MINUTES OF THE MEETING
THRALL PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT OF MIDDLETOWN AND WALLKILL BOARD OF TRUSTEES
September 9, 2026

I. Attendance/Pledge of Allegiance

Ms. Russell called the roll


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


Absent
Mrs. Susan Wyman (Excused)


Visitors
None

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. Marlena Lange, called the meeting at 5:00pm.


Mr. Berkowitz moved to open the Public Budget Hearing. Ms. Ortega seconded.



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

Motion declared approved. (09/09/26-52)





B. Minutes


Mr. Ruyack moved for the adoption of the July 8, 2026 regular minutes. Mr. Berkowitz seconded.



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

Motion declared approved. (09/09/26-53)

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B. Minutes Cont’d:


Mr. Berkowitz moved for the adoption of the July 29, 2026 Special Meeting Minutes.

Mr. Ruyack seconded.



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

Motion declared approved. (09/09/26-54)


Ms. Ortega moved for the adoption of the August 12, 206 Special Meeting Minutes.

Mr. Ruyack seconded.



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

Motion declared approved. (09/09/26-55)





C. Visitor Comments/Staff Report


Ms. Judi Calkin: briefly spoke about her appreciation for the Adult Summer Program run by Program Coordinator, Reference Librarian I, Autumn Holladay.

Mr. James Moore: briefly spoke about his appreciation for the library and inquired about how people could contribute, become more involved, with the library.

Mr. Berkowitz moved to thank the library staff for the wonderful job they did at the 125th Anniversary. Mr. Monchery seconded.



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

Motion declared approved. (09/09/26-56)




D. Correspondence


NONE


E. President’s Report


NONE



F. Director’s Report


(A copy of the Director’s Report sent to each Board member is attached to the official minutes.) Mr. Pfisterer mentioned Staff Appreciation/ Development Day, as well as the RCLS Legislative Breakfast.

Ms. Russell moved to honor and thank Kiwanis Club, Orange Bank & Trust, Friends of Middletown Thrall Library and Middletown Police Department for their donations towards the 125th Anniversary.

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G. Financial Officer’s Report:


Budget Amendment #1
Ms. Russell moved that the Board of Trustees of Middletown Thrall Library amend the 2026 budget as follows, to reallocate earned revenue and miscellaneous donations for the 125th Celebration. Mr. Berkowitz seconded.



REDUCE
Revenue: L2705 Gifts & Donations $700.00
L2705 Gifts & Donations $1,000.00
L2705 Gifts & Donations $1,000.00
L2770 Misc. Income $3,100.00


INCREASE
Appropriations: L7410.8425.12.0005.0 125th Celebration $5800.00


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

Motion declared approved. (09/09/26-57)

Mr. Berkowitz moved that the regular monthly disbursements for July, 2026 in the amount of $138,327.71 having been audited by Marlena Lange and found to be correct, be approved. Ms. Russell seconded.



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

Motion declared approved. (09/09/26-58)


Mr. Berkowitz moved that the regular monthly disbursements for August, 2026 in the amount of $133,098.57 having been audited by Evelyn Ortega and found to be correct, be approved. Mr. Ruyack seconded.



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

Motion declared approved. (09/09/26-59)




H. Committee Report


Building & Grounds: The library’s application for a NYS Construction Grant for our HVAC upgrades project has been reviewed by the Ramapo Catskill Library System. The applications will now go to DLD for review (November 2026-April 2027) and then onto DASNY for review (April 2027-October 2027). Once approved, an award letter will be mailed to each library (November 2027). If all goes well, member libraries should receive 90% of the award sometime around December 2027.

I met with custodial staff in August to discuss departmental roles and responsibilities.

Work on the library’s HVAC upgrades project is scheduled to begin soon. One shelving unit in the children’s room will have to be temporarily taken down until the work is completed.

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H. Committee Report Cont’d


We have received a proposal from our roofing contractor to remove and replace the dam aged terracotta ridge caps which appear to be the cause of the recent ceiling leaks in the second-floor Community Room. The proposal has been reviewed by our architectural firm.

Mr. Ruyack moved to accept the proposal from our roofing contractor, not to exceed $18,750.00. Mr. Berkowitz seconded.



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

Motion declared approved. (09/09/26-60)


Our exterminating contractor has informed us that we are not currently experiencing any infestation issues.




I. Old Business


2026 Library Trustee Training
Ms. Russell moved to close the Public Budget Meeting. Mr. Monchery seconded.



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

Motion declared approved. (09/09/26-61)




J. New Business


Mr. Berkowitz moved whereas, the adoption of this 2027 budget for the Thrall Public Library District of Middletown and Wallkill requires a tax levy increase that exceeds the tax cap imposed by state law as outlined in General Municipal Law Section 3-c adopted in 2011; and whereas, General Municipal Law Section 3-c expressly permits the library board to override the tax levy limit by a resolution approved by a vote of sixty percent of qualified board members; now therefore be it resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the Thrall Public Library District of Middletown and Wallkill voted and approved to exceed the tax levy limit for 2027 by at least the sixty percent of the board of trustees as required by state law on September 9th, 2026. Mr. Ruyack seconded.



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

Motion declared approved. (09/09/26-62)

Ms. Russell moved to approve the Library’s Budget for 2027. Ms. Ortega seconded.



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

Motion declared approved. (09/09/26-63)

Board Vacancy

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K. Adjournment


Mr. Berkowitz moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:43 pm. Ms. Russell seconded.



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

Motion declared approved. (09/09/26-64)

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

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TABLE OF MOTIONS

(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