The video recording can be viewed at:
The meeting opened and all members were present except Mr. Anthony Fiore, Mayor’s designee, Cindy Wilson, Superintendent’s designee, and Library Director Susan O’Neal.
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The meeting began with an Executive Session, presumably to discuss the employment status of Director Susan O’Neal. When the Library Board came out of Executive Session, no mention was made of any decision reached in Executive Session, so a member of the public, Barbara Thorpe asked, “What is Miss O’Neal’s status?” The Library Board attorney replied that the Board cannot comment. Mrs. Thorpe went on to thank Susan O’Neal for her courage and service to this town, calling the situation a travesty and complaining about the incompetence of the township’s handling of finances and insertion of politics into the library.
The financial reports were reviewed by the Board, including the 2013 Voucher list, overview of checks, and the 8/31/2013 Financial Report and Report of Assets. Mr. Lawrence Nelson expressed concern that with all the reports, the Library Board is not getting accurate information from the township. He said that the Library Board knows there are amounts being spent on library items that are not accurately reflected in the report. Both Lawrence Nelson and Vivien Breen voted not to accept the Financial Reports until the proper information is reported by the township. The Finance Committee will be meeting in the near future to look at the budget for next year.
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The head of Borrower Services discussed the problems with the library’s KOHA system which tracks patron accounts and fines, materials acquisitions, etc. They have a contract with Bywater that hosts the catalog and takes service requests, and the contract ends on September 30th. Due to system glitches and lack of functionality, the library would like to migrate to a new ILS (Integrated Library System) by preparing an RFP immediately and solicit bids from various vendors such as Polaris and Source E Dynex. The ability to do credit card payments for fines through Paypal would be available with a new ILS. The Board unanimously approved the motions to notify Bywater that the library will not auto-renew their contract, to extend the Bywater agreement to 12-31-2013, and to solicit RFPs for a new Integrated Library System.
The Board approved the expenditure for the NJLA Institutional Membership at $280. They tabled the purchasing resolution to spend $28K for new antennas and licenses for the Tech Logic self-checkout equipment, pending the decision to migrate to a new ILS.
The Board approved Resolution 2013-33 regarding legal fees. Since Resolution 2013-12 allowed for Mr. McOmber to earn $135 per hour with a limit of $12,500 and legal fees have exceeded that amount, the Board increased the legal fees budget by $10,000 for this calendar year.
The Board approved the library’s request to hire one part time worker to replace a retiree. The part time position is 17.5 hours per week with no benefits. The library has lost two Pages.
The Benefits amount charged by the township has increased by $9,382, and the budget was adjusted to move the money from the budgeted amount allowed for electricity. Later in the meeting, two members of the public reminded the Board that at the last regular Board meeting, Director Susan O’Neal reported that the benefits charges from the township would be reduced to reflect both the new union contract agreement and the employee benefits contributions. Mr. Siebert replied that an adjustment was already made in the amount of $50,000, but it was not made clear when that adjustment was made.
At 8:15pm, Board attorney McOmber announced two Motions for Vote:
1) Motion to accept a letter of resignation from Susan O’Neal (unanimous acceptance).
2) Motion to accept agreement between the Library Board and Susan O’Neal (the terms of which were not mentioned, and the township’s approval of the agreement is pending). This was accepted by all attending Board members except Mr. Cordiano. Later, when asked why he voted against this agreement, Mr. McOmber advised him, “Do not answer that.”
Ms. Breen asked if the township was going to make the library pay $2000 for the “privilege” of participating in Middletown Day. Mr. Siebert said there will be no charge. Mr. Monaghan asked cheekily “if there is any of our money from last year sitting in an account from last year” that could pay for their participation.
The meeting ended with Public Session and three members of the public asked about the health care benefits expenses and calculations and the number of employees, which the Board President Brock Siebert could not report figures on.
