Board of Trustees
of the
Huntley Area Public Library District
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
December 20, 2023
Call to Order: A regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Huntley Area Public Library District was held in Program Room 3 at the Huntley Area Public Library District, 11000 Ruth Road, Huntley, IL 60142 on December 20, 2023. President Budzynski called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
Attendance:
Trustees Present: Chris Budzynski, Sandy Domagalski, Stephanie Duncan, Katie Kunde, Leslie Threadgill-Smith and Stephanie Weil
Trustees Absent: Shannon McKibben
Library Staff Present: Frank Novak, Library Director; Loralei Getty, Business Manager; Pamela Kampwerth, Head of Programming & Outreach Services; Elizabeth Steffensen, Head of Public Services
Visitors Present: There were no visitors.
Pledge of Allegiance: President Budzynski led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Comments: There were no public comments.
Threadgill-Smith entered the meeting at 5:32 p.m.
Secretary’s Report: Kunde motioned, Domagalski seconded that the Board approve the minutes of the Special Board Meeting held on October 24, 2023 as presented. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Weil motioned, Threadgill-Smith seconded that the Board approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on November 15, 2023 as presented. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Financial Reports and Checks: Threadgill-Smith motioned, Kunde seconded that the Board approve the checks and financial report for November 2023 as presented. Roll call votes were: Budzynski-Aye; Domagalski-Aye; Duncan-Aye; Kunde-Aye; Threadgill-Smith-Aye and Weil-Aye. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Monthly Income/Expense Report (Discussion): Trustees reviewed the Income/Expense Report-November 2023 and there were no questions.
Library Director’s Report: Presented by Novak. Novak is proposing a change to the program room reservation policy to clarify to outside public groups that the library will only allow one public group to use one room at the library at one time. The new wording will indicate that two public groups are not permitted to use two rooms concurrently at any time. The current language reads that “One program room is available for public use and may be scheduled by speaking to a designated staff member.” The new language would read that “One program room is available for public use and may be scheduled by speaking to a designated staff member. Only one of the library’s three program rooms may be reserved by public groups at any given time.” The board is satisfied with the wording and this change will be updated in the policy manual and on the library’s website. The library has equipment in the building to track the number of people who enter the building. In the December 2023 Director’s Report, there is a spreadsheet showing the average number of people entering the building through the three main entrances. In November, the busiest day and time was Sunday at noon. The numbers are highest when the library first opens and after school is over for the day. The number of people falls dramatically after 7 p.m. on Monday through Thursday. These attendance patterns can help guide the management team on how to structure services. Huntley Community Radio 101.5 FM is interested in using the library’s recording studio to do studio work and radio interviews once a week. Novak is looking to hire a part-time technician to assist in recording needs beginning in 2024. This could become a full-time position in the future.
Kunde and Steffensen left the meeting at 5:48 p.m. Kunde returned to the meeting at 5:49 p.m.
Committee Reports:
Policy: There was no report.
Finance: There was no report.
Facilities: There was no report.
Friends’ Liaison: Presented by Kampwerth. The Friends ended 2023 by raising $64,000. The next book sale will be held in March 2024.
New Business:
Board Meeting Dates for 2024: Threadgill-Smith motioned, Duncan seconded that the Board approve the Board Meeting Dates for 2024 as presented. Roll call votes were: Budzynski-Aye; Domagalski-Aye; Duncan-Aye; Kunde-Aye; Threadgill-Smith-Aye and Weil-Aye. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Steffensen returned to the meeting at 6 p.m.
Paid Leave for All Workers Act Changes: Novak worked with the library’s attorneys and department heads to revise the benefits language that puts the library in compliance with the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Most of the revisions can be found in the vacation benefits section. Employees working less than 1,000 hours get the benefit of the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. There were no changes in benefits for full-time employees. Threadgill-Smith motioned, Weil seconded that the Board approve the revised benefits language as presented. Roll call votes were: Budzynski-Aye; Domagalski-Aye; Duncan-Aye; Kunde-Aye; Threadgill-Smith-Aye and Weil-Aye. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Old Business: There was no Old Business.
Upcoming Dates: The next Decennial Committee Meeting will be Tuesday, January 9, 2024. The next Regular Monthly Board Meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 5:30 p.m.
Board Discussion: The post-holiday party is for board members and staff. The date and time are Friday, January 26, 2024 at 6 p.m. The venue is Port Edward. More information to come.
Kampwerth and Steffensen left the meeting at 6:06 p.m.
Executive Session: Kunde motioned, Duncan seconded for the Library Board to convene in an Executive Session at 6:06 p.m. under the exception of the Open Meetings Act ILCS Chapter 5, Act 120, Section 120/2, whether for purposes of approval by the body or semi-annual review of the minutes. Roll call votes were: Budzynski-Aye; Domagalski-Aye; Duncan-Aye; Kunde-Aye; Threadgill-Smith-Aye and Weil-Aye. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
The Board left the Executive Session at 6:10 p.m.
Items from Executive Session for Action: Duncan motioned, Kunde seconded that the Board release the following closed session minutes: December 21, 2022, February 25, 2023, May 3, 2023, May 8, 2023 and July 19, 2023. Roll call votes were: Budzynski-Aye; Domagalski-Aye; Duncan-Aye; Kunde-Aye; Threadgill-Smith-Aye and Weil-Aye. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Adjourn: Threadgill-Smith motioned, Duncan seconded to adjourn the meeting at 6:15 p.m. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted,
Loralei Getty, Recorder
