POYNETTE AREA PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at 5:30 pm
Poynette Area Public Library
Call to Order and Roll Call - The meeting was called to order at 5:00 PM by President Jason Koopmans. Board Members Darcy Miller, Linda Ross, Joni DeYoung, Brittney Jackson, and Meghan Visger attended the meeting. Library Director Jodi Bailey was also present. Jerry Pritzl was unable to attend.
Certification of Proper Notice – Yes
Guests in Attendance – Lynn Hanson, long-time patron and Poynette resident; and Roberta Halverson, Friends of the Poynette Library President.
Public Comments – None
Adoption of Agenda - A motion to adopt the agenda was made by Miller, seconded by Ross; Motion carried.
Approval of Minutes from October 17, 2023 - A motion to adopt the October meeting minutes as presented was made by Koopmans, seconded by Pritzl; Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report Presented by Treasurer Linda Ross - The library checking account at Bank First has a balance of $5,392.04 as of October 31, 2023. The SCLS Foundation account has a balance of $1,725.57 as of October 31, 2023.
Current Budget Review - Director Bailey presented the budget.
Director’s Report – On October 17th, library staff, Friends, Board Trustees, and patrons celebrated Gerry Heuer’s amazing 20 years of dedicated service to the Poynette Library. The Poynette Village Board conducted a public hearing on Library Impact Fees and voted in favor of Ordinance 2023-608. Thank you to the Department of Public Works staff who change our furnace filters in the fall and spring and take great care of the library building. The staff attended several webinars, classes, and monthly meetings for planning purposes, continuing education, and safety training. Community involvement in October included utilizing the Bookmobile to deliver books in support of the Pioneer Place outreach program, in-home daycare deliveries and home-bound delivery to patrons of all ages.
Village of Poynette Meeting Update – The final budget hearing was on November 13th and the budget passed. There was a special recognition for the officers who helped with the armed robbery. The school resource office reported that he is keeping busy assisting students at the schools and riding on the buses.
Friends of the Library Report – Bobbie Halverson shared that the Friends are wondering where the Board sees the library expansion headed in the future. Miller stated there is already a need for space in the library. An expansion will potentially alleviate our limited space concerns in order to meet the needs of our growing community. DeYoung shared that the Library Board will pursue grants and will need the Friends help with community fundraising. The Village’s Library Impact Fee is just a portion of this long-range goal. Lynn Hanson shared that he is a long-time library user and involved supporter. He suggested the Board consider a lesser cost option: a vacant commercial building on Main Street currently available for Lease/Sale. Hanson spoke to the Friends Board about pursuing a possible “lease-to-own” option for additional community use and library programming space. Bobbie Halverson spoke on behalf of the Friends Board, sharing their concern that remodeling the storage space located above the children’s library isn’t cost-effective considering the usable programmable space that the library would gain. President Koopmans shared that the Board is just beginning this process and will continue looking at all cost-effective solutions that arise in order to meet the needs of our growing community.
Recess – Hanson and Halverson left the meeting at 6:25 PM. DeYoung made a motion to take a brief Recess (allowed under Wis. Stats. 19.84(6)), seconded by Jackson; President Koopmans publicly noted the time, place and subject matter of the Recess to all Board Trustees present. Motion carried.
Trustee Training - Miller virtually attended an informative training on library ADA-compliance. As the Board considers an expansion/ remodel project, at least 60% of all library entrances need to be ADA-accessible. Buttons need to be accessible. The front entrance, the book drop, and the check-out desk currently are not considered ADA-accessible. All three library bathrooms are accessible. The webinar suggested not having the self-check, etc. above 40 inches high. The self-checkout should also have a side and front approach. If there are touch screens, there should also be a keyboard and mouse. Room numbers should be in Braille. The webinar recommended two drinking fountains, one at a lower height, and one at a higher height. Anything over a ½ inch should be graded in order to be ADA-compliant. Director Bailey will look for exterior & interior barriers and create a plan for eliminating these barriers in the future.
Business:
- Approval of Vouchers for Library – Miller made a motion to accept the vouchers as presented, seconded by DeYoung; Motion carried.
- Discuss Bookmobile Committee Update - The Committee meeting was cancelled and re-scheduled for December 12 at 4:30 PM.
- Discuss Poynette Village Ordinance 2023-608 establishing a Library Impact Fee - Thank you to Joni DeYoung for all your hard work.
- Discuss/consider expanding library hours of operation beginning January 2024 - Director Bailey’s staff recommends opening at 9:00 AM (instead of 9:30) to better serve the public. DeYoung made a motion effective January 2, 2024, the library will be open to the public beginning at 9:00 AM, Ross seconded; Motion carried.
- Distribute Director evaluation materials - Koopmans will email the materials. Board members will complete the evaluations and return them to Koopmans prior to the next meeting.
- Discuss the new Outreach Services position to be posted in December - Director Bailey will post this new position in December, as Gerry Heuer plans to retire by the end of 2023.
- Discuss Agenda Items for the Next Meeting on December 12, 2023 - Business Agenda items 1, 2, 5 (closed session), 7, Strategic Plan year-end review, and any items that may arise.
Adjournment - The meeting adjourned at 5:58 PM.
Respectively submitted by Meghan Visger, Secretary
Page 3 of 3