MOTION: Moved by Ms. Bass Levin, seconded by Mrs. Koury Alessi to close the Regular Meeting and go into Executive Meeting to discuss ongoing labor negotiations and investigations pursuant to N.J.S.A. 10:4-12(b).
All in Favor: Mr. Art Simons, Yes; Mrs. Mona Noyes, Yes; Mrs. Cathy Schwartz, Yes; Ms. Bass Levin, Esq., Yes; Mrs. Koury Alessi., Yes; Ms. Katherine Wade, Esq. Yes
Meeting closed at 6:13 p.m. and reopened at 6:25 p.m.
MOTION: Moved by
Mrs. Koury Alessi
, seconded by Mrs. Noyes, to close the Executive Meeting to go into Regular Meeting.All in Favor: Mr. Art Simons, Yes; Mrs. Mona Noyes, Yes; Mrs. Cathy Schwartz, Yes; Ms. Bass Levin, Esq., Yes; Mrs. Koury Alessi., Yes; Ms. Katherine Wade, Esq. Yes
Unfinished Business
A. Greenamyer Sculpture: (discussion after Closed Session due to late arrival of Mr. David Ascalon.) 1. Mr. Ascalon arrived at Board Meeting today to discuss sculpture after public meeting was
over. He is invited to return to Board Meeting on July 23rd.
2. David Ascalon & Sally Callahan, Sculpture Committee, imposed upon Board approximately four years ago to address the reinstallation of the Greenamyer sculpture. Board at the time denied request due to cost.
3. Current Board concerned with cost and also safety of reassembling sculpture at Library due to sculpture’s sharp edges.
4. Mr. Ascalon has different ideas for reinstallation that he wishes to discuss with Board
5. Mr. Ascalon has stated Jennie Porter (original donor) and her son agreed to donate $20,000 for reinstallation of sculpture at Library.
6. Board President asserted that donation must cover complete cost of reinstallation and safety is key concern.
7. Board President will write letter to Porter family thanking them for desire to make donation for sculpture’s reinstallation.
8. If agreed upon, check should be made out to Library, and when check is received Board will send letter of receipt/acknowledgement on behalf of Library.
9. Agreement should be created, specifying exactly what services are included in payment, upkeep of sculpture over time, etc.
Adjournment
MOTION: Moved by Mrs. Koury Alessi seconded by Ms. Bass Levin to close meeting. Unanimously approved
Meeting adjourned at 6:32 p.m.
Jennie Purcell Board Clerk