Switzerland County Public Library

Board Meeting Minutes

November 8, 2022

The regular monthly meeting of the Switzerland County Public Library Board of Trustees was held Tuesday, November 8^th, 2022 at 3:30 pm in the meeting room of the library. Attending were Mary Jane Rogers, Diane Sigmon, Debbie Margison, Sharon Deck, Emily Fox, and Heather Peelman. Not attending were Diana Barry, Stacy Streett, and Michelle Hicks.

Deck made a motion to approve the minutes of the previous board meeting, seconded by Rogers and passed unanimously. Fox asked to amend the agenda to add discussion of health insurance premiums for 2023 to new business and there was no opposition. Reports of library activity and technology activity were shared. All library activity held steady in October but is beginning to drop off even more for fall. 316 people visited the library for trick-or-treating and all the 7^th graders at the middle school visited in October. Story time numbers have declined, but Peelman is planning to outreach with the school in December by dressing as the Grinch and getting pictures with students.

Bills and claims were presented. Sigmon made a motion to approve the claims, seconded by Margison and passed unanimously.

Time for Public Comments

None.

Old Business

The meeting room policy was presented with the change to explicitly address fundraising. Rogers motioned to approve, seconded by Margison and passed unanimously.

Fox reported there are still no quotes for the outdoor learning lab project but she is in serious discussion with three companies and is hopeful that a contractor will be selected by December. After a contract is in place, the library can encumber the rainy day funds set aside for the project in order to spend them next year.

New Business

The library’s form 990 for the IRS was completed by Stephanie Furnish and was presented for approval. Sigmon motioned to accept it, seconded by Rogers and passed unanimously.

Fox presented the salary schedule for 2023. Each category received at least a $1.00 per hour raise except pages so all new employees will be started a minimum of $10.00 per hour. The ranges were also widened to allow for growth and employee retention, particularly among part-time employees. Language was added to address end-of-year bonuses. Sigmon motioned to accept the schedule, seconded by Margison and passed unanimously.

Fox presented the proposed raises for 2023 of 5% for hourly staff and 3% for salaried staff. The growth quotient for 2023 was 5%. Deck motioned to approve the raises, seconded by Sigmon and passed unanimously.

End of year bonuses were discussed. Fox said that there should be approximately $14,000 left in the personal services categories after the last four payrolls have been distributed. Fox said that more libraries are giving bonuses than ever before and that the state library has begun collecting data on the practice. Sigmon asked if the library usually gave out bonuses and Fox said that 2021 was the first year it had been done. Rogers suggested tabling discussion until December to have a better idea of how much money is leftover.

Fox received the 2023 health insurance package information just before the meeting and was presented to the board. To renew the current policy, the increase was 7.41% for health insurance. Dental and vision coverage did not change. The total to renew would cost over $22,000 for 2023. $24,000 is in the health insurance budget, so the increase would be covered. Rogers asked if staff liked the insurance and Fox and Peelman said that the plan has been very helpful. Rogers motioned to approve the renewal, seconded by Margison and passed unanimously.

Fox listed all holiday and special closures for November and December. Since the library did not have a September staff meeting due to other closures, she requested to close an extra day after the New Year’s holiday on January 3^rd to hold a meeting and holiday party as is done every year. Last year, it worked well to have it after the holidays. No objections were made to the closure.

Fox proposed to transfer $8000 from the operating budget to LIRF, as this transfer is budgeted for every year. Rogers asked when the last time it was used and Fox said it was used sometime in the last year or two but could not remember exactly what it was for. She proposed upgrading light fixtures in the meeting room after the outdoor project is complete. Rogers motioned to approve the transfer, seconded by Deck and passed unanimously.

The library will be closed Friday, November 11^th for Veteran’s Day. It will also be closing early on November 15^th and 16^th so that full-time staff can attend the ILF annual conference. The library will close at 5 p.m. on November 23^rd for Thanksgiving and reopen on November 26^th.

With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:05 p.m.

Minutes recorded by Emily Fox.