HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-20 - Minutes -Fayetteville Fa Mountain St. Fayetteville, AR 72701 Public Library quest6.7000 uestions@faylib.org faylib.org Board of Trustees September 20, 2024 2 pm MINUTES Walker Room Board: S. Overbey, S. Rodgers, B. Park, B. Bryan, C. Davis Board Absent: R. Qualls, A. Wilbourn Staff: D. Johnson, S. Palmer, T. Ball, C. Moody, C. Karnatz, J. Askins, J. Tuller, K. Lehman, H. Robideaux, C. Dennis, K. Bailey, S. Edwards, S. Herrera, L. Frieden, C. Williams, J. Curry, J. Bunch, L. Husband, S. Raines, J. Smith, B. Lee, A. Easley, M. Hurley, S. Allison, D. Grundl, E. Edrington, R. Canales-Ochoa, D. Wright, V. McMullen, A. Gutche, J. Settje, C. Boland, T. Ogle, A. Taylor Public: N. Linn, M. Rice, M. Taylor, M. Scharfenberg, N. Smith, A. Jones, B. Hollender Our mission is to strengthen our community and empower our citizens through free and public access to knowledge. I. Call to order: S. Overbey called the meeting to order at 2:01 pm II. Roll call III. Minutes - Approval of minutes from August 19, 2024: B. Barry moved to accept the minutes from August 19, 2024. S. Rodgers seconded the motion. All voted AYE. IV. New business A. Report of the Finance Committee from September 19, 2024: S. Rodgers, representing the Finance Committee, reported on the meeting from 9.19.24. The budget is preliminary, so some of the numbers will change. Primary revenue comes from city property tax. The projected 2025 budget has decreased, due to grants that finish in 2024. Expenditures for food services, events and library operations show that food services do not sustain itself; events continue to perform well. 60% of library operation is spent on personnel. Personnel expenses trend in tandem with the library operations revenue over the years since 2016. Operating budgets for various departments are estimated to decrease next year. IT Services will increase in 2025 due to scheduled phone and software upgrades. There is a plan to gradually increase the adjustment of staff salaries, and this revenue. To reach full adjustment to market, the library needs $912,262. The library continues to pay lease payments towards the expansion loan. This can be a starting place to help with staff compensation. D. Johnson reported that he asked Directors as an academic exercise to cut 10% of their budget; all of them directly impacted staff or patrons. S. Overbey asked about other strategies to raise money for the library. D. Johnson reported that they Fayetteville Public Library 401 W. Mountain St. Fayetteville. AR 72701 479.856.7000 questions@fayl ib.org faylib.org were exploring possibilities in leasing the land beyond the south lot. S. Rodgers said that because there is less than two years before the goal to meet the market salary adjustment, the library believes a good land lease will get the building out of debt. V. Discussion A. Amend Closed Days schedule: This would grant an additional holiday, December 26, to the schedule beginning in 2024. C. Davis motioned to approve the amended Closed Days schedule. B. Park seconded the motion. All voted AYE. VI. Public Comment: N. Linn expressed frustration with the Board's inability to talk to each other outside of official meetings, Arsaga's lack of a radio, and safety during FPL+ hours. N. Smith lamented that staff salaries were not better due to funding in other areas of the budget. L. Husband asked when the Board would decide that the Deli was no longer sustainable. J. Curry mentioned that conferences could be cut from the library budget before programming. M. Rice said that in public input sessions before the expansion, the public wanted an Art & Movement Room, Center for Innovation, Deli, and other spaces. Adjournment: B. Park moved to adjourn the meeting. S. Rodgers seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 2:41 pm. 114 rry Bryan,,' Se etary