MINUTES OF THE MEETING
THRALL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT OF MIDDLETOWN AND WALLKILL BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SPECIAL MEETING
July 29, 2026

I. Attendance/Pledge of Allegiance

Ms. Evelyn Ortega called the roll


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


Absent
Ms. Marlena Lange, President (Excused)


Visitors
None

II. Agenda

A. Roll Call
B. Minutes
C. Visitor Comments
D. Correspondence
E. President’s Report
F. Director’s Report
G. Financial Officer’s Report
H. Committee Report

I. Old Business

J. New Business
K. Adjournment

III. Discussion and Recommendation



A. Ms. Evelyn Ortega called the meeting at 4:00pm.





B. Minutes


None



C. Visitor Comments/Staff Report


None



D. Correspondence


None

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E. President’s Report


None



F. Director’s Report


None



G. Financial Officer’s Report


None



H. Committee Report


Building & Grounds: An estimate was received from our Roofing Contractor for the worn Ridge Caps over the Community Room.

Our HVAC Contractor was in the building to look into adding supplemental air conditioning to the Storytime room.

There was a meeting earlier today to speak about a new time management system for the building.




I. Old Business


2026 Library Trustee Training


J. New Business


Staffing: The Board asked the Director to contact the Library Attorney regarding a personnel manner.

Mr. Berkowitz moved to hire a new Librarian I for the Adult Reference Department.

Mrs. Wyman seconded.



AYES: Lange, Ortega, Russell, Ruyack, Wyman, Berkowitz - 6
Nays: None

Motion declared approved. (07/29/26-46)

Mr. Ruyack moved to accept the RCLS Direct Access Plan (2027-2031), as well as the RCLS Plan of Service (2027-2031). Ms. Russell seconded.



AYES: Ortega, Russell, Ruyack, Wyman, Stevenson, Berkowitz - 6
Nays: None

Motion declared approved. (07/29/26-47)

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Ms. Russell moved to accept the application and accompanying documents for public library construction aid to be administered in accordance with the requirements of Education Law 273-a (as Amended by Chapter 148 of the laws of 2014) and Commissioner’s Regulations 90.12 was read and duly adopted, and the conditions outlined in the RCLS Assurance letter have been accepted by the Board of Trustees of the Thrall Public Library District of Middletown and Wallkill. Mr. Berkowitz seconded.



AYES: Lange, Ortega, Russell, Ruyack, Wyman, Berkowitz - 6
Nays: None

Motion declared approved. (07/29/26-48)


Mr. Berkowitz moved to authorize retro pay for the part-timers who lost pay due to Weather/or Emergency Building Closures from December, 2025 to current. Mrs. Wyman seconded.



AYES: Ortega, Russell, Ruyack, Wyman, Stevenson, Berkowitz - 6
Nays: None

Motion declared approved. (07/29/26-49)




K. Adjournment


Mr. Monchery moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:45pm. Ms. Russell seconded.



AYES: Ortega, Russell, Ruyack, Wyman, Stevenson, Berkowitz - 6
Nays: None

Motion declared approved. (07/29/26-50)

Respectfully Submitted, Narene Russell, Secretary

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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 re-organizational 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
(03/11/26-15) Approval of adoption of the minutes for the February, 2026 meeting
(03/11/26-16) Approved creation by Board of Personnel Committee
(03/11/26-17) Approved 2026 Budget Transfer #1
(03/11/26-18) Approved 2026 Budget Transfer #2
(03/11/26-19) Approved monthly disbursement for February, 2026
(03/11/26-20) Executive Session
(03/11/26-21) Approval of Employee Paid Administrative Leave
(03/11/26-22) Approval to move forward with authorization of LAN Associates to solicit BIDS for the Library’s Defective VAV Boxes and associated work
(03/11/26-23) Adjournment
(04/08/26-24) Approval of adoption of the minutes for the March, 2026 meeting
(04/08/26-25) Approved monthly disbursement for March, 2026
(04/08/26-26) Approval of LAN Associates HVAC proposal
(04/08/26-27) Adjournment
(05/13/26-28) Approval of adoption of the minutes for the April, 2026 meeting
(05/13/26-29) Approved monthly disbursement for April, 2026
(05/13/26-30) Approved 2026 Budget Transfer #3
(05/13/26-31) Approved NYS Annual Report for 2025
(05/13/26-32) Adjournment
(06/10/26-33) Approval of adoption of the minutes for the May, 2026 meeting
(06/10/26-34) Approved monthly disbursement for May, 2026
(06/10/26-35) Executive Session
(06/10/26-36) Approval of LAN’s recommendation of S&O Construction Services for HVAC Project
(06/10/26-37) Approval to pay PT staff shifts during Emergency Closings
(06/10/26-38) Adjournment
(07/08/26-39) Approval of adoption of the minutes for the June, 2026 meeting
(07/08/26-40) Approval to do a Special Meeting on July 29th, 2026
(07/08/26-41) Approval to change the time of the September, 2026 meeting to 4pm
(07/08/26-42) Approved 2026 Budget Transfer #4
(07/08/26-43) Approved monthly disbursement for June, 2026
(07/08/26-44) Approval of Library’s Preliminary Budget for 2027
(07/08/26-45) Adjournment
(07/29/26-46) Approval to hire a new Full-Time Librarian I
(07/29/26-47) Approval to accept both the RCLS Direct Access Plan and RCLS Plan of Service (2027-2031)
(07/29/26-48) Approval to accept the application for the Library Construction Aid
(07/29/26-49) Approval to pay Retro to Part-Time Staff
(07/29/26-50) Adjournment