ST. LOUIS COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT
MEETING OF THE BOARD
HEADQUARTERS BRANCH
MONDAY, MAY 19, 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. on Monday, May 19, 2008 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
Lynn Beckwith, Vice President
Kenneth Stricker, Treasurer
Edith Cunnane, Member (via conference call)
Chingling Tai, was unable to attend.
Others Attending:
Charles Pace, Director; Gary Holdefer, Associate Director and Comptroller; Barbara Brain, Assistant Director for Neighborhood Services; Kristen Sorth, Manager, Human Resources; Marie Conlin, Library Planner; Jim Bogart, Development Manager; Kathy Wiese; Acquisitions Manager; Jennifer Sampson, St. Louis County; Julie Mangner, Prairie Commons Manager; Ed Clark, Facilities Manager; Leander Spearman, Indian Trails Manager; Joyce Loving, Special Collections Manager; Ken Cieslak, Natural Bridge Manager; Jill Pifer, Lewis and Clark Manager; Paul Bayless, Weber Road Manager; Vicki Krueger, Jamestown Bluffs Manager; Kalyani Veeraraghavan, Thornhill Manager; Susan Scupin, Reference Manager; Trudy Williams, Bridgeton Trails Manager; Emily Althoff, Eureka Hills Manager; Marsha Ramey, Sachs Manager; Joseph Duncan, Daniel & Henry Co.; Matthew Lakin, Coordinator of Training; Wendy Pace, Patron; Carrie Robb, Programming Coordinator; Kathy Condon-Boettcher, new professional; Charlene Zinkl, Manager, Meramec Valley; Erin Dominquez, Service Desk Specialist ;Jake Fejedelem, Manager ITS; Lynn Grimshaw, Assistant manager, Prairie Commons; Geri Olmstead, Assistant Manager, Lorraine Budke, Assistant Manager Cataloging, Tracy Fletch, Manager Cataloging; Nicole Clawson, manager, Youth Services; Steve Hibbler, Building Facilities; Dottie Wobbe, Manager, Oak Bend; Anna Schurk, Assistant Manager Oak Bend; Jennifer Jung, Assistant Manager, Tesson Ferry; Erin Knowles, Assisant Manager, Grand Glaize Ellen Meschke, Manager Processing Robbin Oehler, Juvenile Collection Development Pat Woodward, Tesson Ferry Branch Manager; Shannon Crary, Electronic Resources, Manager; and Sandra Williams, Executive Assistant and Friends Coordinator.
The meeting was called to order and Dr. Tai’s absence was excused by the Board.
The MINUTES, dated Monday, April 21, 2008, were approved by the Board with corrections (Beckwith/Stricker). The corrected statement reads, “Dr. Beckwith stated that there should be an effort to recruit more minorities for all positions.”
Dr. Beckwith again requested the names of staff who have received Library credit cards. Mr. Pace said the information would be forwarded to him as soon as possible.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no public comments.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
The Treasurer’s Report dated April 30 was approved subject to audit (Stricker/Beckwith). Gary Holdefer reported that the Library saved $10,000 by not paying installment fees for insurance premiums.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT:
CUSTOMER SERVICE ISSUES– Mr. Pace reported that the major issue of concern during the past month was the replacement of paper towel holder with electric hand dryers in many of our restroom facilities. The new dryers are too loud according to the customers. However, there is less litter and waste.
Other issues of concern involved computer sign up problems, different classes and programs that people would like to see offered and a few instances of difficult interactions with people. One home school mother was concerned that her request to purchase an item was denied. We put her in touch with our Acquisitions Manager, Kathy Wiese.
MAJOR LIBRARY EVENTS – On May 3, the Library hosted author Michael Chabon and had an audience of 250 people attending. We also hosted Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark with an attendance of about 400 people. We look forward to hosting Cokie Roberts later this week and Lauren Weisberger on June 6.
FACILITIES – RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tagging is complete at Eureka and Meramec Valley.
STAFF CHANGES – Mr. Pace introduced Tim Wadham, the new assistant director. He will work with the children’s services and he is fluent in Spanish. Mr. Wadham stated that he was happy to be here. Mr. Pace also introduced Candice Oliver, the new South Regional Director; Eric Button, Regional Manager of North County branches; Lee Spearman, the recruiting coordinator and Matt Lakin, the Training Coordinator.
VISIT A COMFORTABLE PLACE (STRATEGIC PLAN) – Mr. Holdefer and a team of managers, reported on this phase of the Strategic Plan. Ed Clark spoke on security plans for the branches. Mr. Clark gave a Powerpoint presentation with a live feed into the Natural Bridge Branch. The presentation showed security cameras strategically placed in key points of the branch. If there is a problem, the camera would capture the picture of the perpetrator and this picture would be sent to the authorities. He also reported that the branches were undergoing a rekeying process and that building systems is taking a proactive approach to provide safe buildings.
Jill Pifer, Manager of Lewis and Clark Branch, discussed the layout of building furniture for the children and teen areas to make them more inviting. She discussed saving energy by the retrofitting of lights and other improvements.
Marsha Ramey, Manager of Sachs Branch, discussed changes for service delivery. RFID installation will result in circulation desks being modified. Libraries should offer comfortable furniture for adults.
Dr. Beckwith thanked the managers for their presentations.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
BUILDING REPAIR– Lakeside will provide Missouri roofers for the Headquarters roofing project by subcontracting with another firm. Library staff will also check worker’s identification. No action was needed by the Board.
NEW BUSINESS:
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (PENSION) – The Board approved a one time Rule of 80 to be offered to staff opting for early retirement. If they qualify, they could retire without early retirement reduction (Beckwith/Cunnane).
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (LIFE & VISION) – The Board approved the recommendation of Daniel and Henry to retain Reliance Standard for Life Insurance at no rate increase. Crown Vision was recommended to be retained at a 20 cent increase. The board approved both recommendations (Stricker/Beckwith).
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES (GENERAL LEGAL) – The Board selected Lashly & Baer as the new general legal counsel (Beckwith Cunnane).
BUILDING REPAIR (PARKING LOTS) – The Board selected the recommended low bidders to handle overlays, sealing and striping at 8 locations (Stricker/Beckwith). Complete Overlays: Asphalt Maintenance for $50,718 at TH; Gershenson Construction at $38,210 for OB; and $42,487 for WR; E. Meier Construction for $54,700; Sealing and Striping: Asphalt Paving for $3,234 for RR; Asphalt Restoration for $9,690 for IT; County Asphalt for $12,,782 for HQ; $4,021 for FV; $5,286 for GG; $3,117 for JB; $3,510 for PC and $3,265 for SA.
TECHNOLOGY (EQUIPMENT) – The Board approved purchasing the Cisco router package from the lowest complete bidder, Network Liquidators for $41,579 (Beckwith/Stricker).
BUILDING OPERATION (EUREKA HILLS LEASE) – The Board approved the extension of the lease in Eureka Hills for three years with the recommendation that a five year contract would be requested (Stricker/Beckwith).
CLOSED SESSION
Kenneth Stricker moved that the open meeting adjourn and the Board reconvene in closed session pursuant to Section 610.021 subsection (1), (2), (3), (9), (11), (12), (13) and (14) to discuss matters relating to legal actions, causes of action or litigation; property acquisition or sale and any personnel matters involving hiring, firing, discipline and promotion. All approved by individual voice vote.
The meeting adjourned at 4:21 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
____________________________________________ __________________
Lynn Beckwith Date
Vice President