Board of Trustees
of the
Huntley Area Public Library District
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
November 19, 2025
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 November 19, 2025. President Threadgill-Smith called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m.
Attendance:
Trustees Present: Linda Benigno, Sandy Domagalski, Katie Kunde, John Schmelzer, Leslie Threadgill-Smith, and Stephanie Weil
Trustees Absent: Jerry Reedy
Library Staff Present: Frank Novak, Library Director; Loralei Getty, Business Manager; Sergio Ramos, Head of Maintenance
Visitors Present: Vito Benigno, Pamela Kampwerth, Marjorie Smith, and Natalia Tokakska
Pledge of Allegiance: President Threadgill-Smith led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Comments: Benigno spoke with 29 Huntley residents about The Huntley Area Public Library Newsletter: November December 2025. Three residents did not receive the newsletter while 26 residents liked it. Some comments from the residents included great redesign, good size, organized, colors are nice, easy to read, arrived one week before the end of the month so patrons could enroll in programs at the beginning of the following month. A suggestion for improvement included using a different color header for the Friends Foundation page to make it easier to find. The Friends Foundation header is the same color as Tech Events.
Secretary’s Report: Benigno motioned, Weil seconded that the Board approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on October 15, 2025 as presented. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Financial Reports and Checks: Domagalski motioned, Weil seconded that the Board approve the checks and financial report for October 2025 as presented. Roll call votes were: Benigno-Aye; Domagalski-Aye; Kunde-Aye; Schmelzer-Aye; Threadgill-Smith-Aye; Weil-Aye. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Monthly Income/Expense Report (Discussion): Trustees reviewed the Income/Expense Report-October 2025 and there were no questions.
Library Director’s Report: Presented by Novak. Included in the packet is a salary study to make library staff salaries more competitive in the marketplace. Novak asked for the study to be reviewed in advance of a discussion at the December Regular Board Meeting. Novak made a presentation related to the library’s tax situation to assist new board members in understanding the challenges that our library faces because of its current taxing situation.
Committee Reports:
Policy: A meeting will be scheduled at the December Regular Board Meeting for January 2026 to discuss an AI policy, Recording Studio User Agreement, an Intellectual Property policy, and policies up for the 3-year review.
Finance: There was no report.
Regular Board Meeting
November 19, 2025
Page 2
Facilities: There was no report.
Friends’ Liaison: Presented by Kampwerth. The Holiday Basket Fundraiser runs November 21 through December 18. The 17 baskets are on display in the Art Gallery Hallway. The December Book Sale is December 6-7. Santa and an elf will make an appearance. The Giving Tuesday mailing will be going out on December 2nd.
New Business:
Kunde left the meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Levy Ordinance discussion and Possible Approval: Following a lengthy discussion, Benigno motioned, Weil seconded that the Board approve An Ordinance Providing for the Levying and Assessment of Taxes by the Huntley Area Public Library District, McHenry and Kane Counties, Illinois, for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2025 and Ending June 30, 2026 at a rate of 4.9% over last year’s extension. Roll call votes were: Benigno-Aye, Domagalski-Aye, Schmelzer-Aye, Threadgill-Smith-Aye, Weil-Aye. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Old Business: There was no Old Business.
Upcoming Dates: The next Regular Monthly Board Meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.
Board Discussion:
Post-Holiday Party: Benigno motioned, Weil seconded that the Board approve that the cost of the staff post-holiday party shall not exceed $3,800. Roll call votes were: Benigno-Aye, Domagalski-Aye, Schmelzer-Aye, Threadgill-Smith-Aye, Weil-Aye. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Executive Session: There was no Executive Session.
Items from Executive Session for Action: None
Adjourn: Benigno motioned, Domagalski seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:04 p.m. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted,
__________________________________________
Stephanie Weil, Secretary
