In attendance were Vincent Volpe, presiding; Keith Savage, Vice President (by video); John Dubinsky (by video); Alison Ferring; Jacque Land; Nina North-Murphy; and Janet Rainford (by video).
Also present were Chief Executive Officer Waller McGuire and staff members Maryann Brickey, Tiffany Davis, Jon Drakesmith, Adele Heagney, Cathy Heimberger, Joe Monahan, Liz McArthur, Daisy Porter-Reynolds, Liz Reeves, Jim Slattery, Justin Struttmann, Lisa Thorp, and Jen Wiese, as well as counsel Lisa Stump, Lashly & Baer.
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 5:36 p.m. by President Volpe.
Minutes
Mr. Land proposed a correction to the minutes of the December 7, 2022, meeting: removing a duplicate name. Ms. North-Murphy's motion, seconded by Mr. Dubinsky, to approve the minutes as corrected was unanimously in favor.
Report of the Fiscal Affairs Committee
Chair Sweeney reported that the Committee discussed process improvements in the Business Office, banking relationships, revenue from the 15th Street parking lot, and the completion of the sale of the north portion of the Administrative Offices building to Confluence Academy.
Chief Executive Officer's Report
Mr. McGuire discussed the public reaction to the budget rule proposed by Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. Nearly 20,000 comments on the rule were made, most opposed.
Mr. Slattery reported that our cash balances are slightly ahead of 2022 due to the Administrative Offices sale and the large donation received from the Foundation. The budget approved by the Board last year is expanding as planned. Mr. Savage recommended that Mr. Slattery meet with the City of St. Louis's Collector of Revenue, Gregory F.X. Daly.
Ms. Wiese reported that open enrollment concluded successfully.
Mr. McGuire announced that the Board of Directors will meet socially with the Foundation Board of Directors on February 16. He mentioned that the $825,000, received from the Foundation in 2022 was far more than most public libraries receive and that this demonstrates St. Louis's commitment to library services.
Ms. Reeves said that the Foundation Board elected a new trustee, George Fraser of J.P. Morgan, at their December meeting, and that the Prom event for donors has been moved to March 31,
Unfinished Business
The Board continued the discussion of the three policies that were introduced in December: Appropriate Use of the Library, Collection Development, and Child Safety. Mr. Dubinsky's motion to approve the Appropriate Use Policy, seconded by Mr. Land, was approved. There was further discussion regarding the Collection Development policy. Ms. Rainford wanted additional changes to bring it closer to St. Louis County Library's policy; President Volpe said that today's change was time-sensitive but that the Board could revisit the policy as needed. Ms. Ferring's motion to approve the policy, seconded by Ms. North-Murphy, was approved. Mr. Dubinsky's motion, seconded by Ms. North-Murphy, to approve the Child Safety policy was approved; Mr. Sweeney's motion, seconded by Ms. North-Murphy, to rescind the current Disruptive or Unattended Children procedures was approved.
Executive Session
At 6:08 p.m., President Volpe proposed an executive session to discuss legal and real estate matters. A roll-call vote resulted in approval.
At 6:17, the Board came out of executive session.
Adjournment
At 6:17, Ms. North-Murphy moved, seconded by Ms. Ferring, to adjourn the meeting. All were in favor.
At the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Public Library on January 9, 2023, the following actions were taken:
| Ms. North-Murphy moved: | that the Board approve the minutes of the December 3, 2022, meeting. MOTION APPROVED.(All in favor.) |
| Mr. Dubinsky moved: | that the Board approve the revised Appropriate Use of the Library policy. MOTION APPROVED. (All in favor.) |
| Ms. Ferring moved: | that the Board approve the revised Collection Development policy. MOTION APPROVED. (In favor: President Volpe, Mr. Savage, Mr. Dubinsky, Ms. Ferring, Mr. Land, Ms. North-Murphy, Mr. Sweeney. Opposed: Ms. Rainford.) |
| Ms. Ferring moved: | that the Board approve the new Child Safety policy. MOTION APPROVED. (All in favor.) |
| Mr. Dubinsky moved: | that the Board rescind the Disruptive and Unattended Children procedure. MOTION APPROVED. (All in favor.) |
| President Volpe moved: | that the Board enter executive session to discuss legal matters and real property. MOTION APPROVED. (All in favor.) |
| Ms. North-Murphy moved: | that the meeting be adjourned. MOTION APPROVED. (All in favor.) |
