Castleton Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting
Monday, December 18, 2023 Minutes
Welcome/Pledge of Allegiance
The meeting was called to order by President Mitchum at 7:06 pm.
Roll Call
Present: Shane Mitchum, President; Patrick Cartwright, Vice President; Laurie Knaack, Secretary; Alyssa Mitchum, Treasurer; Colin Strainge, Trustee; Melissa Tacke, Library Director
Absent: Meghan Johnston, Trustee; Kate Bielawa, Trustee
Excused: none
Adoption of Agenda
The adoption of the agenda was motioned by Trustee Cartwright and seconded by Trustee Strainge. Unanimously approved.
Public Comment
None.
New Business
2023 revised budget: Trustees reviewed the final expenses for 2023. Trustee Cartwright motioned to approve the 2023 revised budget. Seconded by Trustee Strainge. Unanimously approved.
2024 staff pay rates: Director Tacke shared pay rates effective 1/1/2024. Trustee Cartwright motioned to approve the 2024 wage increases for library staff. Seconded by Trustee Strainge. Unanimously approved.
Policy update – Personnel Policy: The Policy Committee worked with Director Tacke to review and revise the personnel policy. Changes include refining definitions of each employee position, defining responsibilities for the new full-time Librarian I position, updating guidelines for remote work, updating holidays and vacation accrual, and clarifying leave procedures including sick leave and jury duty. Conditional upon the addition of a sentence on the first page to indicate that the policy will be reviewed annually, Trustee Cartwright motioned to approve the Personnel Policy. Seconded by Trustee Strainge. Unanimously approved.
Hours of operation: Library hours will be changing to 11am-4pm on Saturday and Sunday (no change to weekday hours). Trustee Cartwright motioned to approve the 2024 hours. Seconded by Trustee Strainge. Unanimously approved.
Hire of Library Aide: Trustee Strainge motioned to approve the hire and pay rate of a Library Aide to begin work 1/6/2024. Seconded by Trustee Cartwright. Unanimously approved.
Tax cap resolution re: May 2023 vote: Trustee Cartwright motioned to approve the Resolution to Override Tax Cap – 2024 Budget. Seconded by Trustee Strainge. Unanimously approved. The text follows:
Resolution to Override Tax Cap -- 2024 Budget (pertains to vote held in May 2023)
Whereas, the adoption of the 2024 budget for the Castleton Public Library required a tax levy increase that exceeded the tax cap imposed by state law as outlined in General Municipal Law Section 3-c adopted in 2011; and
Whereas, General Municipal Law Section 3-c expressly permits the library board to override the tax levy limit by a resolution approved by a vote of sixty percent of qualified board members; now therefore be it
Resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the Castleton Public Library voted and approved to exceed the tax levy limit for 2024 by at least the sixty percent of the Board of Trustees as required by state law on 12/18/2023.
Discussion of slate of officers for Annual Meeting (January 16, 2024): Trustees discussed remaining with the same slate of officers for 2024.
Board self-evaluation and Director evaluation: Director Tacke will send the evaluation forms electronically to trustees. The board will submit evaluations to President Mitchum by January 12.
Old Business
2024 budget: Trustee Cartwright motioned to approve the 2024 Budget. Seconded by Trustee Strainge. Unanimously approved.
Village of Castleton – Sunday library hours: The Village and Library are in agreement on Sunday hours and the Village plans to approve an addendum to the Library’s lease to clarify winter shoveling procedure.
Follow-up on Racial Equity Training: The board discussed retaining this item on the agenda and plans to set action items at the January meeting so that committees can meet before February.
Library word-of-mouth advertising: Promote Sunday hours starting January 2024!
Reports
President’s Report
No report.
Secretary’s Report
Trustee Strainge motioned to approve the November 2023 meeting minutes. Seconded by Trustee A. Mitchum. Unanimously approved.
Treasurer’s Report
Trustee Cartwright motioned to approve the November 2023 Check Detail Reports. Seconded by Trustee Knaack. Unanimously approved.
Director’s Report
Director Tacke presented statistics for November, with a comparison against previous years. Circulation and total program attendance continues to be up since 2021, with a significant increase in in-person program attendance.
Friends Report
The Friends of the Library will meet in January to set their fundraising calendar for 2024.
Village of Castleton Liaison Report
No report.
Committee Reports
Finance: did not meet.
Administrative: did not meet.
Operations/Capital Projects: did not meet.
Policy: reviewed Personnel Policy (discussed above).
Long Range Plan Committees:
Marketing & Community Connections: did not meet.
Library Services & Outreach: did not meet.
Library Space: did not meet.
Announcements
None.
Public Comment
None.
Executive Session
None.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:04 pm.
Monday, December 18, 2023 Minutes
Welcome/Pledge of Allegiance
The meeting was called to order by President Mitchum at 7:06 pm.
Roll Call
Present: Shane Mitchum, President; Patrick Cartwright, Vice President; Laurie Knaack, Secretary; Alyssa Mitchum, Treasurer; Colin Strainge, Trustee; Melissa Tacke, Library Director
Absent: Meghan Johnston, Trustee; Kate Bielawa, Trustee
Excused: none
Adoption of Agenda
The adoption of the agenda was motioned by Trustee Cartwright and seconded by Trustee Strainge. Unanimously approved.
Public Comment
None.
New Business
2023 revised budget: Trustees reviewed the final expenses for 2023. Trustee Cartwright motioned to approve the 2023 revised budget. Seconded by Trustee Strainge. Unanimously approved.
2024 staff pay rates: Director Tacke shared pay rates effective 1/1/2024. Trustee Cartwright motioned to approve the 2024 wage increases for library staff. Seconded by Trustee Strainge. Unanimously approved.
Policy update – Personnel Policy: The Policy Committee worked with Director Tacke to review and revise the personnel policy. Changes include refining definitions of each employee position, defining responsibilities for the new full-time Librarian I position, updating guidelines for remote work, updating holidays and vacation accrual, and clarifying leave procedures including sick leave and jury duty. Conditional upon the addition of a sentence on the first page to indicate that the policy will be reviewed annually, Trustee Cartwright motioned to approve the Personnel Policy. Seconded by Trustee Strainge. Unanimously approved.
Hours of operation: Library hours will be changing to 11am-4pm on Saturday and Sunday (no change to weekday hours). Trustee Cartwright motioned to approve the 2024 hours. Seconded by Trustee Strainge. Unanimously approved.
Hire of Library Aide: Trustee Strainge motioned to approve the hire and pay rate of a Library Aide to begin work 1/6/2024. Seconded by Trustee Cartwright. Unanimously approved.
Tax cap resolution re: May 2023 vote: Trustee Cartwright motioned to approve the Resolution to Override Tax Cap – 2024 Budget. Seconded by Trustee Strainge. Unanimously approved. The text follows:
Resolution to Override Tax Cap -- 2024 Budget (pertains to vote held in May 2023)
Whereas, the adoption of the 2024 budget for the Castleton Public Library required a tax levy increase that exceeded the tax cap imposed by state law as outlined in General Municipal Law Section 3-c adopted in 2011; and
Whereas, General Municipal Law Section 3-c expressly permits the library board to override the tax levy limit by a resolution approved by a vote of sixty percent of qualified board members; now therefore be it
Resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the Castleton Public Library voted and approved to exceed the tax levy limit for 2024 by at least the sixty percent of the Board of Trustees as required by state law on 12/18/2023.
Discussion of slate of officers for Annual Meeting (January 16, 2024): Trustees discussed remaining with the same slate of officers for 2024.
Board self-evaluation and Director evaluation: Director Tacke will send the evaluation forms electronically to trustees. The board will submit evaluations to President Mitchum by January 12.
Old Business
2024 budget: Trustee Cartwright motioned to approve the 2024 Budget. Seconded by Trustee Strainge. Unanimously approved.
Village of Castleton – Sunday library hours: The Village and Library are in agreement on Sunday hours and the Village plans to approve an addendum to the Library’s lease to clarify winter shoveling procedure.
Follow-up on Racial Equity Training: The board discussed retaining this item on the agenda and plans to set action items at the January meeting so that committees can meet before February.
Library word-of-mouth advertising: Promote Sunday hours starting January 2024!
Reports
President’s Report
No report.
Secretary’s Report
Trustee Strainge motioned to approve the November 2023 meeting minutes. Seconded by Trustee A. Mitchum. Unanimously approved.
Treasurer’s Report
Trustee Cartwright motioned to approve the November 2023 Check Detail Reports. Seconded by Trustee Knaack. Unanimously approved.
Director’s Report
Director Tacke presented statistics for November, with a comparison against previous years. Circulation and total program attendance continues to be up since 2021, with a significant increase in in-person program attendance.
Friends Report
The Friends of the Library will meet in January to set their fundraising calendar for 2024.
Village of Castleton Liaison Report
No report.
Committee Reports
Finance: did not meet.
Administrative: did not meet.
Operations/Capital Projects: did not meet.
Policy: reviewed Personnel Policy (discussed above).
Long Range Plan Committees:
Marketing & Community Connections: did not meet.
Library Services & Outreach: did not meet.
Library Space: did not meet.
Announcements
None.
Public Comment
None.
Executive Session
None.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:04 pm.
| dec2023packet.pdf |
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