MINUTES OF THE MEETING
THRALL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT OF MIDDLETOWN AND WALLKILL BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SPECIAL MEETING
August 12, 2026

I. Attendance/Pledge of Allegiance

Ms. Evelyn Ortega called the roll


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


Absent
Ms. Marlena Lange, President (Excused)
Ms. Narene Russell, Secretary


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 5:00pm.





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


None



I. Old Business


None


J. New Business


Board Vacancy
Mr. Pfisterer distributed information published by the New York State Library regarding frequently asked questions about the NYS Tax Cap. He also distributed information provided by RCLS CFO Stephen Hoefer that cited a report published by the NYS Comptroller's Office showing the growing gap between allowable tax levy growth and the real cost of operations over the past few years.




K. Adjournment


Mr. Monchery moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:15pm. Mr. Berkowitz seconded.



AYES: Ortega, Ruyack, Wyman, Stevenson, Berkowitz - 5
Nays: None

Motion declared approved. (07/29/26-51)


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
(08/12/26-51) Adjournment