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


March 13, 2019


I. Attendance
Ms. Lange called the roll.

Present
Mr. Carl Berkowitz, President
Mrs. Marianne Sciucco, Vice President
Ms. Linda Martini, Secretary (arrived at 5:05pm)
Mrs. Tonia Crown, Financial Officer
Mrs. Rosa Boyd
Mr. Richard C. Bell
Ms. Marlena Lange
Mr. Matthew Pfisterer, Director

Absent

Visitors
Victoria Turner, Government Documents Librarian



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 Repor K. Adjournment
F. Director’s Report



III. Discussion and Recommendation

A. Mr. Berkowitz, President, opened the meeting at 5:00pm and led the pledge.


B. Minutes
Mr. Bell moved for adoption of the minutes of the February 13, 2019 meeting. Mrs. Crown
seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Boyd, Crown, Lange, Sciucco - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (3/13/19 – 19)


C. Visitor Comments/Staff Report
Victoria Turner, Government Documents Librarian, reported on history of herself and
Government Information.


D. Correspondence
A copy of any correspondence is sent to each Board member and is attached to the official
minutes.

Mr. Berkowitz read a letter from Don Paris, City of Middletown Treasurer, (See letter
attached to official minutes)

Discussion was held on a letter received from Girl Scout Troop 118 about people smoking
outside the library. (See letter attached to official minutes)


E. President’s Report
Mr. Berkowitz reported on a forum held at Middletown Thrall Library. Discussion
followed.


F. Director’s Report
(A copy of the Director’s Report sent to each Board member is attached to the official
minutes.)


G. Financial Officer’s Report
A copy of the accounts and balances are attached to the official minutes.


H. Committee Reports
Mr. Bell moved that the regular monthly disbursements for February, 2019 in the
amount of $81,652.65 having been audited by Marlena Lange and found to be
correct, be approved. Mrs. Boyd seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Boyd, Crown, Lange, Martini, Sciucco - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (3/13/19 – 20)

Building & Grounds: We have been closely monitoring snowmelt from the roof falling
and refreezing on the bricks in front of the library building entrance. Primarily this has
occurred at the right of the entrance in an area we blocked from public access. We have
been liberally applying ice melt to the area to stay ahead of the problem.

Mr. Pfisterer requested, but not yet received a prototype for the construction of supports
for the book stacks on the library’s first floor. Once he receives and review the prototype
the work can begin.

We have been successfully regulating the temperature on the Library’s second floor by
manipulating the library’s air handlers. When the temperature is hot upstairs we turn
them off. Not an ideal situation but it has improved the situation upstairs considerably.

Our exterminater has formed Mr. Pfisterer that there are no insect issues anywhere in the
building.

Mr. Bell moved to go into executive session at 5:40pm for contract discussion. Mrs.
Sciucco seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Boyd, Crown, Lange, Martini, Sciucco - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (3/13/19 – 21)

The Board returned from executive session at 5:50pm.


I. Old Business
Ms. Lange moved to accept the Library’s 2019 Annual Report to the State of New York.
Mrs. Crown seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Boyd, Crown, Lange, Martini, Sciucco - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (3/13/19 – 22)

Discussion was held on the 2019 NYLA Advocacy Day.

Discussion was held on the 2020 Census.


J. New Business
Mr. Bell moved to approve the appointment of Theresa Zacek to Librarian II. Ms. Lange
seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Boyd, Crown, Lange, Martini, Sciucco - 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (3/13/19 – 23)

Discussion was held on the RCLS Executive Director Search.

Matt asked for volunteers for the Mokotoff committee. Mrs. Sciucco volunteered.


K. Adjournment
Ms. Lange moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:05pm. Mrs. Sciucco seconded.
Ayes: Berkowitz, Bell, Boyd, Crown, Martini, Lange, Sciucco – 7
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (3/13/19 – 24)


Respectfully submitted,


Linda Martini, Secretary



TABLE OF MOTIONS

(01/09/19–1) Accepted slate of officers
(01/09/19–2) Designated Middletown Times Herald Record as official newspaper
(01/09/19–3) Designated the Orange Bank and Trust as official bank
(01/09/19–4) Designated Stifel-Nicholas as Investment Firm
(01/09/19–5) Appointed Alex Smith as Library District’s Attorney
(01/09/19–6) Adjournment
(01/09/19–7) Executive session
(01/09/19–8) Accepted bid from Barrier Free Access Systems, Inc.
(01/09/19–9) Approved to extend Long Range Plan
(01/09/19-10) Accepted appointment of full time cleaner
(01/09/19-11) Adjournment
(02/13/19-12) Approval of 1/09/19 Organization Meeting minutes
(02/13/19-13) Approval of 1/09/19 minutes
(02/13/19-14) Approval of 12/12/18 minutes
(02/13/19-15) Approved monthly disbursements for December 2018
(02/13/19-16) Approved monthly disbursements for January 2019
(02/13/19-17) Executive session
(02/13/19-18) Adjournment
(03/13/19-19) Approval of 2/13/19 minutes
(03/13/19-20) Approved monthly disbursements for February 2019
(03/13/19-21) Executive session
(03/13/19-22) Accepted 2019 Annual Report to the State of NY
(03/13/19-23) Accepted appointment of Theresa Zacek to Librarian II
(03/13/19-24) Adjournment