BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Wednesday November 15, 2023 Board Meeting   Preston Town-County Library

CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL

The November 15, 2023 meeting of the Preston Hot Springs Town-County Library Board was called to order at 5:05pm.  Board members Peg Winebrenner, Rube Wrightsman, Matt Pavelich, Nisca Warthen, and M’lin Kendrick(by Zoom) were present.  Library Director, Starla Rice, acting as secretary, was also in attendance.  

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

Minutes from the October 18, 2023 board meeting were read by the Board members.  

Discussion: Peg entertained a motion that the minutes from the October 18, 2023, meeting be approved.  Matt moved that the minutes from the October 18, 2023 board meeting be approved.  M’lin seconded that motion.  All trustees present approved.

BUDGET & CLAIMS

The board was presented with the budget reports for October 2023 and the claims.  Peg entertained a motion to approve the October budget reports and claims. M’lin moved that the claims and the budget reports for October 2023 be approved.  Rube seconded that motion.  All trustees present approved.

The following claims were submitted:

Visa                  $415.88     Books, Repair and Maintenance Supplies, Tamarack Federation

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Starla presented the November 2023 Director’s Report.  

Discussion: None  

Old Business:  None

New Business:

1. Annual Report:  The Director presented the Preston Hot Springs Town/County Library Annual Report for Fiscal year 2022/2023.  It required correction of the number of people served. A clean up of sentence structure on page 2 and date correction on Spreadsheets Page 3.  Peg entertained a motion to approve the libraries Annual Report Fiscal Year 2022/2023 with suggested corrections.  Matt moved that the libraries Annual Report Fiscal Year 2022/2023 be approved with suggested corrections.  Nisca seconded that motion.  All trustees present approved.
2. Public Library Statistics:  Part of complying with the Public Library Standards is going over the Public Library Statistics with the trustees of the library.  The Director Submitted the Public Library Statistics to the Montana State Library November 2, 2023. They were approved November 14, 2023. The Public Library Statistics serve as a libraries annual report to the state of Montana.
3. Staff Christmas Bonuses:  After some general discussion of how low the wages are the board settled on bonuses for the library staff.  Peg entertained a motion that Director Starla Rice receive a $600 bonus. Janitor Martha Vogel receive a $250 bonus. Media/Circdesk Jessie Stephens receive a $200 bonus.  Programming/Circdesk Nina DeCoster receive a $200 bonus. Matt moved that Director Starla Rice receive a $600 bonus. Janitor Martha Vogel receive a $250 bonus. Media/Circdesk Jessie Stephens receive a $200 bonus.  Programming/Circdesk Nina DeCoster receive a $200 bonus. Rube seconded that motion.  All trustees present approved.
4. General Administrative Business:  Library Policy Manual:  The board went over corrections for approval at the December board meeting.  Preston Hot Springs Library Personnel Policy:  The board went over corrections for approval at the December Board Meeting.  Town Council Meeting Attendance:  Starla will attend.

The November meeting of the Library Board of Trustees was scheduled for:  December 20, 2023 at 5:00pm.

PUBLIC COMMENT:  Look into pay raises to staff in January 2024. Decide on $1, $2, or $3 across the board.  The board wants to see what the November taxes look like, before making a decision.

Look into the cost of replacing the siding with something long lasting and adding wainscoting. Do a fundraising project through The Hot Springs Library Foundation.

ADJOURN

Meeting adjourned at 6:56 pm as per motion by Nisca, seconded by Matt.  All trustees present approved.