Rock Island Today

City of Rock Island Library Board of Trustees Met Feb. 16.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Call to Order: Eudell Watts III called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.

Attendance: Pat Mahar (teleconference at 5:15p), Jo Noon, Deborah Freiburg, Holly Sparkman, Karen Phillips (teleconference); Jenni Swanson (teleconference)

Absent: Jacki Nelson and Elizabeth Russell

Public Comment: The public had the opportunity to comment in-person, via teleconference or phone, or via email. No public comment was received.

Approval of Minutes: The Board reviewed the minutes of the January 19, 2021, meeting. Without any additions or corrections, President Watts III advised the minutes be approved as written.

Board Education: Director Campbell reiterated that the State Library will be requiring continual review of the Serving Our Public 4.0 state library standards to be eligible for state funding. In future months, the Board will review one chapter at each meeting. The Library is compliant to receive our 2021 Per Capita Aid funding.

Correspondence: Correspondence was included in the board packet.

Committee Reports:

Finance –

• Jenni Swanson presented the bills and asked about the $60,000 payment to JCI. Director Campbell stated that City Council approved the first payment to the vendor in October 2020, which included a portion from us. It is unknown at this time how it will affect 2021 bills, and that the financial reports may change because of it. Swanson made a motion to approve monthly bills for January in the amount of $118,418.74. Debbie Freiburg seconded. President Watts took a recorded vote. 5 Ayes – Swanson, Phillips, Freiburg, Noon, and Sparkman; no nays. Motion carries on a recorded voted.

• Director Campbell said that the financial statements for 2020 will not be finalized until after the audit. The bond sale for the JCI project is now included in the 2020 numbers, which is throwing off the end-of-year statement. Director Campbell and Business Office/Facilities Director Kerns will keep monitoring our accounts for updates.

Buildings and Grounds – Pat Mahar/Karen Phillips

• No report from the Committee.

• Director Campbell advised that a meeting will be set in the future to discuss implementing some building changes for the Downtown Library to accommodate a new workflow.

Personnel & Policy – Debbie Freiburg

• The Committee set a meeting date of March 3, at 10am, to review policies up for renewal.

Planning & Community Relations – Holly Sparkman

• The Committee met on February 11th. Holly Sparkman provided updates about the results of the survey. Once the survey is officially closed, the Publicity/Outreach Liaison will make a PDF of the responses to send to the Board.

• Sparkman also added that the committee is recommending four specific words be used as a focus in the new strategic plan. Sparkman made the motion that the words Engage, Equitable, Transformative, and Relevant, be the basis for the 2022-2025 plan. Swanson seconded. With no further discussion, President Watts took a recorded vote. 6 Ayes – Mahar, Swanson, Phillips, Freiburg, Noon, and Sparkman; no nays. Motion carries on a recorded voted.

• Sparkman concluded her report to mention the library’s upcoming sesquicentennial, which is officially on November 25, 2022 (Thanksgiving week). Director Campbell added that the library is looking to create a task force of stakeholders who would be interested in planning celebratory events. Board members are welcome to nominate residents to serve on this committee.

Art Committee - Pat Mahar/Jo Noon

• Nothing new to report.

Foundation:

Foundation Director Lelonek reported that the Capital Campaign is going extremely well. The quiet portion of the campaign has reached 70.85% of its total fundraising goal. The campaign will go public once 85% is reached.

Administrator Reports:

• Director Campbell provided a report on the state of the library in the board packet, in addition to monthly statistics.

• The Milan Blackhawk Area Public Library District met on January 28th. They have finalized their election paperwork. Their next meeting is on April 22, 2021, at 4pm, at the Southwest Library.

Unfinished Business:

• Long Range Planning – updates

o Updates were included in the Foundation Director’s report.

o Director Campbell added that she had recently met with GRO, the firm that the YMCA uses for initial scoping of the project. New renderings will soon be available, as well as a finalized cost-estimate for the project.

o Directors Campbell and Lelonek appeared in a photo with YMCA camp kids, YMCA stakeholders, and representatives from Blackhawk Bank & Trust, celebrating the Bank’s recent pledge to the building campaign. Director Campbell stated that although we are in the quiet phase, people are very vocal about their support. Former mayor and campaign tri-chair, Mark Schwiebert, will have an editorial in the newspaper soon about the project.

• Library Locations’ Hours – updates

o Staff continue to maintain safe work environment, although many are concerned about the new COVID variants. No change in hours or services is requested at this time. 

o Because we are public educators, library employees do fall within the 1-B category for the vaccine. Debbie Freiburg will see if it’s possible to do a group vaccination project with the Department of Public Health.

• Jenni Swanson made the motion to approve submitting the 12.6% library tax levy increase to the City Council during the upcoming annual “4-10” report. Holly Sparkman seconded. The Board discussed the pros and cons of making this request. Swanson stated that the Council ultimately just wants to know what the money will be used for, rather than just the blanket statement of “inflation.” Phillips commented that the library has done everything it can to be responsible, including cutting staff and services, but it’s no longer possible to absorb any more cuts. President Watts took a recorded vote. 6 Ayes – Mahar, Swanson, Phillips, Freiburg, Noon, and Sparkman; no nays. Motion carries on a recorded voted.

New Business:

• Debbie Freiburg made a motion to approve the Illinois Public Library Annual Report (IPLAR) for submission to the State Library. Karen Phillips seconded. President Watts took a recorded vote. 6 Ayes – Mahar, Swanson, Phillips, Freiburg, Noon, and Sparkman; no nays. Motion carries on a recorded voted.

• Debbie Freiburg made a motion to approve the determination of sealed closed session minutes. Jo Noon seconded. Director Campbell stated that the only closed session minutes over the past 6 months have been either the collective bargaining issues or the library director evaluation discussions. President Watts took a recorded vote. 6 Ayes – Mahar, Swanson, Phillips, Freiburg, Noon, and Sparkman; no nays. Motion carries on a recorded voted.

• Karen Phillips motioned to not release the closed session minutes to the public. Debbie Freiburg seconded. President Watts took a recorded vote. 6 Ayes – Mahar, Swanson, Phillips, Freiburg, Noon, and Sparkman; no nays. Motion carries on a recorded voted.

• Debbie Freiburg made a motion to approve the disposal of closed session minutes older than 18 months. Jo Noon seconded. President Watts took a recorded vote. 6 Ayes – Mahar, Swanson, Phillips, Freiburg, Noon, and Sparkman; no nays. Motion carries on a recorded voted.

Information Sharing (items included in packet):

• Energy Performance Project Meeting Notes

• Board Standing Committees – No changes necessary

• QC Animal Welfare Center “Thank You” letter to staff

Announcements:

None.

Adjournment – With no further business, President Watts III adjourned the meeting at 5:45 p.m.

https://www.rigov.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_02162021-714