Text Description automatically generated Minutes of Meeting of the Board of Trustees Highland Public Library 14 Elting Place; Highland, NY 12528 Date: Feb. 27, 2025 Attending: Elaine Rivera, President; Mark McPeck, 1st Vice President; Patrick Mason, Finance Officer; Eric Norberg, Corresponding Secretary; Phyllis Freeman, Trustee; Sarah Navins, Trustee; Melissa Burdash, Friends Liaison; Julie Dempsey, Library Director; Lisa Gill, Assistant Library Director; Sharon Battershall, Treasurer Absent: Jacqueline Burke, 2nd Vice President The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. The members recited the Pledge of Allegiance. P. Freeman moved to accept the minutes of the Jan. 23, 2025 meeting. E. Norberg seconded. All were in favor. Financial Report: P. Freeman moved as follows: Be it resolved to approve the warrants attached for operating expenses for the month of February 2025. E. Norberg seconded. All were in favor. E. Norberg moved as follows: Be it resolved to accept the January 2025 financial report as prepared by Rose Woodworth, Accountant. P. Mason seconded. All were in favor. P. Freeman raised issue of the high cost of snow removal this year. J. Dempsey explained that the removal team had to come to the library more often recently due to the fact that we’ve had more ice this year than some years, and we are charged per visit. There was discussion of possibly reaching out to other vendors for a possible lower cost. It was mentioned that a compounding factor this year is that there is a salt shortage, which raises the overall cost. Agenda Items: As follows Director’s Report: A 3-D printer is being donated by a patron; the library therefore will be able to offer more 3-D printing classes. Plastic collection for a bench is now complete, the bench has been acquired, so a break is being taken on that. J. Dempsey will be on vacation March 6-19; she asks Board approval for use of accumulated sick days. Staff have been having trouble with 3 teen patrons who have been causing disruption, and being rude and disobedient to staff. Letters were written to the parents of the 3 teens. The parents of two of these have been cooperative and responsive, but there has been no response from the parents of one particular young lady, who seems to be the instigator. This teen has been barred from entering the library until April 1, contingent upon the parent coming in to discuss the matter with J. Dempsey, Director. There was discussion of the scenario that ICE might enter the library to arrest undocumented persons. J. Dempsey maintains that this is unlikely, and that the library is following NY state and local law enforcement dictates. She mentions that we do have immigrant-rights information in the lobby. There has been a problem with an unhoused person sleeping on the library grounds. This situation has recently been made worse when he was repeatedly aggressive to David. On contacting the police, it was made clear that to bar the unhoused person from the grounds, library officials needed to sign a document to forbid him from trespassing, and this is now done. Old Business; Bylaws: “Notwithstanding any other provision of these bylaws, the Board of Directors may, by a supermajority vote, grant an exception to the term limit for a specific individual in extraordinary circumstances.” E. Norberg moved as follows: Be it resolved to accept the update of the bylaws. M. McPeck seconded. All were in favor. New Business: Acceptance of Annual Report: There was some discussion of Library programs attendance. J. Dempsey reports circulation of print materials is down, but e-materials is up. Members want to look at the timing of programs, children’s programs being best scheduled on the weekend, and senior programs being during daylight hours weekdays. P. Mason moved as follows: Be it resolved to accept the annual report. E. Norberg seconded. All were in favor. Election: E. Norberg moved as follows: Be it resolved that the election is to be scheduled for Apr. 23, 2025 between the hours of 10am-7pm, and the appointment of election workers will be such: Chair of Election: J. Dempsey Election Clerk: L. Gill Election inspectors: Angela Grieco and Susan Bacchi at $16.50 per hour. M. McPeck seconded. All were in favor. J. Dempsey noted that the Board meeting for April will be on April 22, 2025, not the 24th, which would be the usual. Proposed budget: A concern was raised about line 38 Repairs and Maintenance cost having gone up so much. There was discussion about the cracks in the building, repair of the gutters, and the driveway needing to be re-done. P. Mason moved as follows: Be it resolved to approve to exceed the tax levy limit for 2025-2026 budget by at least 60% of Board of Trustees. S. Navins seconded. Roll Call vote on motion: E. Rivera- yes M. McPeck- yes J. Burke- not present P. Mason- yes E. Norberg- yes P. Freeman- yes S. Navins- yes P. Mason moved as follows: Be it resolved that the Board approve the proposed budget for the 2025-2026 year. E. Norberg seconded. All were in favor. M. McPeck moved as follows: Be it resolved to accept the policy on data breach notification. E Norberg seconded. All were in favor. P. Mason moved as follows: Be it resolved to modify the policy on Notification of Disciplinary Records Request. E Norberg seconded. All were in favor. Standing Committees: Facilities: Crack monitors have now been installed and will be monitored to assess severity of the problem (cosmetic damage as opposed to structural). There was discussion of the cost of internet. Fiber Optic was mentioned as a possible less-costly alternative to the current provider, Optimum. But with Optimum we get an E-rate for libraries. Friends Liaison: M. Burdash reported plans for a second jewelry sale, Apr. 25 and 26th. Also planned is a Library Fair for July 26. The plan is to sell tables for vendors and crafts people, at $50 per table. There was discussion about the possibility of having food trucks, and a barbeque tent, and possibly a 50/50 raffle. Book sales were not planned to be a part of this; they have been too labor-intensive and not profitable. M. Burdash asked the members to send her any ideas for vendors or food. Trustee Concerns: A vote for the new Director will be held, probably in May 2025. E Rivera announced that the next meeting will be March 27, 2025 at 5:30pm. E. Norberg moved to adjourn. P. Mason seconded. All were in favor. The meeting adjourned at 6:17p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Sharon Battershall, Treasurer