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


September 10, 2025


I. Attendance/Pledge of Allegiance
Ms. Lange, called the roll at 7pm

Present
Ms. Marlena Lange, President
Ms. Evelyn Ortega, Vice President
Mrs. Tonia Crown, Treasurer
Ms. Fran Amelio
Mr. Joseph Ruyack
Ms. Narene Russell
Mr. Matthew Pfisterer, Director

Absent
Mrs. Susan Wyman, Secretary (Excused)

Visitors
Mr. Stevenson Monchery – Social Worker, spoke about his role in the community

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. Ortega moved to open the Public Budget Hearing at 7:02pm.
Ms. Amelio seconded.
Ayes: Lange, Ortega, Crown, Amelio, Ruyack, Russell - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (09/10/25-49)

B.Minutes
Ms. Amelio moved for the adoption of the July 9, 2025 regular monthly meeting
minutes. Ms. Russell seconded.

Ayes: Lange, Ortega, Crown, Amelio, Ruyack, Russell – 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (09/10/25-50)

C. Visitor Comments/Staff Report
Ms. Bridget Manigo, Head of Reference/Adult Services, came in and spoke about
upcoming programs in both the Children and Adult departments. She also
provided statistics of the prior programs.

D. Correspondence
None

E. President's Report
Ms. Lange spoke briefly about the upcoming Library Election on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

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 the upcoming election on Tuesday,
October 7, 2025. He also spoke about the RCLS Legislative Breakfast in which local
representatives hear about what is going on in libraries within their communities.
He congratulated Autumn Holladay and Anahy Chinas-Campos for the wonderful poster board
they created which was presented at the breakfast. He also spoke about our intern
social worker, Michael Lynch, as well as Staff Appreciation Day, held on August 22, 2025.

G. Financial Officer's Report
Ms. Russell moved that the regular monthly disbursements for July, 2025 in the amount
of $398,590.74 having been audited by Marlena Lange and found to be correct, be approved.
Ms. Amelio seconded.

Ayes: Lange, Amelio, Crown, Ortega, Ruyack, Russell - 6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (09/10/25-51)

Mr. Ruyack moved that the regular monthly disbursements for August, 2025 in the amount of
$113, 989.64 having been audited by Evelyn Ortega and found to be correct, be approved.
Ms. Russell seconded.

Ayes: Lange, Amelio, Crown, Ortega, Ruyack, Russell -6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (09/10/25-52)

H. Committee Report
Building & Grounds: All work on the roof project has been completed. Our engineering firm
is working with the contractor to close out the final details of the project.

The Library elevator was out of service for approximately two weeks in August. It took
multiple service calls to our provider to accurately diagnose the problem and then we needed
to wait for ordered parts to arrive. The delay was extended when an additional issue was
discovered and more parts had to be ordered. The repair has been completed and the elevator
is working without issue.

The HVAC controller located in the director's office was brought offline due to power
interruptions and the failure of a surge protector battery. As a result building temperatures
became uncomfortably warm. Service calls to our HVAC control company were required to bring
the system back online and the battery in the surge protector was replaced. The HVAC
controller is now functioning properly.

Work to repair the drain pan connected to air handler unit one will take place after the
cooling season this year. This issue was responsible for the leak in the Children's room
ceiling this June. There have been no further leaks into the Children's room since that time.

We expect the Library's new circulation desk to arrive this week. Installation should take
one day and a temporary patron checkout station will be set up during the installation.

Our exterminator has advised us that we are not experiencing any infestation issues at this
time.

I. Old Business
2025 Library Trustee Training

Mr. Ruyack moved to adjourn the Public Budget Hearing at 7:41. Ms. Amelio seconded.

Ayes: Lange, Ortega, Crown, Amelio, Ruyack, Russell-6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (09/10/25-53)

J. New Business
Mr. Ruyack moved, Whereas, the adoption of the 2026 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 limit for 2026 by at least the sixty
percent of the board of trustees as required by state law on September 10, 2025.

Ms. Amelio seconded.
Ayes: Lange, Ortega, Crown, Amelio, Ruyack, Russell-6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (09/10/25-54)



PAGE 4

J. New Business Cont'd
Mrs. Crown moved to approve the Library District's 2026 Budget. Mr. Ruyack seconded.
Ayes: Lange, Ortega, Crown, Amelio, Ruyack, Russell-6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (09/10/25-55)


K. Adjournment
Ms. Amelio moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:55pm. Ms. Ortega seconded.
Ayes: Lange, Ortega, Crown, Amelio, Ruyack, Russell-6
Noes: None
Motion declared approved. (09/10/25-56)



Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Wyman, Secretary



TABLE OF MOTIONS

(01/8/25-1) Designated Middletown Times Herald Record Digital Edition official newspaper
(01/8/25-2) Designated Orange Bank and Trust as official bank
(01/8/25-3) Appointment of JBG Law & Alex Smith as Library Council
(01/8/25-4) Appointment of Nugent and Haeussler as Financial Audit Firm
(01/8/25-5) Adjournment
(01/8/25-6) Approval of adoption of the minutes for the December, 2024 meeting
(01/8/25-7) Approved monthly disbursement for December, 2024
(01/8/25-8) Approved 2025 Slate of Officers
(01/8/25-9) Executive Session
(01/8/25-10) Approval to Change Bylaws Article VII, section 2
(01/8/25-11) Adjournment
(02/12/25-12) Approval of adoption of the minutes for the January, 2025 reorganizational meeting
(02/12/25-13) Approval of adoption of the minutes for the January, 2025 meeting
(02/12/25-14) Approved monthly disbursement for January, 2025
(02/12/25-15) Approval for the purchase of new staff room furniture
(02/12/25-16) Approval for the purchase of a new circulation desk
(02/12/25-17) Adjournment
(03/18/25-18) Approval of adoption of the minutes for the February, 2025 meeting
(03/18/25-19) Approved monthly disbursement for February, 2025
(03/18/25-20) Executive Session
(03/18/25-21) Approved moving forward with roof repair.
(03/18/25-22) Approved Motion to Amend the Bylaws
(03/18/25-23) Approved Trustee Appointment
(03/18/25-24) Approved 2025 Annual Report to the State of New York
(03/18/25-25) Approved Data Breach Notification Policy
(03/18/25-26) Approved Policy on Employee Notification of Disciplinary Records Request
(03/18/25-27) Adjournment
(04/09/25-28) Approval of adoption of the minutes for the March, 2025 meeting
(04/09/25-29) Approved monthly disbursement for March, 2025
(04/09/25-30) Executive Session
(04/09/25-31) Approval of Cooling System preventative maintenance proposal
(04/09/25-32) Adjournment
(05/14/25-33) Approval of adoption of the minutes for the April, 2025 meeting
(05/14/25-34) Approved monthly disbursement for April, 2025
(05/14/25-35) Approved 2025 Budget Transfer #1
(05/14/25-36) Executive Session
(05/14/25-37) Approval to continue Fine Free Status through 2026
(05/14/25-38) Approval of Easement Request
(05/14/25-39) Adjournment
(06/11/25-40) Approval of adoption of the minutes for the May, 2025 meeting
(06/11/25-41) Approved 2025 Budget Transfer #2
(06/11/25-42) Approved monthly disbursement for May, 2025
(06/11/25-43) Adjournment

TABLE OF MOTIONS

(07/09/25-44) Approval of adoption of the minutes for the June, 2025 meeting
(07/09/25-45) Approved monthly disbursement for June, 2025
(07/09/25-46) Approved 2025 Budget Transfer #3
(07/09/25-47) Approval of Library's Preliminary Budget for 2026
(07/09/25-48) Adjournment
(09/10/25-49) Motion to open Public Budget Hearing
(09/10/25-50) Approval of adoption of the minutes for the July, 2025 meeting
(09/11/25-51) Approved monthly disbursement for July, 2025
(09/11/25-52) Approved monthly disbursement for August, 2025
(09/11/25-53) Motion to close Public Budget Hearing
(09/11/25-54) Approval of the 2026 Tax Cap Increase
(09/11/25-55) Approval of the Library District's 2026 Budget
(09/11/25-56) Adjournment