BOARD MEETING MINUTES Approved July 16, 2025
Wednesday June 25, 2025 Board Meeting Preston Town-County Library
CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
The June meeting of the Preston Hot Springs Town-County Library Board was called to order at 5:02pm. Board members Peggy Winebrenner, Rube Wrightsman, Mary Finlay(By Zoom) and Matt Pavelich were present. Library Director, Starla Rice, acting as secretary, was also in attendance.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
Minutes from the May 21, 2025 board meeting were read by the Board members.
Discussion: Peggy entertained a motion that the minutes from the May 21, 2025 meeting be approved. Rube moved that the minutes from the May 21, 2025 board meeting be approved. Matt seconded that motion. All trustees present approved.
BUDGET & CLAIMS
The board was presented with the budget reports for May 2025 and the claims for June 2025.
The following claims were submitted:
Visa $1250.10 Books, Non-Gov grant materials, Repair and Maintenance Supplies, Office Supplies
Coast to Coast $275.00 2 Ink cartridges for Canon Copier for Patron use
Discussion: Peggy entertained a motion to approve the budget reports for May and the June claims. Matt moved that the budget reports for May and the June claims be approved. Rube seconded that motion. All trustees present approved.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Starla presented the June 2025 Director’s Report.
Discussion: The director reported that the Town Pump Charitable Foundation(Books in Search of Kids) grant had been spent down to $5.19 and the Humanities Montana grant for the book discussion group has been overspent by 30.36. Tamarack Federation Grant spending has been spent down and reported to and accepted by the Tamarack Federation Coordinator.
Public Comment
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
1. Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Finalize Budget: Peg entertained a Motion to move this item to the end of General administrative business. Rube moved that finalizing the budget be moved to the end of General administrative business. Matt seconded that motion. All trustees present approved.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Discussion of what trustees learned in the 3 trustee trainings. The first training was Legal and Operational Issues Facing Montana’s Libraries presented by Colet Bartow from the Montana State Library and Chris Goss from Helena College. Trustees found Chris Goss voice a little boring but the information was solid. The director appreciated the reminder that the public library is there for continuing education for adults. The second training was In Conversation: Public Officials Code of Ethics, Open Meetings and Public Participation presented by Tracy Cook from the Montana State Library and Ashley Kent and Dan Clark from The Local Government Center at MSU Extension. All trustees enjoyed this training and found the information relevant and engaging. The third trustee training was Connecting with Local Government Officials: Do Public Libraries Help Mitigate Crime presented by Tracy Cook from the Montana State Library and Dr. Amir Neto Director of Regional Economic Research Institute Florida Gulf Coast University. Trustees found this training questionable in its presentation and findings. One trustee commented that, “there was 5 minutes of materials spread over a full hour.” One point the presenter made was that the library offers an education option with more value than crime. These 3 trainings gave trustees Peg Winebrenner, Matt Pavelich and Mary Finlay the 3 hours of training required to satisfy the Public Library Standards. Rube Wrightsman completed his training at the Tamarack Federation Meeting in April.
2. Purchase of computers to replace computers that are at end of service: Windows 10 will stop offering security updates October 2025, only 2 staff HP Probooks will upgrade to Windows 11. The director is asking to replace all of the patron computers, the circulation desk computer and the director’s computer for a total of 3 larger screen laptops with 10 key and at least 4 USB ports and 4 additional laptops/notebooks. The director has contacted Refurb Connect in hopes of finding what we need in a refurbished computer rather than purchasing new. Peg entertained a motion that the director purchase computers and software to replace 7 computers, with a $7,000 cap on spending. Matt moved that the director purchase computers and software to replace 7 computers, with a $7,000 cap on spending. Mary seconded that motion. All trustees present approved.
Discussion: Peg expressed concern about replacing the computers all at once, that it will put the library in the position that it will likely have to replace all the computers all at once in the future.
3. General Administrative Business: Discuss staff wage increase: Peg entertained a motion that the staff wages be increased by $1 per hour starting January 1, 2026 provided that there is funding to do so. Matt moved that the staff wages be increased by $1 per hour starting January 1, 2026 provided that there is funding to do so. Rube seconded that motion. All trustees present approved.
Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget Finalized: Peg entertained a motion to approve the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Library Revenue Budget at $77,168 and the Expenditures budget at $97,277.55 which includes the $7,000 technology purchase and the $1 per hour staff increase. Matt moved to approve the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Library Revenue Budget at $77,168 and the Expenditures budget at $97,277.55 which includes the $7,000 technology purchase and the $1 per hour staff increase. Rube seconded that motion. All trustees present approved.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
ADJOURN
Meeting adjourned at 6:30pm as per motion by Matt; seconded by Rube. All trustees present approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Starla Rice, Director
Approved:
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Chair Person Vice Chair Person
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Trustee Trustee
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Trustee