HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-07-23 MinutesMinutes
Fayetteville Public Library Board of Trustees Special Meeting 7/23/93 at 12 noon
Attending: Charles Kirchen, Jeff Koenig, Carol Phillips, Anne Prichard - Trustees;
Linda Harrison, Fayetteville Public Library Director; Karen Duree,
Ozarks Regional Library Director; and Library Staff: Mary Jo Godfrey,
June Jefferson, Susan Sisson
Acting President Koenig called the meeting to order at 12 noon. He reported on his
meeting with Harrison and Mayor Fred Hanna. The Mayor is committed to continuing
levels of committment to the Library even though funding is tied to the fact that
a year of cash flow has been lost because of the Sales Tax setback. They specifically
talked about the leaking roof on the annex which should have been funded from last
year's budget request. $17,000 is needed. This is now a top priority. The Library
building is a City building. The City is required to do maintenance. Presently,
there is a financial crunch concerning sewer and water. As of January 1, 1994, fines
for neglecting sewer repair would be staggering ($10,000 a day) so attention is being
directed to that problem.
Harrison presented the Capital Improvements Program for approval. The roof could be
fixed in 1993. In 1994, the carpet in the Children's Department needs to be replaced,
their card catalog cabinet needs updating and half of the funds for the Americans
with Disabilitie ct compliance should be set aside. Nothing else can be funded
because the item% elow the CIP minimum of $10,000. In the future, several items
should be packaged together and presented again each year.
The Mayor gave a feeling of hope. He was supportive of the Library and thought other
members of the Council felt the same way. Harrison and Koenig stressed that the
number of books in the Library are way below the per capita figures of the state and
nation. Koenig suggested that the Library should raise its own funds as much as
possible. However, now is not the best time to raise the millage.
Harrison reminded the Board that there are funds for fixing the roof and $25,000 for
books in the last quarter of 1993. Through June 1993, $14,000 has already been spent
leaving only $11,000 to spend only on the standing orders. There are no funds for
discretionary purchases. Koenig wished to have these funds released and have three
bids for the repair of the roof.
Harrison is submitting only two bids this year for consideration. The first pages
of both budgets are the same. In 1990 the Library employees were included in a
survey of City employees. Both the City and the Library began new pay plans then.
In 1992 the Library plan was revised but not adopted. The City revises its pay plan
each year. Even with the higher pay plan in the first budget, Library personnel are
not equal to the City personnel pay plan, which is higher.
The second budget has a Target Overrun of $4,891. In the first budget the Target
Overrun is $16,153. The target budget does not work in either budget. 80% of the
Library's Operations Budget is for personnel.
There is an overall decrease in the rest of the budget, mostly because of a renegotiated
custodial contract.
Even the highest amounts are below current City plans. There is no way to
compare libraries in this region. Jefferson pointed out that the results of
a survey of libraries, analyzed by the City Personnel Staff, found that the libraries
in this region were not comparable. The Fayetteville Public Library compares
to the University of Arkansas libraries in service level and use.
Phillips moved to accept budget #1, Kirchen seconded, passed. The budget will
be submitted by Monday, July 26th.
Harrison spoke of a recent town hall meeting. She was given only 12 hours of
notice. November 23rd there will be a public hearing after the City budget pie
is cut. Steve Davis has told Jefferson there will be public hearings for this
budget. Telephone trees will be used togather public support. Harrison
usually hears from Davis about these hearings.
Koenig ended the meeting by passing on the Mayor's compliments to the Library
Staff for doing what they have. The Library will probably get part of its
requests but not all. Phillips hopes we can receive more than.a 1% increase.
Koenig adjourned the meeting at 12:30 p.m.
Submitted by,
AnneetAAiLit4
Anne Prichard, Secretary