River Forest Public Library
Board of Trustees
Minutes of Regular Meeting
April 17, 2007

Call to Order
	President Mark Coe called the regular board meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

Roll Call
	Roll call was taken. Present at the meeting were Trustees Coe, Cusack, Daly, Horstman, Ryan and Soffer and Interim Directors Dee Brennan and Sarah Hampson. 
Trustee Elizabeth Fischer was excused. Also present were staff members Ellen Cutter and Blaise Dierks, newly elected Trustees Harley Beck, Genie Halloran and Joan O’Connor, and guests Kim, Ken and Jeffrey Heiferman and Chriss Crement.

Audience to Visitors, Trustee and Staff Comments
A. Jeffrey Heiferman – Eagle Scout Project
	Jeffrey Heiferman had proposed that he donate both a cabinet for the courtesy phone and a bench for the front of the library.  Mr. Coe thanked Jeffrey for his most generous offer.  Mr. Coe said that in light of potential changes soon to be made at the library, Jeffrey may want to consider an alternative project which would have the longevity of both of his older brothers’ Eagle Scout projects here.  Jeffrey agreed to meet with the Directors to discuss a project which would be assured to be long lasting.
B. Ellen Cutter – Staff member
	Ellen Cutter, head of Children’s Outreach, spoke to the Board about her concerns regarding the fact that the library is short staffed.  She recommended hiring more part time staff or cutting the hours the library is open. Board members thanked Ms. Cutter for her input.  Ms. Brennan and Mrs. Hampson said they would speak to this issue later in the meeting.

Consent Agenda
	Mr. Soffer moved that the Board approve the minutes from four meetings: the February 28, 2007 Committee of the Whole meeting, the March 13, 2007 regular meeting, the April 3, 2007 Committee of the Whole meeting and the April 11, 2007 Committee of the Whole meeting and the March Treasurer’s Report. Mrs. Cusack seconded.  Roll call vote was taken. Voting aye were Trustees Coe, Cusack, Daly, Horstman, Ryan and Soffer. There were no nays: the motion carried unanimously. Mr. Soffer then moved to approve the Warrant List except for the payroll information which was not available at the time of the meeting. This included checks # 6963 to #7039 for a grand total of $66,092.57.  Mrs. Cusack seconded this motion. Roll call vote was taken: voting aye were Trustees Coe, Cusack, Daly, Horstman, Ryan and Soffer. The motion carried unanimously.




Director’s Report
A. Statistical Report – Mr. Coe noted that this month the statistics for the library’s web site were more accurate as the stats formerly were reflecting “hits” on the web site as opposed to “views”.
B. Written Report- Board members reviewed this report. Also, Mrs. Hampson and Ms. Brennan addressed the staffing issue.  They proposed a temporary solution. They plan to hire one person to work 20 hours per week in Children’s and 12-17 hours per week upstairs beginning in May. Another part time staffer will return beginning in June.

Old Business
A. Alcohol Policy Exemption for Friends of the Library Dinner
	Mrs. Cusack moved to approve the exemption subject to the FOL’s obtaining the temporary liquor license and following the mandated procedures.  Mrs. Daly seconded. A vote was taken: there were all ayes and no nays; the motion carried unanimously.
B. Review of 2nd Draft of the Strategic Plan
	The review was deferred as Mrs. Fischer was absent.

New Business
A. Vote on Agreement to Provide Library Support Services
	Mr. Coe made four minor amendments to the agreement.  Ms. Ryan moved that the Board adopt the contract with the amendments proposed by Mr. Coe.  Mr. Soffer seconded.  Roll call vote was taken: Voting aye were Mrs. Cusack, Mrs. Daly, Ms. Horstman, Ms. Ryan and Mr. Soffer.  Mr. Coe abstained.  The motion carried. 
B. Discuss Trustee Training with Dan Cain
	Mrs. Hampson will negotiate with Dan Cain to provide team building trustee training for the Board on May 30. The date was agreeable to all those who will be participating.
C. Ratify Boiler Replacement Purchase
	Mr. Coe moved that the Board ratify having spent approximately $34,000 for a new boiler. The process of obtaining 3 bids for large purchases was not adhered to at the time because of the emergency nature of the situation. Ms. Ryan seconded. Roll call vote was taken. Voting aye were Trustees Coe, Cusack, Daly, Horstman, Ryan and Soffer. The motion carried unanimously.
D. Resolutions to Thank Outgoing Trustees
	Mr. Coe read aloud these “Resolutions” thanking Mr. Soffer, Ms. Ryan and Mrs. Daly for their years of dedicated service to the River Forest Public Library. He also told those present that a tree will be planted in Ms. Ryan’s name, a subscription to a sports magazine will be donated in Mr. Soffer’s name and new mulch and plantings will be donated in Mrs. Daly’s name. The three outgoing Trustees expressed their thanks for the generous and appropriate “resolutions” and gifts. A small celebration with refreshments was held.

Executive Session
	At 9:10 p.m. Ms. Horstman moved for executive session.  Mrs. Cusack seconded.



Adjournment
	At 9:40 p.m. Ms. Ryan moved that the meeting be adjourned.  Mr. Soffer seconded.  A vote was taken and the motion carried unanimously.

Respectfully submitted, 
Diane Daly, Secretary