MINUTES OF THE MEETING
THRALL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
OF MIDDLETOWN AND WALLKILL
BOARD OF TRUSTEES


February 11, 2026


I. Attendance/Pledge of Allegiance
Ms. Russell, called the roll

Present
Ms. Evelyn Ortega, Vice President
Mr. Joseph Ruyack, Financial Officer
Ms. Narene Russell, Secretary
Mrs. Susan Wyman
Mr. Carl Berkowitz
Mr. Matthew Pfisterer, Director

Absent
Ms. Marlena Lange, President (Excused)
Mr. Stevenson Monchery (Excused)

Visitors
None


II. Agenda

A. Roll Call G. Financial Officer's Report
B. Minutes H. Committee Report
C. Visitor Comments I. Old Business
D. Correspondence J. New Business
E. President's Report K. Adjournment
F. Director's Report


III. Discussion and Recommendation

A. Ms. Evelyn Ortega, called the meeting at 5:00pm.


B. Minutes
Mr. Berkowitz moved for the adoption of the January, 2026 reorganizational minutes.
Mr. Ruyack seconded.

Ayes: Ortega, Ruyack, Russell, Wyman, Berkowitz - 5
Nays: None
Motion declared approved. (02/11/26-10)


Mr. Ruyack moved for the adoption of the January, 2026 regular minutes.
Mrs. Wyman seconded.

Ayes: Ortega, Ruyack, Russell, Wyman, Berkowitz - 5
Nays: None
Motion declared approved. (02/11/26-11)


C. Visitor Comments/Staff Report
Mr. Pfisterer handed out the Monthly Statistics to the Board.


D. Correspondence
None


E. President's Report
Vice President Ortega spoke on the behalf of Ms. Lange and mentioned the following:
Meeting with the HVAC system architect
Donation from the Friends of Middletown Thrall Library


F. Director's Report
(A copy of the Director's Report sent to each Board member is attached to the
official minutes.) Mr. Pfisterer briefly spoke about Advocacy Day, and mentioned
that our bank is requesting paperwork from our Board members.

G. Financial Officer's Report:
Mr. Berkowitz moved that the regular monthly disbursements for January, 2026 in
the amount of $145,169.29 having been audited by Marlena Lange and found to be
correct, be approved. Mrs. Wyman seconded.

Ayes: Ortega, Ruyack, Russell, Wyman, Berkowitz - 5
Nays: None
Motion declared approved. (02/11/26-12)


H. Committee Report
Building & Grounds:

The Building and Grounds Committee met on January 28, 2026.

The new furniture for the Board Room is expected on either February 12th or 13th.

The existing Board Room furniture is being donated to a local non-profit organization
who will pick the furniture up from the Library.

I am waiting for a confirmation of a meeting with our HVAC system architect of
Thursday, February 19th, 2026 at 4:00pm.

Our exterminating contractor has informed us that we are not experiencing any
infestation problems at this time.


I. Old Business

2026 Library Trustee Training.


J. New Business

Library Advocacy Day - February 3rd, 2026
"The Librarians"
FOMTL Yearly Donation

Mr. Berkowitz made a motion to order Business Cards for the Board Members. Seconded:

Mr. Berkowitz moved to go into Executive Session at 5:28 to discuss employment
history of particular individuals. Mr. Ruyack seconded.

Ayes: Ortega, Ruyack, Russell, Wyman, Berkowitz - 5
Nays: None
Motion declared approved. (02/11/26-13)


K. Adjournment

Mr. Berkowitz moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:52pm. Mr. Ruyack seconded.

Ayes: Ortega, Ruyack, Russell, Wyman, Berkowitz - 5
Nays: None
Motion declared approved. (02/11/26-14)



Respectfully Submitted,
Narene Russell, Secretary



TABLE OF MOTIONS

(01/14/26-1) Designated Middletown Times Herald Record Digital Edition official newspaper
(01/14/26-2) Designated Orange Bank and Trust as official bank
(01/14/26-3) Appointment of JBG Law as the HR Personnel Library Attorney & Alex Smith as the Library's General Attorney
(01/14/26-4) Designation of Financial Audit Firm
(01/14/26-5) Adjournment
(01/14/26-6) Approval of adoption of the minutes for the December, 2025 meeting
(01/14/26-7) Approved monthly disbursement for December, 2025
(01/14/26-8) Unapproved motion to accept Internet Safety Policy
(01/14/26-9) Adjournment
(02/11/26-10) Approval of adoption of the reorganizational minutes for the January, 2026 meeting
(02/11/26-11) Approval of adoption of the regular minutes for the January, 2026 meeting
(02/11/26-12) Approved monthly disbursement for January, 2026
(02/11/26-13) Executive Session
(02/11/26-14) Adjournment