Board of Trustees
of the
Huntley Area Public Library District
Minutes of Regular Meeting
June 17, 2026
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 June 20, 2026. 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: Elizabeth Steffensen, Acting Library Director; Lindsey Jarr, Business Manager, Michelle Mattes, Friends Liaison
Visitors Present: Vito Benigno, Marjorie Smith, Pat Darow, Nancy Hardy, Genevieve Hochwarter, Pamela Kampwerth and Carol David.
Pledge of Allegiance: President Threadgill-Smith led the Pledge of Allegiance
Public Comments: Genevieve Hochwarter (President of the Friends Foundation) asked the Board to repeal any changes made with the Friends Foundation and the Library. With over three decades of service, the Board of the Friend’s Foundation are present to request the Board address this issue.
Secretary’s Report: No comments
Weil motioned; Benigno seconded that the Board approve the following minutes:
- Regular Board Meeting May 20
- Executive Session May 20
- Special Board Meeting May 27
- Executive Session May 27
- Budget and Finance Committee June 1
- Special Board Meeting June 8
- Executive Session June 8
- Special Board Meeting June 10
- Executive Session June 10
Vote: All Ayes. No Nays. Motion Carried
Financial Reports and Checks: Benigno motioned; Weil seconded that the Board approve the checks and financial report for May 2026 as presented. Roll call votes were: Benigno-Aye; Domagalski-Aye; Kunde-Aye; Schmelzer-Aye; Threadgill-Smith-Aye; and Weil-Aye. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Monthly Income/Expense Report (Discussion):
Trustees reviewed the Income/Expense Report-May 2026 and there were no questions.
Acting Library Director’s Report: Elizabeth went over the calculations she used for non-resident fee. She informed the Board that we had met with Paul Inserra from ATA to start the process of the annual audit. Paul Inserra will be back on June 4th to review the files and let Elizabeth Steffensen and Lindsey Jarr know of additional materials needed. Steffensen looked into Local Official training. Steffensen obtained updated quotes from Gallagher Insurance they anticipate a six percent increase over the previous year.
Committee Reports:
Policy: The committee met tonight at 5:00 p.m. to review Overtime and Compensatory Policy. Policy Committee is set to propose the policy with changes that need to be passed.
Finance:The committee meet on June 1st to review the working budget FY26-27. With small changes they are prepared to move forward with the budget.
Facilities: There was no report.
Friends’ Liaison: Presented by Mattes. There were 55 volunteers working on the book sale. The book sale raised $1284.00. The Friend’s Foundation is working on the upcoming July Mini Links event.
New Business:
Non- Resident Card Fee:
Steffensen presented the calculations for the Non- Resident Card Fee.
Weil motioned; Schmelzer seconded to approve the rate of the non-resident card fee as $352 for FY 26-27 year. Roll Call Vote: Benigno-Aye, Domagalski –Aye, Kunde-Aye, Reedy-Aye, Schmelzer-Aye, Threadgill-Smith –Aye and Weil –Aye All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
FY 2026-27 Working Budget:
Board reviewed the budget and changes that had been made at their request at the Finance Committee Meeting. Kunde motioned; Benigno seconded to approve the FY 2026-27 Working Budget as presented to the Board. Roll Call Vote: Benigno-Aye, Domagalski –Aye, Kunde-Aye, Reedy-Aye, Schmelzer-Aye, Threadgill-Smith –Aye and Weil –Aye All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Old Business:
Friends Foundation:
Benigno motioned; Weil seconded that the Board consider repealing & pausing implementation of any changes affecting the Friends Foundation, until the new Library Director is hired and has the opportunity to review changes affecting the Friends Foundation with the exception of changes involving the safety and security of Library Staff, those should stay in place. Roll call vote: Benigno-Aye, Domagalski abstained, Kunde-Aye Schmelzer- Aye, Threadgill-Smith- Abstained, and Weil- Aye 4/6 the motion carried.
Emergency Library Building Closing Policy Updates. Policy Committee presented the updated Emergency Library Building Closing Policy. Benigno motioned; Reedy seconded to approve the updated policy as presented by the committee. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Overtime Compensatory and Extra Time Policy Updates. Policy Committee present the changes to the Overtime and Extra Time Policy of the library as proposed by Steffensen and reviewed by legal counsel. Schmelzer motioned; Benigno seconded to approve the updated policy as presented by the committee. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Board Discussion:
Executive Session: Schmelzer motioned; Benigno seconded for the Library Board to convene in an Executive Session at 6:13p.m. under the exception of the Open Meetings Act ILCS Chapter 5, Act 120, Section 120/2 for the purpose of discussing 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity, 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11) Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting, 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21)—Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the Open Meetings Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body or semi-annual review of the minutes. Vote: All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
The Board exited Executive Session at 6:43 p.m.
The Board reentered the Regular Board Meeting at 6:43 p.m.
Board Discussion of Acting Director and Executive meeting minutes discussion & review and procedures
Schmelzer motioned; Benigno seconded to release executive session meeting minutes from January 21, 2026, June 8, and June 10th 2026 . Benigno-Aye, Domagalski-Aye, Kunde-Aye, Schmelzer-Aye, Threadgill-Smith-Aye, and Weil-Aye. All Ayes No Nays Motion carried.
Acting Director sought guidance and clarification from the Library Board on Friends motion.
Adjourn: Kunde motioned; Weil seconded to adjourn the Regular Board Meeting at 7:02 p.m. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted,
__________________________________________
Stephanie Weil, Secretary
