McLean County Times

City of Pontiac Public Library Board of Trustees met Aug. 12.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The Pontiac Public Library Board of Trustees met on August 12, 2019. President Connie Snyder called the meeting to order at 5:30PM.

The roll call was answered by Connie Snyder, Eric Hoover, Bill Bertram, Nancy Milhauser, Bruce Koerner, and Curt Myers.

Consent Agenda:

Trustees reviewed the minutes and paid bills from June and July. Curt Myers moved to accept the minutes and bills as presented. Bruce Koerner seconded. All voted in favor, motion carried.

Correspondence: Nothing to report.

Directors Report:

The summer reading program was successful again. One of the biggest highlights from the reading program was Jesse White Tumbling Team event night. The top participating children and families attended “Junie B Jones” The Musical in Linconlshire on July 18, 2019.

The “Bookopoly” game held for high school students and adults are part of the reading program end August 31, 2019 and raffle drawings will be on September 3, 2019. Participation in this program was greater than expected with more than 40 people.

A request for new computer equipment has been submitted through the State Farm In-Kind Technology Grant Program. EntreSolutions will make the upgrades to the public computers when the new equipment is received.

The carpet will be cleaned by Gem’s in September. They will be cleaning the whole building in preparation for the open house. Once the cleaning is complete protective plastic mates are being placed under the public computers.

The Living Bookshelf Mural was stained and the wall behind it has been painted. Tim Holzhauer volunteered the time to complete this part of the project.

The renewal phase for the student/teacher library cards under the intergovernmental agreement with the school had begun. All cards should be activated shortly after Labor Day. New accounts should be activated by the end of September.

Regular weekly programing will restart August 20, 2019. The Library will continue with traditional programs such as Grandparent’s Day, Lunch & Movies, and Boo-Fest while also adding some new ideas in the months ahead.

Committee Update

Management Committee – Nothing to report.

Building and Grounds – Nothing to report.

Finance Committee – A certificate of deposit investment matured and was split into three smaller certificate of deposit investments with staggered maturity dates.

Old Business: Nothing to report.

New Business:

Fall Open House 2019 – The board discussed options for the fall open house, and determined that the open house will be held on Thursday October 3, 2019.

FY ’19-20 Library Levy Increase – The board discussed the library’s options for a levy increase. Under Property Tax Extension Limitations Law (PTELL) the library can receive a limited inflationary increase, but the increase is limited to the lesser of 4.9% or the increase in the consumer price index (CPI) each year. None of the current board members recall the last time such an increase was requested, which would go back more than 10 years. Kristin explained that the increase will be submitted county and they will adjust the request to CPI. The requested increase will be for next fiscal year, but needs to be discussed and approved so we ensure the request gets forward to the city for next fiscal year. The board feels that with the increasing costs and limited increase in revenue the inflationary would be a good approach to help the library’s financial situation. Bill Bertam motioned to approve and forward the 4.9% levy increase to the city to submit for the next fiscal year. Eric Hoover seconded. Voting in favor, Bill Bertram, Eric Hoover, Connie Snyder, Nancy Milhauser, Bruce Koerner. Abstaining, Curt Myers. Motion carried.

Fall Staff Training Day – The board discuss the closing of the library for the annual staff training day. Bill Bertram motioned to close the library on November 27, 2019 for the annual staff training day. Nancy Milhauser seconded. All voted in favor, motion carried.

Library Tour – The board broke session to take a brief tour of the library. Executive Session

Curt Myers moved to go into executive session for the following reasons:

(1) The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)

The motion was seconded by Nancy Milhauser. All were in favor, motion carried. Following executive session no action was required.

Trustee Closing Comments: Nothing to report.

Bill Bertram moved to adjourn the meeting. Connie Snyder seconded. All voted in favor, motion carried.

https://www.pontiac.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_08122019-675