Board of Directors Meeting Minutes – July 6, 2020

In attendance were Nina North-Murphy, President, presiding; John Dubinsky, Alison Ferring, Janet Rainford, Keith Savage, Thomas Schlafly, David Sweeney, and Vince Volpe. 

Also present were Chief Executive Officer Waller McGuire and staff members Tiffany Davis, Jon Drakesmith, Cathy Heimberger, William Jackson, Kathy Leitle, Mary Meyer, Angie Miraflor, Daisy Porter-Reynolds, Justin Struttmann, and Jen Wiese; Liz Reeves, Library 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. Volpe, to approve the minutes of the June 1, 2020 meeting was approved. 

Public Comment:
Mr. McGuire read a letter from a staff member concerned about the medical exemption for members of the public who say they cannot where masks because of health reasons. Mr. McGuire will respond to the staff member. 

Chief Executive Officer’s Report: 

• Mr. McGuire presented the HR report. 
• Mr. Jackson presented the financial report. 
• Mr. McGuire stated that a Fiscal Affairs Committee meeting will be scheduled in the next few weeks. 
• Ms. Porter-Reynolds gave an overview of Public Services during Phase 1 of reopening and the increase of services to fifteen locations in Phase 2. 
• Ms. Porter-Reynolds stated that the Jewish Community Relations Council has arranged for volunteer notaries to be at seven Library locations on four days at the end of July to notarize absentee ballots as required by current Missouri law. She thanked Board Member David Sweeney for his help in arranging this. 
• Mr. McGuire stated that Foundation funds had been used to add 200 Hot Spots to the Library’s collection, bringing the total number available for circulation to 280. 
• Ms. Reeves presented the Foundation report. 
• Mr. McGuire stated that to date, there have been two staff members with positive COVID-19 tests. All protocol has been followed in these cases with the one at Buder not requiring public notification because the staff member had no contact with the public. The one at Schlafly did have some contact with the public, so a public notice was sent to media outlets. While there have been other reports of exposure, no additional positive tests have been reported. 
• In response to a question about requiring customers to produce a doctor’s note saying they cannot wear a mask for medical reasons, Ms. Stump stated that their review of the law says we cannot do so. She will investigate further. 

New Business:
Mr. McGuire presented a resolution for vote that will formalize the Library’s condominium agreement with Confluence Academy. 

Mr. Dubinsky’s motion, seconded by Mr. Schlafly, to approve “A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the City of St. Louis Municipal Library District Authorizing and Approving the Execution of an Amendment and Restatement of the Sale Contract Between the Library and the St. Louis Public Library FCB Building Corporation for Purchase of the Administrative Headquarters Condominium Unit and a Debt Forgiveness Agreement” was approved. 

Mr. Dubinsky’s motion, seconded by Mr. Volpe, to go into Executive Session to Discuss Individually Identifiable Personnel Records, was approved by a unanimous roll call vote.

The regular meeting ended at 6:08 p.m. 

At the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Public Library on July 6, 2020, the following actions were taken: