December 22, 2020 | gladdenk
The Chairperson, Amy Watts, called the meeting to order at 7:31 PM.
Present: (participating remotely from Canton, MI) N. Eggenberger, A. Iqbal, C. Spas, A. Watts
Absent: M. Farell, J. Lee
Also Present: E. Davis, K. Gladden
CALL TO AUDIENCE (K. Bounds, L. Golden, D. McHugh, M. Nicholson, R. Noble, Patron, D. Skopczynski, C. Souchock, C. Swanberg ) – None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The agenda was accepted by unanimous consent.
APPROVAL OF GENERAL MEETING MINUTES
The minutes were accepted by unanimous consent.
COMMUNICATIONS — None
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
As of the end of November, the library was 92% through the fiscal year, according to Director Eva Davis. Both income and expenditures as a percentage of budget will be addressed later in the meeting through the proposed 4th Quarter Budget Amendment.
The proposed budget amendment will not include a request for a Fund Balance transfer. Because of the pandemic pause in operations, certain projects in the 2020 budget have been pushed off to 2021 and the appropriated funds will be returned to the Fund Balance. Those projects will be incorporated into the 2021 budget, and quarterly budget amendment requests will be utilized to fund them.
Davis reminded the board to either send a picture or arrange for a photo shoot with Community Relations Department Head Laurie Golden, so that the library website can be updated.
Michigan Senate Bill 1246 passed with changes made by the House; once it goes through reconciliation and is signed by the Governor, elected boards will be able to meet remotely through March 2021.
Davis consulted with the library’s labor attorney re: the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the Emergency Family Leave Medical Expansion Act (EFMLA), which are set to expire at the end of the year. The attorney suggested waiting to see what the lame duck session brings; if either act is not renewed, the board would be able to pass a Resolution that can be made retroactive to extend protections to qualifying staff members.
Changes to the permanent staff continue. The full-time librarian position was offered to, and accepted by, part-time librarian Amy Lee. There were two additional resignations, and the administration will be looking at overall staffing across departments, with budget neutrality as a goal.
Davis congratulated L. Golden and Community Relations Program Librarian Nichole Welz, as well as Information Services Librarian Whitney Jones, for the tremendous success of Wednesday’s drive-through Winter Snow Spree.
Davis also brought to the board’s attention Item 4 of her Director’s Report, covering the planned purchase of a new website content management system, which will be brought to the board for approval in 2021. This has been an interdepartmental project, led by Web Resources Specialist Courtney Luketich.
In answer to staff queries, Davis has concluded that the library will not be mandating that staff members be vaccinated against the coronavirus. She has reached out to the State Library and to Canton Township Emergency Management Coordinator Will Hayes to find out what status library staff will have in vaccine priority, but suspects their eligibility will rest on individual status, rather than as library employees.
Since this is her final meeting as Circulation Services Interim Department Head before new Department Head Kat Bounds takes the helm in January, Davis once again thanked Denise Skopczynski for stepping in and performing two jobs for the past six months.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS — Chair Amy Watts expressed her thanks to L. Golden and her team for the Winter Snow Spree.
COMMITTEE REPORTS — None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS & GENERAL ORDERS
Update on Phased Reopening — Davis is attempting to eliminate any yo-yo effect between phases, to avoid confusion and stress for both staff and patrons.
Nomination and Election of 2021 Board Officers — Since the current officers have served in their current positions for two consecutive years and are unable to do so again, A. Watts nominated a slate consisting of: Nancy Eggenberger – Chair; Michelle Farell – Vice Chair; and A. Watts – Secretary/Treasurer.
Amina Iqbal moved and Claire Spas supported a motion to elect the slate of 2021 officers as presented.
ROLL CALL VOTE
Yes: N. Eggenberger, A. Iqbal, C. Spas, A. Watts
No: None
Abstain: None
The motion passed 20/12-17-1 (4-0-0)
NEW BUSINESS
Closed Session to Receive and Discuss Material Exempted by Statute (Library Privacy Act 455 of 1982, MCL 397.603) — N. Eggenberger moved and C. Spas supported a motion to move into closed session.
ROLL CALL VOTE
Yes: N. Eggenberger, A. Iqbal, C. Spas, A. Watts
No: None
Abstain: None
The motion passed 20/12-17-2 (4-0-0)
REGULAR MEETING RESUMED AT 8:11 P.M.
Patron Appeal 2020-12-01, Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials — To uphold or rescind the library director’s decision to retain the item in all formats — Chair Watts thanked the Patron for following procedure and for the respectful discourse during the closed session.
Trustee Eggenberger indicated that she had carefully read the material in question and found it to be interesting and thought-provoking. She felt it expressed an important viewpoint that the library collection needs to have; she would uphold the library director’s decision to retain the item in all formats.
Trustee Spas agreed, saying that while it was not easy, she too had read and enjoyed the book in question.
Chair Watts was of the same opinion. While she believed that the title could be off-putting to some people, she did not agree that the book’s main purpose was to criticize white people. While going through the exercise might be uncomfortable, she believed that that is the way we learn and grow. And her bigger concern is that the library not set a precedent of banning books which might be unpopular in some quarters.
Trustee A. Iqbal agreed with the other board members; she has heard good things about the work from many people.
N. Eggenberger moved and A. Iqbal supported a motion to uphold the library director’s decision to retain Me & White Supremacy in all formats.
ROLL CALL VOTE
Yes: N. Eggenberger, A. Iqbal, C. Spas, A. Watts
No: None
Abstain: None
The motion passed 20/12-17-3 (4-0-0)
Approval of 4th Quarter Budget Amendment — Davis explained to the new board members that the library must have a balanced budget, and that quarterly and year-end budget amendments are generally required to do so. She thanked Business Services Department Head Marian Nicholson and Accountant Debbie McHugh for their hard work with regard to the budget and the amendment.
C. Spas moved and N. Eggenberger supported a motion to approve the 4th Quarter Budget Amendment as presented.
ROLL CALL VOTE
Yes: N. Eggenberger, A. Iqbal, C. Spas, A. Watts
No: None
Abstain: None
The motion passed 20/12-17-4 (4-0-0)
CALL TO AUDIENCE – None
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 8:24 PM.