HomeMy WebLinkAbout072792I 'A
PORT TOWNSEND PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD MATING MINUTES
July 27, 1992
Attending. Gwen Howard, President
Lars Walson
Anne Steurer
Mike Mortennsonn
Cheryl Silverblatt, Library Director
Beth De Jarniette, Staff
Minutes June 22, 1992 Board Meeting,
Approved as submitted.
Bulls
Approved with comment: 220 used books were purchased from McNaughton 2.Icopy,
(usual price is about $4.30).
Librarian! s Rat
The Director and Board will meet with Dennis McLerran, City Attorney, to review and
discuss public disclosure issues.
The volunteers' newsletter was reviewed and admired.
Carol Bayer's effort to seek a Title I grant was briefly discussed.
Friends ..of., the Library Report
Anne Steurer presented a brief report: Thaina Chainy is organizing the book sale. Marylyn
Richards, Friends secretary, has resigned; her replacement has not been announced.
Public Comment
Herb Harrington, Port Townsend weather observer for the National Weather Service,
offered the library the opportunity to be the custodian of a plaque from the NWS
recognizing and honoring 100 years of volunteer weather observers who have collected
data for the Service. Included with the plaque is a four page summary of weather data
collected over this period. A motion was made, seconded, and unaniniously approved to
accept this offer. The Director will work with Mr. Harrington to properly display both
plaque and data.
Communications
Received: the anulouncement of a street fair - "getting to know Port Townsend" ( ?), to be
held August 22 from 10 to 5. It was suggested that the Friends might like to participate.
Old Business
A draft budget proposal for 1993 was reviewed and discussed. The draft was developed
assuming continued growth in City revenues and with a modest increase in the Library's
share. The proposal included funding for an additional staff position: Library Assistant II
I
part time (20 hours per week). Ilils was recognized as being not cost - effective unless the
benefits were also pro -rata. The Budget Committee will now develop a more conservative
budget, assuming status quo conditions.
The � .ommittee reported on its meeting with Councihnember Cindy Wolpin. The
principle topic of discussion was the shrinking share of revenues allocated to the Library.
Ms. Wolpin was not optimistic about the outlook for 1993. She reported that all
departments were in a budget crunch, and that little or no increase should be expected in the
coming year, as City revenues were not increasing as they had in recent years. She
suggested that the Library increase its political visibility (as, indeed, the meeting with her
did). Building Committee members tried to correct some common misperceptions about
the Library's role in the community (eg., is it a luxury) and how it operates (eg., why
doesn't the library collect fines for overdue books ?)
A draft of staff job descriptions was submitted by the .Director and will be reviewed by the
Board and Personnel Committee.
Board members submitted reports to the President for inclusion in the anrival report.
New Business
None.
Committee Resorts,
• See Cold Business for Budget Committee report.
Lars Watson discussed the options for correcting noise and inefficiency in the heating
system. The Building Committee recommended that Tonkin and Sider (architect and
HVAC engineer) proceed with the necessary rework of the subsystems in the staff
workroom and Carnegie meeting room .This work will be done at their expense. The
Board concurred without a motion.
There was no report from the Community Relations Committee.
Mike Mortenson, Personnel Committee member, requested an executive session to discuss
the Director's salary. 1e session is scheduled for August 7, 1992 in the Library , from
gam to 11 am.
Adjourned to executive session August 7, 1992 from gam to 11am in the Library's small
conference room.
•