ST. LOUIS COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT

MEETING OF THE BOARD

HEADQUARTERS BRANCH

MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2008

3:30 PM

The monthly meeting of the Board of the St. Louis County Library District was held at the Headquarters Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd. 63131, on Monday, August 18 at 3:30 p.m.  The agenda had been posted in all branches of the Library District at least 24 hours before the meeting.

ATTENDANCE:

            Library Board Members:

                        Jean Weinstock, President

Dr. Lynn Beckwith, Vice President

Kenneth Stricker, Treasurer

Dr. Ching Ling Tai, Secretary

Edith Cunnane, Member

            Others Attending:

Charles Pace, Director; Gary Holdefer, Associate Director and Comptroller; Tim Wadham, Assistant Director, Youth and Community Services; Barbara Brain, Assistant Director for Adult and Support Services; Kristen Sorth, Manager, Human Resources; Marie Conlin, Library Planner; Jim Bogart, Development Manager; Leander Spearman, Recruitment Coordinator; Eric Button, North Regional Administrator, Candace Oliver, South Regional Administrator.SLCL staff attending:  Jake Fejedelem, Lynn Grimshaw, Trudy Williams, Jennifer Jung, Donna Spaulding, Emily Althoff, Marsha Ramey, Denise Keller, Jaime Bockerstette, Julie Cruise, Pat Woodward, Dave MooreMaryanne Marjamaa, Edith Isele, Kathy Wiese, Robbin Oehler Jennifer McBride, Sharon Elliott, Vicki Krueger, Karen Sieber, Ken Cieslak, Ed Clark, Jennifer Messmer, Jenny Via, Paul Bayless, Mary Jo Weiss, Betty Tocco, Laura Kasak, Geri Olmstead, Jason Kuhl, Darryl Wallace, Charlene Zinkl, Carrie Robb, Joyce Loving, Mary Wilson, Christel Maassen, Barb Urban, Tracy Fletcher, Nicole Clawson, Erin Chapman, Lorraine Budke, Dorothy Wobbe, Anna Schurk, Susan Scupin, Shannon Crary, Julie Mangner, Cindy Fehmel, Ellen Meschke, Stephanie Nordmann, Sarah Windau, Cindy Schultz, Kerrie Coborn, Kimberly Fischer, Stacy Davis, Laura Sorkin, Heather Pehrson, Patti Lee; and members of the general public.

The MINUTES, dated Monday, July 31, 2008, were approved by the Board (Stricker/Beckwith).

PUBLIC COMMENTS:  Patron Leona Bohantin addressed the Board regarding material she felt was inappropriate; William Webster, read a letter for a lady who couldn’t be present.  It objected to the content of teen material at the Library; Dr. John  Splinter represented the National Coalition for Protection of Children and Families; Lois Linton, former SLCL Board member, represented the I Care Organization; Carl Hendrickson, Chairman of the Citizens Against Pornography, represented his group; Jim Melka, spoke against books he felt were inappropriate for teens in Library; Laura Kostial asked that books be put into age appropriate categories and that the Library consider ratings.  A petition of 187 names was submitted to the Board requesting an Adult Advisory Committee.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

The Treasurer’s Report dated July 31 was approved subject to audit (Beckwith/Tai).  Gary Holdefer reported that two months of medical insurance premiums will be paid in August.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT: 

There was no Director’s Report for August.

PURCHASING CARD POLICY

Denise Keller, Finance Manager, reviewed control procedures for the purchasing card policy.  The Board adopted and approved the policy (Beckwith/Cunnane).

2008 BUDGET REVISION

The Board approved the revision for the 2008 Budget (Cunnane/Beckwith).

TAX RATE

Mr. Pace reported that Tesson Ferry was showing structural damage and he projected a video of the building with Ed Clark narrating and pointing out decaying areas.  He recommended a tax increase to take the tax level to the ceiling, in view of this being the final year such a motion could be made because of Senate Bill 711.  Discussion followed.

Mrs. Cunnane moved that the Board approve the recommendation of staff.  Mrs. Weinstock seconded. Dr. Beckwith and Mr. Stricker voted nay.  Dr. Tai abstained.

After consulting with counsel, it was determined that the Board must set the tax rate by September 1 or possibly be unable to collect taxes after January 1, 2009.

Mrs. Cunnane made a second motion to leave the residential, agricultural and personal property rates the same and raise the commercial rates to $.168.  Dr. Beckwith seconded. Dr. Tai and Mrs. Weinstock voted in the affirmative.  Mr. Stricker opposed.  Motion passes.

BOARD ORGANIZATION

Mrs. Cunnane recommended Board members retain their current positions. The positions include:  Jean Weinstock, President; Dr. Lynn Beckwith, Vice-president; Kenneth Stricker, Treasurer; Dr. Ching Ling Tai, Secretary; Edith Cunnane, Member. Mr. Stricker seconded.  All voted in the affirmative.

AUTHOR EVENT

Mr. Pace announced that on September 24 broadcast journalist Bob Shieffer would speak at the Library.  Due to the expected crowd size, he requested the Library close at 5 p.m. at Headquarters. The Board approved the motion (Beckwith/Cunnane).

CLOSED SESSION

Kenneth Stricker moved that the open meeting adjourn.  Dr. Beckwith seconded.   All approved by individual voice vote.

The meeting adjourned at 4:51 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

____________________________________________                    __________________

Chingling Tai                                                                                         Date

Secretary