ANN ARBOR DISTRICT LIBRARY BOARD
343 S. FIFTH AVENUE, ANN ARBOR, MI
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2013
13-238 I. CALL TO ORDER
President Rosenthal called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
13-239 II. ATTENDANCE
Present: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
Absent: None
Staff: Choate, Neiburger, Nieman, Parker, Wilson (recorder)
13-240 III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
(Item of action)
Secretary Head, supported by, Trustee Murphy moved to approve the Agenda.
AYES: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 7-0.
13-241 IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 11, 2013
(Item of action)
Vice President Barney Newman, supported by Treasurer Kaplan, moved to approve the minutes of November 11, 2013.
AYES: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 7-0.
13-242 V. CITIZENS’ COMMENTS
Donald Salberg
Thank you, my name is Donald Salberg and I live on Lexington Drive in northeast Ann Arbor. I want to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a merry Christmas and a happy new year. I do hope that when you return you will have some new resolutions for dealing with library issues. I will hope that you will revisit the accessibility and safety for disabled individuals at the library. I understand that there were meetings with individuals who were familiar with ADA standards and such prior to the referendum, and I can understand why any changes that should be made would be postponed until after that, since a new building would have made renovations unnecessary. However the referendum did not pass and there were recommendations for improvements especially to the front entrance where there are certain risks along the ramp leading up to the front door. A number of bathrooms can be improved and there are a few other relatively minor changes that would never the less help our disabled move about with more ease while using our library. Secondly, I don’t know if you are interested, but both the Saline area library and the Washtenaw Community College have opted out of the Pittsfield Township State Street Corridor Improvement Authority and both stated the reason was that their taxpayers did not vote positively for a millage to be spent on streets being constructed elsewhere. They would prefer to have the money spent in their facility and services. Now there is a hope that if enough participants do not join the CIA that the project may not be initiated and this library then will not lose the money it will definitely lose if, or should the CIA proceed. And it’s of interest that no real benefit for the library has been identified by any of you. But it appears that the biggest benefit will be to the real estate industry because purportedly 40 per cent of the properties along the State Street development route are undeveloped now. And with that development and with the fact that expected that a lot of property will appreciate about 400 per cent, it appears that the big benefit will come to the real estate people who both sell the properties, develop the properties and manage the properties. I don’t know, Ed, does that seem correct to you? Anyway, I think that in the future, it would also be helpful to obtain some input from the community before making the decision on how to spend the community’s money. Thank you very much.
13-243 VI. FINANCIAL REPORTS
Associate Director Nieman reported November showed unrestricted cash balance just under $14.3 million. Tax receipts just over $11 million, reflecting 96.2% of the budgeted amount, have been received through the end of November. The fund balance stands at just over $8.1 million. Five line items are over budget and will come back into line later in the year.
13-244 VII. APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS
(Item of action)
Trustee Leary, supported by Secretary Head, moved to approve the November 2013 disbursements.
AYES: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 7-0.
13-245 VIII. COMMITTEE REPORTS
13-246 A. BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE
Chairperson Kaplan reported the committee met in November with Dave Fisher of Rehmann Robson and reviewed the draft 2012-2013 audit. The committee was very pleased with the audit.
13-247 B. POLICY COMMITTEE
Chairperson Murphy reported the committee met on December 4th and reviewed updated policies. The committee plans on having the proposed revised polices submitted for Board review in January.
13-248 IX. DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Director Parker reported that this evening she attended a reception for the University of Michigan Special Collections Library Children’s Literature and American Culinary History located in AADL’s lower level display area.
Director Parker has resumed her weekly reading to students at Angell School and had a recent visit from one of the students.
Ira Lax was recognized for his work with the Library Songsters and for an article he had published in the fall edition of the Michigan Music Educator detailing this program.
Our partnership with Washtenaw Literacy is expanding with a second ESL Conversation Group being added at the Traverwood Branch Library. Currently groups are meeting at Malletts Creek, Pittsfield and Traverwood.
Director Parker updated the Board with her service as a Commissioner to the State Bureau for Blind Persons.
AADL will celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Washtenaw Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled @ AADL in May of 2014.
13-249 X. MONTHLY STATISTICS
Associate Director Neiburger presented November 2013 statistics in comparison with November 2012 in the new statistical format.
13-250 XI. NEW BUSINESS
13-251 A. AUDITOR’S REPORT
Dave Fisher, Rehmann Robson
Dave Fisher of Rehmann Robson presented the Ann Arbor District Library 2012-2013 Audit Report. He reviewed the Management’s Discussion and Analysis section of the audit and balance sheet as of 6/30/13. No material audit adjustments were needed. No material weaknesses were found and a clean opinion of the financial statements was given.
13-252 B. RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE 2012-2013 FINANCIAL AUDIT
(Item of action)
Secretary Head, supported by Trustee Leary, moved that the Board resolves to accept the 2012-2013 financial audit prepared by Rehmann Robson and that all resolutions and parts of resolutions that conflict with the provisions of this resolution are rescinded.
AYES: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 7-0
13-253 C. RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE TERM OF LEASE FOR THE SPACE THAT HOUSES THE ANN ARBOR NEWS ARCHIVE
(Item of action)
Trustee Murphy, supported by Vice President Barney Newman, moved to extend the lease with Green Road Associates for one (1) year commencing on January 1, 2014; that the annual rate will be $38,500/year; that all resolutions and parts of resolutions that conflict with the provisions of this resolution are rescinded.
AYES: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 7-0
13-254 D. RESOLUTION OF THANKS TO BETSY BAIER UPON HER RETIREMENT
(Item of action)
Secretary Head, supported by Treasurer Kaplan, moved the Board resolves that it would like to officially thank Betsy Baier for her service as an employee from February 8, 1975 to December 31, 2013 of the Ann Arbor District Library; that all resolutions that conflict with the provisions of this resolution are rescinded.
AYES: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 7-0
13-255 E. RESOLUTION OF THANKS TO SHARON IVERSON UPON HER RETIREMENT
(Item of action)
Secretary Head, supported by Trustee Leary, moved the Board resolves that it would like to officially thank Sharon Iverson for her service as an employee from July 29, 2004 to December 31, 2013 of the Ann Arbor District Library; that all resolutions that conflict with the provisions of this resolution are rescinded.
AYES: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman,Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 7-0
13-256 F. WLBPD@AADL UPDATES
Terry Soave
Terry Soave, Outreach and Neighborhood Services Manager, reviewed the WLPBD@aadl.org website. She explained that public service staff is cross-trained at all AADL locations to help WLBPD patrons. A wiki site is also available for staff use. This site is now being used as a model nationwide via the NLS (National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped). Examples of the collection were presented.
Quarterly newsletters, patron satisfaction surveys and biennial site reviews can be accessed at the WLPBD website.
13-257 XII. CITIZENS’ COMMENTS
There were no additional citizens’ comments.
13-258 XIII. ADJOURNMENT
President Rosenthal responded to public comment on the Board’s decision last month to participate with the Pittsfield Township CIA TIF. The board discussed and reviewed information regarding the CIA TIF, different opinions were expressed, and although the vote was not unanimous the Board’s fiduciary responsibilities require us to make decisions that serve the public the best. Our decisions sometimes use tax revenues; the CIA was one of these. State law gives us the power to opt out of a proposed corridor improvement authority. Our duty is to identify and review all relevant elements, balance them and make the best decision for the Library. We realized that the amount of money is relatively small; we realize that it will improve access to the Pittsfield Branch; we believe that it will increase our tax base in a couple of years. If it doesn’t go forward, the agreement will hold AADL harmless. We believe that a publically funded road is more equitable than requiring those who build along the road do it themselves. We believe in being a good neighbor to Pittsfield. They helped us build on a very marshy site, they supported the building of a cross-walk to a neighborhood across Oak Valley Drive and in creating this CIA, they have included an opt-out, shared the tax increase information with us and negotiated the terms of the agreement. We care about the environment and sustainability. This project will provide improved motorized and non-motorized access between Pittsfield and Ann Arbor, better storm water management, protect the watershed, enable better public transportation and reduce use of cars and improve the quality of the air. We exercise our statutory powers in consideration of our fiduciary responsibilities as best for the Library. Although we were not unanimous in our decision, it was made with a great deal of care.
Trustee Surovell commented that in regards to the properties located within the CIA, improvements made to the area should increase the value of the local properties and thereby increase tax revenues received by the Library.
Trustee Murphy, supported by Treasurer Kaplan, moved to adjourn the meeting.
President Rosenthal adjourned the meeting at 8:52 p.m.