October 11, 2021
Benton Public Library
Board of Trustees Meeting
October 11, 2021
Members Present: Debbie Clark, Brian Crisp, Pat Hollada, Sue Wells, Kathy Storey, Sara Handlin, Stephanie Hart
Absent: None
Library Director: Susan Stickel
Meeting called to Order: 5:31 pm by Sue Wells
Approval of August Board Meeting Minutes
- Changed Stephanie Clark to Stephanie Hart
- Susan mentioned that she got a price bid from Davis Tree Service for the pine tree and oak tree. Still looking for other bids, but Davis Tree Service mentioned that they could be here this week.
1st by Stephanie Hart 2nd by Debbie Clark
Payment of Bills:
1st by Stephanie Hart 2nd by Sara Handlin
Financial Report:
1st by Debbie Clark 2nd by Pat Hollada
Librarian’s Report:
- The auditors are coming on October 26th
- The carpet and Tiles will be cleaned on October 15th, 16th , and 17th
- We got a $200 cash donation to the genealogy department
- Max from Plantscape Nursery will be here soon to plant the pink dogwood tree for the Pat Hill Memorial in the Reading Garden
- The Rotary Club had a nice write-up on Facebook about their recent meeting in the Reading Garden. Susan passed out a handout about the mention.
- Chromebooks/IPads/Laptops…we can get up to a $400 reimbursement for purchase of these. Susan will continue to check on this from E-Rate. The deadline for this is coming up soon. We are not sure if this is something we want to do yet. Who will be responsible for repairs? What is the timeline for reimbursement? How many would we purchase (if we do?)
- The computer lease is up in November for the computers. It is a 3-year contract lease. We have decided to reduce the number of adult computers from 12 to 6 (because half of them were already closed off for social distancing) and from 6 to 3 in the kids room. We can always add more computers if needed. We will sign the contract when it is time.
- Cyber security coverage is $1,500 a year. We discussed the pros and cons of keeping it and doing away with it. We agreed to keep it because we felt it was too important.
- We discussed the idea of putting additional signs in the Reading Garden for eating, drinking, etc around the character chairs. We went with the decision of adding a small label/sign to the chairs so that people can read it without adding signs to the actual garden.
- We are going to add information/description to the current insurance policy for the library to include the Reading Garden.
- The fence around the pirate ship area should be constructed in November.
Old Business:
Personnel:
- Regarding Kim Livesay’s position…She was paid retroactively. She officially started on October 1st. She will get paid $20.00/hour for bookkeeping. She will work 35 hours in a week ($20.00/hour). Whatever hours she works through the week, it will add up to be 35 hours for that week (depending on what is going on with bookkeeping, programming, etc). We discussed if Kim would get 1 day a month to use as a sick day, personal days, etc. This will be written up by Susan for her salary/job description.
New Business
- The bond payment is due. It has been signed.
1st by Stephanie Hart 2nd by Brian Crisp
- COVID Policy for the library staff
At least 4-5 employees are not vaccinated, but one or two have started to get their shots. Effective on 10/18/2021, we will require proof of a negative COVID test of proof of vaccination with your card (we will make a photocopy of the card and keep on file in the office). We will advise Kim to get a letter from her doctor about her situation and when she should test/get vaccinated)
1st by Sue Wells 2nd by Pat Hollada
Other
- Sue asked about the railroad property. Susan mentioned that it is still being worked on and has been told that it is a long process.
- Sue asked about the C & J Motors lot/business. It was noticed that the last car finally left the lot. They are still planning on being out of the building by December.
- Brian mentioned that he would be bringing his photography students by the Reading Garden on Friday, October 22nd as part of their walking tour of town. Susan said she would provide cupcakes and water.
Public Comment
None
Adjournment: 6:45
1st by Sara Handlin 2nd by Stephanie Hart
Brian Crisp – Secretary
