River Forest Public Library
Board of Library Trustees
Minutes of Regular Meeting
March 13, 2007

Call to Order and Roll Call
	President Mark Coe called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. Present at the meeting were Director Dawn Bussey and Trustees Coe, Cusack, Fischer, Horstman, Ryan and Soffer. Trustee Daly was absent. Also present were visitors Harley Beck, Jennie Halloran, Joan O’Connor, Jeff Heffernan and Mr. Heffernan, and Sarah Hampson

Audience to Visitors, Trustee and Staff Comments
	Eighth grade student Jeff Hefferan presented the Board with an Eagle Scout project proposal to construct a phone cabinet and an outdoor bench. After discussion about the Board’s capital improvement projects and coordination of the timelines for both projects, President Coe suggested Jeff check back with the Board on April 17 to see if the Board can accept the proposal. Interim Associate Director/Interim Youth Services Department Head Sarah Hampson reported on the status of the Children’s Department relating to staff space, relocation of equipment and furniture for improved service, schedules for programming, and consideration of part time story tellers. President Coe announced that Holabird & Root would not present tonight. Further, Mr. Coe reported that he and Ms. Ryan met with H&R representatives to discuss the status of the contract. As a result of the meeting, H&R will present the Master Plan document at the April 10 Committee of the Whole meeting. Trustees will review it and decide whether and how to proceed, weighing the benefits against the costs of delay. 

Consent Agenda
	Ms. Horstman made a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda which included the minutes of the February 20, 2007 regular meeting, the Warrant List including checks #6922 -6962, and 7001 for a grand total of $18,935.32, the January Treasurer’s Report and one donation. Ms. Cusack seconded. Roll call vote was taken. Voting aye were Trustees Coe, Cusack, Fischer, Horstman, Ryan and Soffer. There were no nays; the motion carried unanimously.

Communications
A. Announcements
	Ms. Bussey again asked Roosevelt School for use of its space for the ASK program. Principal Trahanes replied there was none available and Superintendent Kamme is returning her call. Ms Bussey distributed information on District 90’s Tech Ed programs.

B. Patron Suggestions: #s 246, 247 and 248 and their responses were noted.

Director’s Report
A. Statistical Report
	Mr. Coe suggested revising the RFPL Monthly Dashboard to record “sessions” or “page views” rather than “hits” for more accurate data collection. 
B. Written Report
	Mrs. Bussey highlighted that address data collection is labor intensive but revealing. Address data collection performed in March 2007 revealed that 3866 households in River Forest have one or more library cards. “Households" included students residing at one of the college campuses in town.
      Mrs. Bussey also informed the Board of a denied grant proposal. She reminded Board members of the joint library meeting on March 27 with Elmwood Park and Oak Park to discuss Mr. Coe’s proposed study to look for intra-library cost savings opportunities. She noted impressive attendance at a recent Friends of the Library evening program.

Old Business
A. Committee of the Whole Meeting
	The next Committee of the Whole meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. On the agenda will be the Personnel Matters and the Capital Improvement presentation of the H&R Master Plan.

B. Review of 2nd Draft of the Strategic Plan – tabled but to be kept on the agenda

C. Review Reconsideration of Materials Policy
	 After discussion, Mr. Soffer moved to adopt the policy as drafted. Ms. Cusack seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

D. Review of Executive Session Minutes – tabled until April.

New Business
A. Vacation Policy Modification: 
      After discussion, Ms. Horstman moved to delete the current policy and amend it as follows: “All full time employees shall earn four (4) weeks of vacation annually. After 20 years, 5 weeks shall be earned.” Mr. Soffer seconded. Roll call vote was taken. Voting aye were Trustees Coe, Cusack, Fischer, Horstman, Ryan and Soffer. There were no nays; the motion carried unanimously.
	After discussion, Mr. Coe moved to make the new vacation policy effective January 1, 2007 to apply to all full time employees employed on March 19, 2007 and subsequently. Ms. Fischer seconded. Roll call vote was taken. Voting aye were Trustees Coe, Cusack, Fischer, Horstman, Ryan and Soffer. There were no nays; the motion carried unanimously.

B. Drug and Alcohol Free Policy Exemption Request: Ms. Bussey reported that the Friends of the Library asked for an exemption to the no alcohol rule in order to serve wine at its upcoming dinner. The request was tabled in order for Ms. Bussey to research insurance and liability issues.

C. Interim Children’s Head Contract: Mr. Coe reported that the Associate Interim Director contract called for compensation of $60 per hour for in library hours and $50 per hour for outside library hours. After Executive Session, at 10.28 pm, Ms. Ryan moved to execute the Kepner & Associates contract. Ms. Soffer seconded. Roll call vote was taken. Voting aye were Trustees Coe, Cusack, Fischer, Horstman, Ryan and Soffer. There were no nays; the motion carried unanimously.

D. Director Bussey’s Resignation: Ms. Cusack moved to accept Ms. Bussey’s resignation as Director. Ms. Ryan seconded. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Coe then read his original poem to Ms. Bussey:


We gather together for Dawn's last eve;
With thoughts mix'd happy and sad
So many new directions, some quite rad
Yet now Dawn is ready to leave.

We give her best wishes in the days ahead,
Thank her for sweat, blood and tear,
Go forth from this place without regret or fear
River Forest Library is in good stead.

Executive Session
	At 9:07 p.m. Mr. Soffer moved to go to executive session. Ms Cusack seconded. The motion carried unanimously and the Board held an executive session.

Adjournment
	At 10:30, Mrs. Cusack moved to adjourn the regular meeting.  Mr. Soffer seconded. A vote was taken and the motion carried unanimously.



Respectfully submitted, 


Molly Ryan, Acting Secretary


	





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