MINUTES OF THE MEEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE OLD BRIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY March 11, 2009 OLD BRIDGE, NEW JERSEY

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1 MINUTES OF THE MEEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE OLD BRIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY March 11, 2009 OLD BRIDGE, NEW JERSEY Present: Mary Chamberlain President Patrick F. Gillespie Vice President Dr. Joan George Treasurer Tara Flynn-Rozanski Secretary Joseph Pruiti Trustee Barbara Cannon Mayor s Alternate Mary Ann Clementi Jones Superintendent of Schools Alternate Michael Lamb Director Maria Nowak Executive Assistant Absent: Jeffrey Depew Trustee David Merwin Trustee Guest: Attorney Scott Smith The President called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. and announced the meeting had been advertised and would be conducted in accordance with the Sunshine Law. The Secretary called the roll. Personnel Executive Session Motion: made by Patrick Gillespie, seconded by Dr. Joan George, to go into Executive Session at 7:34 p.m. All in favor Public Session Motion: made by Barbara Cannon, seconded by Tara Flynn-Rozanski, to go back into Public Session at 8:20 p.m. All in favor Mrs. Chamberlain announced matters of personnel and litigation were discussed and the following motion was made: Claim Motion: made by Barbara Cannon, seconded by Tara Flynn-Rozanski, authorized Attorney Scott Smith to settle claim made by Allan Kleiman. All in favor

2 Termination Motion: made by Patrick Gillespie, seconded by Barbara Cannon, to approve the termination of Pauline Landers, effective March 23, All in favor New Appointment Motion: made by Dr. Joan George, seconded by Barbara Cannon, to approve the hiring of Technical Services Page, Kristen Reiner, at an hourly rate of $7.15, effective March 16, All in favor Temporary Appointments Motion: made by Dr. Joan George, seconded by Joseph Pruiti, to approve Juley Rodwogin, as temporary Acting Head of Youth Services effective February 19, 2009 until Darren Miguez returns to his position; including a 10% stipend per the Non- Supervisory Union Contract. All in favor Motion: made by Dr. Joan George, seconded by Mary Ann Clementi Jones, to approve Darren Miquez, as temporary Acting Head of Adult Services effective February 19, 2009 until C.L. Quillen returns to her position. All in favor Motion: made by Dr. Joan George, seconded by Joseph Pruiti, to approve giving Darren Miguez a 10% stipend for job title change temporarily. Vote: Yes: Dr. Joan George, Barbara Cannon, Joseph Pruiti, Patrick Gillespie, Tara Flynn-Rozanski and Mary Ann Clementi Jones. Vote: No: Mary Chamberlain. Minutes Motion: made by Patrick Gillespie, seconded by Joseph Pruiti, to approve the minutes from the February 11, 2009 Board meeting. Vote: Yes: Mary Chamberlain, Patrick Gillespie, Barbara Cannon, Joseph Pruiti and Mary Ann Clementi Jones. Tara Flynn- Rozanski and Dr. Joan George abstained. Payment of Bills Motion: made by Dr. Joan George, seconded by Joseph Pruiti, to approve the bill listing in the amount of $164, All in favor Director s Report Mr. Lamb indicated to the Board he has added to his monthly report the monthly circulation per day and per hour for both the Central and Laurence Harbor Branches so the Board can get an idea of how and when the Library is busy.

3 Mr. Lamb reported the article included in the packet this month is from the Library Journal showing how public libraries will be ranked according to visits, circulation, and program attendance and computer usage. Mr. Lamb stated this is something more he wants to work on and to push more towards a stronger circulation collection. Mr. Lamb reported the Career Center is in the process of being developed; the electrician will be installing additional electrical sockets tomorrow for the computers. The Library s website has been started and is moving along. Mr. Lamb stated the Library s circulation is weak do to the fact our non-fiction collection is much larger than our fiction collection and in most libraries it is usually fifty/fifty. Mr. Lamb indicated the Library is looking into efficiency in ordering of materials. Mr. Lamb stated currently he is looking over the Circulation Policy and one of the changes he willing be looking for is that the Library no longer loan out new books to other libraries. The reviewed and accepted the Director s Report. New Business New Jersey Library Trustee Program May 9, 2009 Mrs. Chamberlain asked Board members who would like to attend this year s trustee program. Mrs. Cannon said she would attend. Resolution Tax Levy Cap Law (4%) Motion: made by Barbara Cannon, seconded by Dr. Joan George, to approve the following resolution: Whereas the 2007 enactment of the tax levy cap law established a formula that limits increases in the amounts a local unit can raise by taxation (4%) each budget year. Whereas an older law that imposes a cap on municipal appropriation (NJSA 40A ) continues to afford municipalities an exception from that cap for amounts expended to fund free public libraries, the legislature did not authorize a library cap exception when it adopted the tax levy cap law of Whereas without this exception increase in library funding that result merely from the operation of NJSA 40:54-8 uses up part of the municipality s permissible 4% annual property tax levy. Therefore when the market causes the equalized value of the property in a municipality to increase, funding the municipal free library also increases

4 automatically under the statutory formula in N.J.S.A. 40:54-8 with the funding increase being charged against the municipality s permissible annual four percent property tax levy increase. Whereas an exemption from the cap for library funding would insure that those additional appropriations, required to support the municipal free library, would be outside of the property tax levy and would not erode the use of the permissible four percent property tax levy increase for other purposes Whereas the New Jersey Library Association argues that libraries were created by popular referendum and therefore their revenues should not fall under the cap. Whereas the Department of Community Affairs has requested that the tax levy cap law be amended to better accomplish the sponsor s intent to allow an exception for libraries from the law for the amount appropriated during the prior year The Old Bridge Library Board urges the passage of legislation A1139/S881 that would exempt allocations for free public libraries from the tax levy cap law of All in favor Director s TV Interview Mrs. Chamberlain asked Mr. Lamb if he was interview by Mayor Phillips. Mr. Lamb said he was interviewed by Mayor Phillips on March 3. Old Business Mrs. Cannon asked about the Laurence Harbor Branch project. Mr. Pruiti said he was waiting to speak with David Merwin at tonight s meeting; he will now call him tomorrow to move forward on the project. Trademark Plumbing Mrs. Chamberlain asked if we heard from Trademark Plumbing. Mrs. Nowak said not as yet.

5 Adjournment Motion: made by Tara Flynn-Rozanski, seconded by Joseph Pruiti, to adjourn the meeting at 9:09 p.m. All in favor Respectfully submitted, Tara Flynn-Rozanski, Secretary Library Board of Trustees Date Approved: April 22, 2009