Library Board Approved Minutes - April 1, 2021

DeForest Area Public Library Regular Library Board Minutes
Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.

  1. Call to Order and Roll Call
    • The meeting was called to order at 4:06 p.m.by Vice President Englesby.
    • Present: Englesby, Runez and Lowery
    • Absent: Gorres, Lawrence Zeimet, Van Iten
    • Also present: Library Director Berg
  2. Approval of Agenda
    • Motion to approve as presented: Runez
    • Second: Lowery
    • Discussion: None.
    • Action: All approved
  3. Approval of Minutes of March 4th meeting.
    • Motion to approve minutes: Lowery
    • Second: Runez
    • Discussion: None
    • Action: All approved
  4. Public Presentations / Communications
    • None.
  5. Approval of Bills – Berg had emailed out the bill run prior to the meeting
    • Motion to Approve the Bills: Lowery
    • Second: Runez
    • Discussion: Berg noted that this is a short bill run since we are meeting on the first of the month and many of the utility bills we normally see at the end of the month or the beginning of the month haven’t arrived yet. Berg will move those bills to the village for payment as they arrive. The library board can then approve them at the May meeting. Berg noted that a new vendor for video / audio has been found. This month’s bill run has the first invoices from Midwest Tape appearing. Lowery asked what the Colibri bill was for. Berg explained it is for laminating paperbacks so as to extend the life of the books.
    • Action: All Approved
  6. Reports
    1. Director's - Berg noted that the new hire for Adult Services Librarian will be beginning on April 19th. She is moving here from Illinois for the job. She graduated from UW Madison so is familiar with the area and interned at Monona and Middleton Public Libraries. Some library staff members were able to take advantage of a vaccine clinic organized by the Waunakee library director. The library elf managed to injure himself while frolicking in the snow while taping a library video. The children’s librarian injured herself playing hockey (not for the library). Jonathan from the DeForest Times Tribune will be running a library-themed page in the next issue (during National Library Week). He was here for a tour and a chat this morning
    2. President's - None.
    3. Village Update - Lowery noted that a housing study had looked at supply and demand in the village. The demand for housing and rentals has gone up in the past few years. Affordability is an issue. Home ownership is on those in poverty and for future workers in DeForest. There are only about 200 apartments in the village and about 60 are for seniors. There was talk about funding for housing through Community Development Block Grants.
    4. School Update - Runez reported that affordable housing was of interest for teachers in the district. Four-day school begins next week for elementary schools, with middle school, and high school expanding in-person instruction in the following weeks. Construction on Harvest Intermediate School continues on time and under budget. Construction bidding has been so good that there has been millions of dollars in interest avoidance savings for the taxpayers in the district.
  7. Old Business
    1. None
  8. New Business
    1. Discussion and Possible Approval of a Revision to the Meeting Room Policy in light of Public Health guidelines.
      • Motion to approve the revision: Lowery
      • Second: Runez
      • Discussion: Berg explained the need for language for meeting room use that addressed the public health guidelines. The language seemed appropriate to those present.
      • Action: All approved
    2. Discussion about a post-pandemic strategic planning process.
      • Since many board members were missing, it was decided to bring back this topic to the May board meeting.
  9. Future Agenda Items
    1. Annual Meeting
  10. Adjournment
    • Motion to Adjourn: Runez
    • Second: Lowery
    • Action: All approved.

Meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m. Next meeting May 6th, 2021.

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