Library Board Approved Minutes - December 3, 2020

DeForest Area Public Library Regular Library Board Minutes
Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.

  1. Call to Order and Roll Call
    • The meeting was called to order at 4:04 p.m. by President Van Iten.
    • Present: Englesby, Gorres, Lowery, Runez, Van Iten, and Zeimet
    • Absent: Lawrence
    • Also present: Library Director Berg
  2. Approval of Agenda
    • Motion to Approve as presented: Englesby
    • Second: Gorres
    • Action: All approved
  3. Approval of Minutes of November 5th, meeting.
    • Motion to approve minutes: Lowery
    • Second: Englesby
    • Discussion: None
    • Action: All approved
  4. Public Presentations / Communications
    • Berg had sent out a copy of an email received at the library’s general email account from another library’s patron.
  5. Approval of Bills
    • Motion to Approve the Bills: Englesby
    • Second: Gorres
    • Discussion: Berg noted that a lot of book orders are starting to come in. Some of this is due to publishing houses finally getting geared up to their former capacity. Stamps are needed for a year-end giving appeal. Otherwise the bills are utilities, library materials, and supplies. Gorres asked if the MG&E bill was lower than usual. It was due to a credit from the previous month.
    • Action: All Approved
  6. Reports
    1. Director's - Berg noted that new computers are in the back room waiting to be installed. Every day is a challenge with some staff members quarantining. Only one person has tested positive and they had already been gone from the building for over 14 days so there was no close contact with anyone here. The library is handing out craft bags for Winterfest this Saturday. There will be music on the mezzanine with one of our clerks playing keyboard. Cookies and chocolate milk will be available. We are doing movie watch parties for the movie “Elf” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” and will be sending home activity bags for those movies. STEM/ STEAM bags are going out weekly. The Badger Seal bag has been very popular. It includes the equipment needed to make your mask act like an N95 mask. Berg noted that Santa would be zooming this year on Saturday, December 12th with four sessions. Break out rooms would be used for Santa talks with children.
    2. President's - None.
    3. Village Update - Lowery noted that the comprehensive plan is being updated with Mark Roffers. That citizen input was very important as this plan provides a road map for the village. December 7th would be the final chance for budget input prior to approval at that meeting. Lowery anticipated no problem with the library’s budget. There will be a rate increase on the utility bills of about $3.35 per month. This is largely due to increases from Madison Metropolitan Sewer District as they deal with aging infrastructure.
    4. School Update - Runez provided an update on some of the referendum building that is occurring. He noted that refinancing of the 2015 referendum will be happening soon. The tax levy is 1 cent less than last year.
  7. Old Business
    1. Discussion and possible approval of the 2021 budget.
      • Until the budget is finalized at by the village there is no need to finalize the library budget. This should happen at the January meeting.
  8. New Business
    1. None.
  9. Future Agenda Items
    1. 2021 Budget
    2. Annual Report
  10. Adjournment
    • Motion to Adjourn: Zeimet
    • Second: Runez
    • Action: All approved.

Meeting was adjourned at 4:28p.m. See you next year. Next meeting is January 7th, 2021.

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