President Currie called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m.

Present: Mary Frances Burns, Phyllis Cettomai, Jane Ciavarelli, Diana Fritz, Lilith Kunkel, Ellen Leavitt, Ruth Mizik, Paul Rohrbaugh, Cristina Pope, Donna Wall, and Lois Wynkoop.

Also in Attendance: Interim Director Paul Pormen, Clerk-Treasurer Anne Hoerig, Continuing Education Coordinator Melissa Lattanzi, and Technology Coordinator Brad Stephens.

                    President Currie welcomed Jay Burton from the State Library.

II a. Approval of the Agenda

Cristina Pope, Chair of the Personnel Committee, requested that an executive session be added under New Business. She moved and Ellen Leavitt seconded that the Agenda be approved as amended. Motion carried by voice vote.

Lois Wynkoop moved and Donna Wall seconded that the minutes of the March 20, 2001 meeting be accepted as presented. Motion carried by voice vote.

III. Correspondence – None Presented.


IV a. Clerk-Treasurer’s Report – Anne Hoerig

Clerk-Treasurer Hoerig presented the Financial Reports for the month of March 2001. Mary Frances Burns moved and Paul Rohrbaugh seconded that the reports be accepted as presented. Motion carried by roll call vote.

Ruth Mizik, on behalf of the Finance Committee, requested that the Board consider the budget revision requests that were distributed in the Board Packet. In the Local Funds, it was necessary to move $192 from 101.1120 (Salary Professional) to 101.1110 (Salary-Director).

In the State Funds, it was necessary to move $250 from 202.3720 (Contract-Speaker) to 200.3799 (Contract-Collaborative); move $250 from 202.3610 (Other-Electric) to 202.3290 (Other-Printing); and move $329 from 202.3620 (Other-Gas), $120.73 from 202.3630 (Other-Water), and $7,316 from 202.3910 (Contract-Temp) to 202.5510 (Furniture and Equipment). Motion carried by roll call vote.

 

Interim Director Paul Pormen brought the Board’s attention to the Staff’s accomplishments that he had highlighted in his written report. In addition, Pormen mentioned congratulated Geauga County Library Staff on the very successful Legislative Breakfast that was held on Monday, April 16. Ellen Leavitt and Pormen updated the Board on the latest developments involving the State Budget, including the fact that it is hoped that it will be passed in the next 14 days. A sample copy of Pormen’s letter thanking legislators for their support of libraries for National Library Week mentioned as part of this discussion. Finally, Pormen was pleased to report that the Willoughby-Eastlake Library Board voted to join the NOLA Regional Library System.

 

Technology Coordinator Brad Stephens informed the Board that Steubenville became the 17^th library to join the AskUsQuestions family. Staff Members at participating libraries have been trained in preparation for extending the hours, with service beginning at 3:00 p.m. at the end of April (announced at the beginning of May). Stephens was pleased to report that the class of 38 participants has been set for the Library Technology Institute.

 

Continuing Education Coordinator Melissa Lattanzi highlighted some of the upcoming programs that will be offered next fiscal year, and asked for suggestions from the Board for other topics for which they see a need. Included in these are a series of workshops focusing on leadership. At this point it looks like NOLA will be offering these in place of the Management Symposium in the coming year. This triggered a discussion about the need for school and youth librarians to find new ways of attracting students into using libraries, and that something is needed beyond a "how to" offering. Jay Burton mentioned that the State Library might be interested in a cooperative venture with NOLA on something like this. Lattanzi also reminded the Board about the Trustee workshop next Monday, April 23.

IV e. Board Officers Report - None Presented.

Jay Burton narrated a power point presentation that was written by Carol Roddy about the transition to the statewide resource-sharing project, Multiplying Ohio Resources for Everyone (MORE). President Currie thanked Burton for taking time to bring us up-to-date on this topic.

 

V. Current Business – None Presented.

Ruth Mizik, on Behalf of the Finance Committee, expressed support for the upcoming Personnel Committee’s recommendations concerning the Director’s position and hiring Paul Pormen, Interim Director, to fill it. The Finance Committee also discussed delivery service scenarios should the statewide delivery service not be in place on July 1^st.

Cristina Pope, on behalf of the Personnel Committee moved that the Board move into executive session in order to discuss personnel issues related to hiring Paul Pormen as Executive Director. Motion carried by voice vote at 11:20 a.m.

Lois Wynkoop moved and Ruth Mizik seconded that the regular session resume at 11:50 a.m. Motion carried by roll call vote.

Cristina Pope, on behalf of the Personnel Committee, moved that the new Executive Director’s Job Description be accepted as presented. Motion carried by roll call vote. She then moved, on behalf of the Personnel Committee, that NOLA’s vacation policy be amended to read "Vacation time for the Executive Director will be determined at the time of hire. Vacation time will accrue per payroll period." Motion carried by roll call vote. In addition, on behalf of the Personnel Committee, Pope presented a new Performance Review and Consultation Form and a suggested schedule for using it. Paul Rohrbaugh suggested that the new form with timetable be accepted with the word changes of "review and consultation" on the process line. The Personnel Committee approved the change, and Pope edited her motion, which carried by a role call vote.

Finally, Cristina Pope moved, on behalf of the Personnel Committee, that Paul Pormen be offered the position of Executive Director at $62,400, with six weeks of vacation, 90% paid dental and vision insurance, review and consultations as discussed above, and no consideration of pay increase until the 2002-2003 Fiscal Year. Pormen would begin this position on April 21st, but dental and vision would start to accrue on May 1^st. Motion carried by roll call vote. President Currie, on behalf of the Board, congratulated Paul Pormen.

 

VII a. Items Too Late for the Agenda – None Presented.

VII b. Comments by Visitors – None Presented.

NOLA’s Spring Planning Meeting will be held on May 9, 2001 at 9:00 a.m. at the Avalon Inn. The next Board Meeting will be held on May 15, 2001 at 10:00 a.m. at the NOLA Office and Training Center.

 

Paul Rohrbaugh moved and Ellen Leavitt seconded that the meeting be brought to a close at 11:55 a.m. Motion carried by roll call vote. The board adjourned to a quick lunch that would be followed by a session with Dave Kucsma to reexamine NOLA’s Strategic Plan.

 

_________________________                                            __________________

Mary Frances Burns, Secretary                                               Date

_________________________                                           __________________

Nancy Currie, President                                                           Date