In attendance were Nina North-Murphy, President, presiding; and Vince Volpe, Vice President; Tom Schlafly; John Dubinsky; Janet Rainford, and Alison Ferring.
Also present were Chief Executive Officer Waller McGuire and staff members Tiffany Davis, Jon Drakesmith, Cathy Heimberger, William Jackson, Daisy Porter-Reynolds, Anna Strackeljahn, 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:
Mr. Schlafly's motion, seconded by Ms. Rainford, to approve the minutes of the August 2, 2021 meeting was approved.
Public Comment: No public comment was received for the July meeting. There was discussion about whether the Board wanted to return to in-person meetings, and it was decided to resurvey the Board in October.
Fiscal Affairs Committee:
Chair Vince Volpe reported that the Committee met on September 8th to go over the 2022 budget as proposed by staff, He asked staff to make a shorter version of the budget presentation made to the Committee. Mr. McGuire summarized the staff budget process and asked Mr. Jackson to go over the highlights of the budget. Mr. Jackson summarized the revenue, expense, debt, and reserve numbers proposed in the 2022 budget sent to the Board the prior week.
Ms. Rainford and Mr. Dubinsky asked staff to have a long-term strategy concerning how the Library would adjust budgeting if the changing numbers resulted in reduced revenue.
Mr. Volpe stated that the Fiscal Affairs Committee recommended the proposed 2022 budget be approved by the Board. Mr. Schlafly moved that the Board approve the proposed 2022 budget, seconded by Mr. Dubinsky. The motion was unanimously approved.
Chief Executive Officer's Report:
Mr. McGuire stated that the current strategic plan was created to be used through December of 2021. He stated that staff has been working on a revised plan to propose, but because staff is very busy right now with pandemic, ILS, and staffing planning, he has slowed the schedule. This will also allow incorporating changes brought about by the pandemic. The Board is ultimately responsible for the strategic plan, and Mr. McGuire will propose a revised schedule in November. Mr. McGuire summarized staff efforts to maintain services while maintaining the masking requirements. He specifically mentioned the Career Online High School program, the Summer Camp program, and the new SLPL online book club hosted by KMOX reporter Debbie Monterey. He mentioned an independent examination of the SLPL collection to study its diversity, run by Collection HQ out of Scotland, rated the Library's collection as the most diverse they had studied. He commended staff through the years for this accomplishment, and for continuing to work to improve this measure of reflecting our customers and community. Staff summarized the Finance and Human Resources reports sent out to the Board the prior week. Board members asked about the Library's procedures and requirements on vaccinations and testing. Mr. Dubinsky and Ms. Rainford stated that they felt strongly that the Library needed to move towards full vaccination and testing. The Foundation report summarized monies transferred to the Library for services and some capital. Ms. Porter-Reynolds introduced the new Director of Neighborhood Services, Liz McArthur. Mr. Struttmann described negotiations with the contractor on the Julia Davis project which had resulted in cost reductions from $717,000 to $598,000, an increased MBE participation from 0% to 36%. Work is moving forward.
Mr. Schlafly, participating from the DCA Airport in Washington, had to leave the meeting at 6:05 to catch a flight.
Executive Session
President North-Murphy called for a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss contracts and matters. Ms. Rainford moved to go into executive session, seconded by Mr. Volpe. President North-Murphy, Ms. Rainford, Mr. Volpe, and Mr. Dubinsky unanimously approved the motion to go into Executive Session.
At 6:10 p.m. the Board came out of Executive Session and Ms. Rainford moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Mr. Dubinsky. The motion was approved unanimously.
At the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Public Library on August 2, 2021, the following actions were taken:
| Mr. Volpe moved: | that the Board approve the minutes of the July 12, 2021 meeting. MOTION APPROVED (In favor Ms. North-Murphy, Mr. Land, Mr. Savage, Mr. Schlafly, and Mr. Volpe.) |
| Mr. Savage moved: | that the revised Circulation Policy be approved. MOTION APPROVED (In favor Ms. North-Murphy, Mr. Land, Mr. Savage, Mr. Schlafly, and Mr. Volpe.) |
| Mr. Savage moved: | that the revised 2021 Conflict of Interest Resolution. MOTION APPROVED (In favor Ms. North-Murphy, Mr. Land, Mr. Savage, Mr. Schlafly, and Mr. Volpe.) |
| Mr. Volpe moved: | that the Board go into Executive Session to discuss contracts and legal matters. MOTION APPROVED (In favor Ms. North-Murphy, Mr. Land, Mr. Savage, Mr. Schlafly, and Mr. Volpe.) |
| Mr. Schlafly moved: | that be meeting be adjourned. MOTION APPROVED (In favor Ms. North-Murphy, Mr. Land, Mr. Savage, Mr. Schlafly, and Mr. Volpe.) |
