The Chairperson, Kim Schulz, called the meeting to order at 7:42 PM.

Present: N. Eggenberger, M. Farell, J. Fausone, S. Foster, K. Schulz, T. Hartnett

Absent: None

Also Present: E. Davis, K. Gladden

Call To Audience

(L. Fawcett, R. Havenstein-Coughlin, D. McHugh, M. Nicholson, L. Papa, S. Rzetelny, D. Turner, N. Welz) – None

Approval Of Agenda

The agenda was approved by unanimous consent.

Approval Of Special Meeting Minutes

The minutes were approved by unanimous consent.

Approval Of General Meeting Minutes

The minutes were approved by unanimous consent.

Communications

E. Davis had previously forwarded to the Board communication received from a patron via the Contact Us portion of the library website.

Director's Report

Davis and Business Services accountant D. McHugh met with Canton Township Finance Director Wendy Trumbull to discuss the possibility of pre-payment of the building bond. Concern primarily centered around the fact that the library’s bond was bundled with that of the township. Based on their discussion, the township would not object should the library choose to do this. Pre-payment of the $2.3 million could be made in April 2016, saving the library $230,000 in interest payments. The library could also pay down some of the debt and refinance at a lower rate, or make additional principal payments. Trumbull will follow up to procure a schedule of options and notify Davis.

Davis and Trustee S. Foster attended the State of the School District meeting. Superintendent Michael Meissen made plain his intent to ramp up participation with the school system’s community partners.

Davis will sit on an interview panel to select the new Chief Financial Officer for the Detroit Public Library system. (Following the firing of their technology person, Department Head of Information Technology Leo Papa has been advising DPL on technology matters, and he passed Davis’ name on to them.)

Retirement cake for departing Business Services Department Head Sheryl Rzetelny will be served at 3:00 PM on Monday, September 29.

Vice-Chair N. Eggenberger commented on how nice it was of the Friends of the Library to create a butterfly garden for the library and its patrons. Incoming Business Services Department Head M. Nicholson has been lending her butterfly expertise and coordinating between the Friends and Reliable Landscaping. Hardscaping will be done by Reliable before winter sets in; the Friends are hoping to reach out to the public for plants and cuttings next spring.

Finance Committee Report

Vice Chair Eggenberger reported that the committee had attended a presentation by the Canton Community Foundation. Her take is that the library would receive better return on investment by bundling its endowment fund money with the foundation. The foundation would also be able to identify potential donors to encourage estate planning that includes the library. Investing with the CCF would also allow the library to legally consider other investment options. The Finance Committee will continue to discuss and explore, particularly after a new Director is hired by the CCF.

Unfinished Business and General Orders

None

New Business

Connect Your Summer Review - L. Fawcett and N. Welz discussed the re-vamped Connect Your Summer program, explaining the three different paths by which participants could earn badges. Changes to the program were made in response to patron requests for more reading requirements, structure and guidance over previous years’ programs. Participation in the 2014 program was up by 56%; in-house program attendance more than doubled over 2013.

Approval of Contract over $25,000: Reliable Landscaping (Snow Removal) - Trustee J. Fausone questioned the lack of an escape clause for non-performance and asked that this be added.

J. Fausone moved and T. Hartnett supported a motion to approve the contract with Reliable Landscaping for snow removal services, pursuant to additions in the contract language that address the non-performance clause.

The motion passed unanimously 14/9-22-1

Approval of Contract over $25,000: Innovative Interfaces (Sierra software) – Innovative Interfaces will no longer be supporting the Millennium system, which the library currently utilizes. L. Papa has been pursuing an alternative platform system for some time and, after investigation and negotiation, has concluded that continuing with Innovative’s Sierra system is the best way to move to the next level of automation without sacrificing the features patrons have come to depend upon.

T. Hartnett moved and S. Foster supported a motion to approve the proposal from Innovative Interfaces to upgrade to the Sierra platform system.

The motion passed unanimously, 14/9-22-2

Approval of Contract over $25,000: Bibliotheca -  L. Papa explained that we are currently working with Bibliotheca to iron out problems associated with the old Checkpoint tags. The requested hardware upgrade expenditure will be contingent upon the results of that testing. He believes that the library has a working solution, but is seeking to optimize it and is considering a volunteer effort to remove or disable old Checkpoint tags.

J. Fausone moved and T. Hartnett supported a motion to approve the contract with Bibliotheca for an upgrade of hardware & software for the RFID system.

The motion passed unanimously, 14/9-22-3

Approval of Contract over $25,000: Library Design Associates - Davis presented proposals from Library Design Associates for facility upgrades approved by the board in the 2015 budget: lobby and café; lobby restrooms; Adult area carpeting; furniture for the southeast reading area; and new shelving for Adult music CDs.

Trustee Fausone indicated a desire that the Community Relations department educate the public in advance about these investments in the physical plant (the age of the areas/materials being renovated/replaced, etc.), similar to what was done for the February 2014 renovation of the former Checkout/Reference Desk area.

J. Fausone moved and M. Farell supported a motion to accept the Library Design Associates proposals, not to exceed $508,000, for the 2015 renovations.

The motion passed unanimously 14/9-22-4

Proposed 2015 Schedule of Board Meetings & Library Closures - Due to the increased hours of 2015 Liberty Fest activities (earlier openings on Thursday and Friday) and the resultant difficulty for library patrons and staff in finding parking space, Davis suggested that the board consider closing early on Thursday and remaining closed both Friday and Saturday of Liberty Fest weekend. This would also necessitate rescheduling the June board meeting. There was general agreement to move forward with this plan. Board members will bring their personal calendars to the discussion at the October meeting.

Proposed Patron Code of Conduct Policy Revision (1st Reading) - All policies are reviewed every 2/3 years. Trustees Hartnett and Foster questioned language in the proposed revision concerning patron identification. Davis will consult with Anne Seurynck at Foster, Swift regarding their concern.

Proposed Circulation Policy Revision (1st Reading) - It has come to Davis’ attention that the library is charging more than the average Canton homeowner’s tax contribution to the library (always the standard by which the price is fixed) for the purchase of a library card by non-residents. At the board’s direction, the purchase price will be lowered in the proposed revision.

Recognition - Cards and gifts were presented to Chair Kim Schulz and Business Services Department Head Sheryl Rzetelny in recognition of attendance at their final Canton Public Library Board meeting.

Call To Audience

None

Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 9:02 PM.