HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-06-11 MinutesBoard of Trustees Meeting Fayetteville Public Library June 11, 1990 Present: Board Members Camilla Crouch, Bobbye Hay, Foster Park, Carol Phillips; Library Director Linda Harrison; Ozarks Regional Director Karen Duree; Fayetteville Library staff member' June Jefferson; City of Fayetteville Administrative Services Director Kevin Crosson President Bobbye Hay call, the meeting to order at 4:00 pog,. The minutes for the regular May 14 meeting were approved as circulated. Library Director Harrison spoke briefly about the Statistical and Financial reports for May and answered questions about Blue Cross payments and about the recording of interest payments on the McLucas certificates of deposit. President Hay reported on a meeting she had had with City of Fayetteville officials on May 18 regarding relationships between the Library and the City. Issues 'discussed included accounting procedures, lines of communication, and ways of increasing financial support for the Library. One suggestion from a City official focused on a one mill city library tax that might be approved by voters. But Ozarks Regional Director Duree reiterated remarks in her letter to Fayetteville Library Board. members, dated June 6, 1990, maintaining that such a city tax it addition to the present county one -mill tax was of questionable legality, besides creating possible problems for the rest of the Ozarks Regional system. President Hay devoted some time to explaining ramifications of one City proposal that the Library consider capitalizing its book collection in order to draw -upon possible capital funds for further Library support. There would obviously be enormous problems in inventory, including the need to identify the separate items and to differentiate them from those owned by the Ozarks Regional system. In any event capital allocations have already been made for 1990 although we could consider this possibility for 1991. At this point City Administ$ative Services Director Kevin Crosson reported at some length on the straitened financial condition of the City and distributed a number of information charts and reports. Present levels of City service cannot be continued without additional funding; previous reserves have been drawn down severely in the last few years. Thus the City is askingfor a net cut of about 5% in operating budgets for the remainder of 1990 and about 10% through 1991. Virtually all City departments are affected, not just the Library. Carol Phillips reported for the Budget Committee of the Library Board on the 1990 budget as revised, including the requested 5% reduction of City support and expenditures:lto reflect this reduction. Such a total budget of $412,918 would include $36,061 to be drawn from present Library fund balances. After some discussion a motion by -Foster Park, page 2 Minutes of June 11, 1990 seconded by Camilla Crouch, to approve the 1990 budget as presently revised was passed unanimously. Library Director Harrison reported on the 1991 budget plans now under way, noting particularly several deadlines for submission to the City: June 18 -- capital improvements July 2 -- program descriptions and objectives August. 2 -- the remainder of the operating budget President Hay announced special Board meetings for Thusday, June 14, 4:00 p.m.; Wednesday, June 27, 4:00 p.m.; and possibly Monday, July 30, 4x00 p.m., for discussion and needed approval of budget segments. Ozarks Regional Director Duree noted that there may be as much as a 5% increase in funding from Washington County but that won't be known until November, almost at the end of the current budget year. Director Harrison reported briefly on the salary survey being conducted in cities comparable to Fayetteville. Information is now being compiled from the 133 (out of 18 requested) reports returned and will be available in two or three weeks. In response to a patron complaint there was a general discussion about Board policy on Library card registration and the information required of applicants. A consensus established that no change in policy seems warranted at the present time. Ozarks Director Duree suggested that the Board think about a possible voluntarylibrary millage (such as Springdale now has), which might result ii, considerable additional Library revenue. Camilla Ctouch noted the need for more Library publicity, especially about sizable donations. Ms. Crouch will work with Director .Harrison to explore possibilities for additional public notice of Library activities and needs. The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Foster Park, Secretary