In attendance were Vincent Volpe, President, presiding; and Keith Savage, Vice President; Jacque Land, Nina North-Murphy, Janet Rainford, and Tom Schlafly.
Also present were Chief Executive Officer Waller McGuire and staff members Maryann Brickey, Amanda Endicott, Cathy Heimberger, Chiquetta Hunter, Laura Kuhl, Liz McArthur, Mary Meyer, Daisy Porter-Reynolds, Justin Struttmann, Liz Reeves, Jim Slattery, Lisa Thorpe, Jen Wiese, and Lisa Stump, Lashly & Baer.
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by President Volpe.
Minutes:
Mr. Savage's motion, seconded by Mr. Schlafly, to approve the minutes of the March 6, 2023 meeting was approved.
Fiscal Affairs Committee:
Mr. Sweeney reported that the committee met with the Library's auditors on March 20th to go over the 2022 audit. Rubin Brown issued an unmodified opinion on the Library's FY 2022 statements, indicating a clean audit, which the committee voted to accept.
Chief Executive Officer's Report:
Liz McArthur, Director of Neighborhood Services, reported on the successful work going on to create the Library's 78 youth services summer camps - 95 percent booked - voting site preparation at 6 locations, and unprecedented demand for passports with 435 applications processed in March.
Mr. Slattery reported on the Library's current fiscal condition and went over the budget and investment reports. City tax revenue received is already at 98% of budgeted revenue, bond debt service has been paid, and the Library has been investing funds in Treasury bills and CDs to generate more income. Operating expenses are at 39.1% versus a budget of 41.7%, and we anticipate higher payroll expenses due to cost of living and merit increases occurring in April. The Board asked questions about CD rates and downtown assessments and congratulated Mr. Slattery on his work after eight months at the Library.
Ms. Reeves reported that the Prom event at Central Library was a success raising $35,000 for future exhibits at the Library. She mentioned the upcoming Prom exhibit opening and the reception to introduce the governing and Foundation boards to the home of Jenni Gemberling.
Ms. Wiese presented the Human Resources report. The Board asked questions about the benefits offered to staff by the Library and how they were accounted for in the report. Ms. Wiese responded that the Library had increased its contribution to employee premiums in 2023 and offered a much wider variety of options.
Mr. McGuire reported that the Library is working with the City on the possibility of $250,000 in American Recovery Program dollars coming to the Library as a grant to pay for public technology training. The CDA, which is managing the funds as grants, requires a Conflict of Interest Resolution and Corporate Resolution be approved by the Board before the process can move forward. The Board asked questions about how the staffing would be managed and recorded.
Mr. Sweeney's motion, seconded by Mr. Schlafly, that the Resolutions be approved was adopted.
New Business:
Mr. Struttmann went through the Library's proposal for handling merit increases and cost of living increases which policy schedules in April. Staff propose a 4% cost of living increase and a merit increase of up to 2%. In addition, staff proposes increasing Public Safety Officer wages to $16 an hour, based on the increasingly important work and the market. Including the associated retirement and SSA costs, the proposal will increase the approved Library budget by approximately $136,000. Higher than budgeted interest income and other revenue will cover this increased cost. The Board asked questions about current market and hiring conditions and whether the changes would keep the Library competitive in the current employment market.
Ms. Rainford's motion, seconded by Mr. Schlalfly, that the Board approve the $136,000 increase to the budget to cover increased salary costs was approved.
Executive Session:
At 6:25 Ms. Rainford's motion seconded by Mr. Sweeney, that the Board go into executive session to discuss legal matters was unanimously approved by roll call vote.
At 6:45 the Board came out of executive session. Mr. Schlafly moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Mr. Savage. The motion was approved unanimously.
At the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Public Library on April 3, 2023, the following actions were taken:
| Mr. Savage moved: | that the Board approve the minutes of the March 6, 2023 meeting. MOTION APPROVED (In favor, Mr. Volpe, Mr. Savage, Mr. Land, Ms. North-Murphy, Ms. Rainford, Mr. Schlafly, and Mr. Sweeney.) |
| Mr. Sweeney moved: | that the Board approve the Conflict of Interest Resolution and Corporate Resolution as proposed. MOTION APPROVED (In favor, Mr. Volpe, Mr. Savage, Mr. Land, Ms. North-Murphy, Ms. Rainford, Mr. Schlafly, and Mr. Sweeney.) |
| Ms. Rainford moved: | that the Board approve the proposed budget increase of $136,000 to cover cost of living and merit pay increases and an increase in Public Safety Officer pay rates. (In favor, Mr. Volpe, Mr. Savage, Mr. Land, Ms. North-Murphy, Ms. Rainford, Mr. Schlafly, and Mr. Sweeney.) |
| Ms. Rainford moved: | that the meeting go into executive session to discuss legal matters. MOTION APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE (In favor, Mr. Volpe, Mr. Savage, Mr. Land, Ms. North-Murphy, Ms. Rainford, Mr. Schlafly, and Mr. Sweeney.) |
| Mr. Schlafly moved: | that the meeting be adjourned. MOTION APPROVED (In favor, Mr. Volpe, Mr. Savage, Mr. Land, Ms. North-Murphy, Ms. Rainford, Mr. Schlafly, and Mr. Sweeney.) |
