HUNTINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

338 Main Street

Huntington, New York 11743

MINUTES
Of a Regular Meeting of the Library Board of Trustees

Held December 15, 2020, Via
  Virtual Conference

PRESENT: Trustees: Pat McKenna-Bausch, Ann Scolnick, Ann M. Berger
Kimberly Hawkins
and Chuck Rosner
Library Director: Joanne Adam
Assistant Library Directors: Kristine Casper and Teresa Schwind
Business Manager: Jennifer Mulvihill

EXCUSED:

Ms. Hawkins called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.

Ms. Berger made a motion, seconded by Ms. Scolnick, to approve the agenda for the December 15, 2020, Board of Trustees Meeting. The vote was unanimous.

Ms. Scolnick made a motion, seconded by Ms. Berger, to approve the Library Board of Trustees Minutes of November 17, 2020. The vote was unanimous.

A period of public expression was held.

A motion was made by Ms. Hawkins, seconded by Mr. Rosner, that Warrant #12, November End of Month totaling $343,205.24, is paid. The vote was unanimous.

A motion was made by Mr. Rosner, seconded by Ms. Hawkins, that Warrant #13, December Disbursements, totaling $322,016.61 is paid. The vote was unanimous.

Business Manager Jennifer Mulvihill answered questions related to interest earned on accounts and the annual audit. The Audit is going well, but the accounting firm is behind due to COVID-19 related issues. Jennifer will inform the Board when the report is ready for review.

A motion was made by Mr. Rosner, seconded by Ms. Scolnick, to accept the December 2020, Personnel Report as presented. The vote was unanimous.

Assistant Library Director Kristine Casper answered questions related plumbing issues at the Main that were mentioned in her written report. We are investigating the possibility of replacing restroom faucets with automatic/no touch fixtures.

Assistant Library Director Teresa Schwind discussed the process of working with a graphic designer for upcoming newsletters. She is also working with Thomas Romano and Kristine Casper on the background parameters needed for the new webpage and program registration product being developed by Communico.

Library Director Joanne Adam discussed a stricter enforcement of mask wearing protocols as the positivity rate in the area is increasing again. We are issuing a temporary ban on food and drinks in public areas, so patrons have no reason to remove their masks when in the building. It is good to see an uptick in college students and work from home adults in the reading areas, however, we need to maintain a safe environment for patrons and staff.

A motion was made by Ms. Berger, seconded by Ms. McKenna-Bausch to extend the NY State mandated Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA) as currently written, if not extended by the State before December 31, 2020, for a period of three months expiring on March 31, 2021. The vote was unanimous.

A motion was made by Mr. Rosner, seconded by Ms. Hawkins to approve the COVID-19 Micro-Cluster plan as presented. The vote was unanimous.

A motion was made by Ms. Scolnick, seconded by Ms. Hawkins to hold the 2021 Library Budget Vote and Trustee Election in conjunction with the Huntington Union Free School District #3 vote on May 18, 2021. The vote was unanimous.

Unfinished business related to the updated timeline of the policy manual was discussed. Section 500 of the Policy Manual is almost ready for the Policy Committee’s review. Mandatory policies related to COVID-19 took precedence. The Administrative Assistant position will be replaced soon after other key appointments are made following the recent retirements.

Joanne thanked the Friends’ for giving the staff chocolate treats for the holidays.

A second period of public expression was held.

At 7:34 p.m., a motion was made by Ms. Scolnick, seconded by Mr. Rosner to adjourn the meeting. At 7:34 p.m., the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted:                     Prepared By:

_________________________        _____________________________
Pat McKenna-Bausch, Secretary      Kristine M. Casper, Assistant Library Director