In attendance were Nina North-Murphy, President, presiding; and Vince Volpe, Vice President, John Dubinsky; Alison Ferring; Jacque Land; Janet Rainford; Keith Savage; and Tom Schlafly.
Also present were Chief Executive Officer Waller McGuire and staff members Maryann Brickey; Tiffany Davis, Jon Drakesmith, Cathy Heimberger, William Jackson, Mary Meyer: Daisy Porter Reynolds, Liz MacArthur; Anna Strackeljahn, Joe Monahan; Justin Struttmann, and Jen Wiese; Liz Reeves, Foundation, and Lisa Stump, Lashly & Baer.
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Ms. North-Murphy.
Minutes:
Ms. Rainford's motion, seconded by Mr. Schlafly, to approve the minutes of the December 6, 2021 meeting was approved.
Public Comment:
No Public Comment was received for the January 2022 meeting.
Chief Executive Officer's Report:
Mr. McGuire summarized the work the Library is doing to help customers during the pandemic, including new vaccine clinics at the Library; a Covid testing site at Walnut Park; and distributing Covid supply kits and masks by the tens of thousands. Staff has been working conscientiously and kept infection rates down: they deserve our congratulations. Daisy Porter-Reynolds reported that the growing Omicron variant numbers had forced the Library to make all programming back to virtual for January and February, unfortunately including the Black History Month keynote program, and stop outreach visits. Over 2500 hotspots have been checked out through the Library's participation in the Emergency Connectivity Fund program, and 4000 Chromebooks are now expected in February to be checked out until June as well. The budget and revenue reports were sent out earlier today. Mr. Jackson reported that revenue is coming in a little ahead of last year. Tax revenue seems to be strong for this budget year. Mr. McGuire reported that Human Resources has been particularly heavily involved in dealing with pandemic matters. Jen Wiese reported that the department had been tracking and working with 54 employees, roughly one in seven. The monthly Human Resources report, sent out last week, is tracking steadily. Liz Reeves reported that the Foundation had decided to push the March fundraiser to June 4th.
The Foundation is working with the Schlafly Brewery, which will be donating proceeds from a specially-brewed SLPL beer to the Library as part of the brewery's 30th anniversary celebration.
Mr. McGuire reported that the Marketing staff would begin taking down the massive Steedman exhibit on January 11th. They are also beginning a public relations campaign to promote the hotspot and laptop program.
New Business:
President North-Murphy asked if there were questions about the proposed updates to the Library's revised Circulation Policy, sent out in the Board packet, which was circulated to the Board and discussed last month. Mr. Savage moved the revised Circulation Policy be approved, seconded by Mr. Schlafly. The motion was approved.
President North-Murphy asked Ms. Rainford to summarize the CEO Performance Assessment document which has been worked on by a Board Committee and discussed by the Board in prior meetings, and was distributed in its proposed final version to the Board last week. Mr. Schlafly asked about the reporting responsibility between the Library Board and the CFO. The Library's Counsel, Lisa Stump, explained that Missouri State Statute mentions a direct reporting line between the Board and the position of Treasurer, and that a statement in the document gives priority always to statute requirements. Ms. Rainford moved to approve the CEO Performance Assessment document, seconded by Mr. Savage. The motion was approved.
President North-Murphy asked for a motion to approve the Resolution Re: Extension of the Old Post Office Lease for 2022, distributed in the Board packet last week. Mr. Savage moved the Resolution be approved, seconded by Ms. Ferring. The motion was approved.
Ms. Ferring moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Mr. Savage. At 6:03 the Board voted to adjourn the meeting.
At the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Public Library on January 6, 2021, the following actions were taken:
| Ms. Rainford moved: | that the Board approve the minutes of the December 6, 2021 meeting. MOTION APPROVED In favor Ms. North-Murphy, Mr. Dubinsky, Ms. Ferring, Mr. Land, Ms. Rainford, Mr. Savage; Mr. Schlafly, and Mr. Sweeney |
| Ms. Rainford moved: | that the Revised Circulation Policy be approved. MOTION APPROVED In favor Ms. North-Murphy, Mr. Dubinsky, Ms. Ferring, Mr. Land, Ms. Rainford, Mr. Savage; Mr. Schlafly, Mr. Sweeney, and Mr. Volpe. |
| Ms. Rainford moved: | that the CEO Performance Assessment document be approved. MOTION APPROVED In favor Ms. North-Murphy, Mr. Dubinsky, Ms. Ferring, Mr. Land, Ms. Rainford, Mr. Savage; Mr. Schlafly, Mr. Sweeney, and Mr. Volpe. |
| Mr. Savage moved: | to approve the Resolution Re: Extension of the Old Post Office Lease for 2022. MOTION APPROVED In favor Ms. North-Murphy, Mr. Dubinsky, Ms. Ferring, Mr. Land, Ms. Rainford, Mr. Savage; Mr. Schlafly, Mr. Sweeney, and Mr. Volpe. |
| Ms. Ferring moved: | that be meeting be adjourned. MOTION APPROVED In favor Ms. North-Murphy, Mr. Dubinsky, Ms. Ferring, Mr. Land, Ms. Rainford, Mr. Savage; Mr. Schlafly, Mr. Sweeney, and Mr. Volpe. |
