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,
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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