St. Mary's County, MD Library Board of Trustees for St. Mary's County, 11 Jan 2021

Previous Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: 1/11/21 Library Board of Trustees

Description

No description was provided for this meeting.
If this is YOUR meeting, an easy way to fix this is to add a description to your video, wherever mtngs.io found it (probably YouTube).

A

A

Good morning, good morning to the january library, florida trustees meeting.

A

Yeah, I'm jim hanley, the board president. um We normally do introduce ourselves.

A

Alphabetically, I'm going to go out of sequence for this meeting to introduce.

A

Our newest member, john walters and john, if you just again give you a little highlight.

B

I don't think he muted yeah he's been muted. I'm I'm all right how about now there you go excellent.

C

Okay, all right history, major in college, four years of military service uh with the army, both.

C

Europe, vietnam, uh trade association management in washington about two and a half years, 16 years of.

C

College fundraising, followed by a 20-year career with the financial services firm, edward jones.

C

And I am now in the third year of my four-year retirement program,.

A

Thank you, john. So if we continue with the rest, uh I'm doing stuff about it like carolyn here, first.

D

I thought maybe we were going by first name.

D

We'll make it work good morning. My name is michael dunn. I work at st.

D

Mary's college, as the assistant vice president of equity, and including great to be here today.

E

Good morning I'm carolyn guy.

F

Good morning I'm hi.

E

Good morning, I'm trusted setlac a member of the board.

B

Janice you're muted, I'm trying to unmute you.

B

Janice you're muted, so you need to unmute yourself somehow here.

G

I think you have to unmute her calling I've done that.

B

Okay, can you hear me? Yes, there we go excellent yeah. My wi-fi went out.

B

All right go ahead, janice and introduce yourself. This is janice wallpower.

H

And I've been a member of the board going almost eight years since my last year.

H

And um I'm from the county born and raised in saint mary's county educated here in the.

H

County and uh worked on my master's degree using the st mary county public library.

A

Okay, thank you um yeah. If I'm going to try to switch wi-fi but uh and john normally, I'm really.

A

Still much smoother than this sorry um I'd like to also take the opportunity to again acknowledge.

A

And thank beth roth, who recently left the board after committing her first term in this december.

A

He's highly missed okay, so we do have a quorum.

A

And so the first item is the approval of the november. um As you recall, we didn't meet in.

A

December so obviously we're reverting back to the prior month, so hopefully you've had.

A

A chance to review the minutes um so I'll go ahead and make the motion to accept the minutes.

A

And I'll need a second one, carolyn and uh just indicate my voice, say: hi hi.

A

A

um The second item- and our agenda, of course, is the yale the reports of expenditures.

A

I'm gonna go ahead and make the motion um and I'll take a second for that.

A

Okay carolyn. Thank you. Okay, any questions or comments.

A

Okay, I just um there's a few. I saw on there that.

A

But just the main one we had build.com, that's an excuse. I don't recall seeing that expense before.

E

Okay, jim, what happened was when the code started to rise, st county.

E

And I didn't know if they were going to close us or what was going to do. We set up bill.com.

E

That allows me to automatically tap bill.com and checks out so that I don't have to come.

E

In I didn't have to come in the office to cut checks and hunt down michael and have him sign.

A

Any other questions.

A

If not all, in favor of approving the uh eals indicate again with due by voice.

A

Indicate by saying hi all right: hi hi, okay, the motion carries.

A

Sandy euro, all right.

F

F

F

F

F

um Dollar: five price dollar percent thousand eight cents value.

F

A

Okay, all right so I'll make the motion to accept.

A

The uh treasures report has just read and heard um I'll make the motion, so we need a second.

A

Okay carolyn. Thank you. If you're all in favor, accepting the transfer report indicate by saying.

A

Hi hi all right motion carries okay, yes, andy, let's go with the second part: okay, uh our tank foreign.

F

Thousand five dollars right food offside in the share price. That's that's right! Food offside.

F

You can't buy yourself, eight thousand dollars.

F

F

A

Of accepting the treasures reported, okay by saying hi.

A

Okay, the motion carries and jim one more thing.

F

Just in the documents that were posted and sent out.

A

Yeah, I was going to ask you sandy if that was just for information, so you answer my question.

A

Next item again, is me: it's the smurley report, but we actually don't. We didn't meet um similar.

A

To what we did here, we did not meet in december and um because of these change in our schedule,.

A

We're not actually meeting until tomorrow, so we really haven't met since the last time. I.

A

um Indicated I will mention something about sperla later on in the discussions, but right now.

A

And really nothing to report. um So michael, I'm going to um pass it over to you.

A

Yeah, just so you know I'm going to drop out like I'm trying to come back in I'm having.

A

More problems here, but um the rest of this is really yours anyway, all right. Thank you. Jim.

B

uh Begin with uh celebrations- and we have one significant anniversary this month- that's robert.

B

Offer who is a security guard at lexington park? Robert congratulations on five years and thank.

B

You so much for your service to the library. We look forward to you being with us many more years.

B

We have one hip hip, hooray and um john. uh These are staff members who have done something sort of.

B

Above and beyond the call and the board commends them specifically for their services. What your hip.

B

Hip hooray is, I understand that you're new to all this. So if, as we go along, you have any questions.

B

Please stop me um and say: what are you doing now? um Our hip hip, hooray this month is for anne alvey.

B

Who is a assistant manager at the leonardtown branch and she stepped in as the interim branch.

B

Manager, basically, for three months at the end of last year, when mary lee russell retired and.

B

So for doing an outstanding job managing employee schedules, coordinating efforts to finish some.

B

Uncompleted project capital work, helping with pandemic related transitions and policy and.

B

Practice and keeping morale high. We commend and aldi for excellent work in a most challenging time.

B

And I'll be signing for the board on that one. Thank you, ann for really filling in and doing.

B

Just a fantastic job, we do have a new leonard town manager, and that is amy dickinson and she.

B

Is here so amy? If you could please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about yourself.

F

G

G

I was florida where I was.

G

F

B

Do you have any questions for amy that you'd like to ask anybody.

H

Welcome aboard all right amy. Thank you very much to see you and looking forward to great.

B

All right um moving on then um informational. I've got a couple of new items that have appeared since.

B

The agenda was formulated. The first is that those of you who have been in the leonard town library.

B

We did have an unfortunate water pipe leak last year and it did spoil some carpet squares.

B

It looks like those carpet squares are scheduled to start being replaced in about mid-february.

B

So we will be uh looking much better again. There is still some final work to be completed.

B

Just bringing little things to a close and we're working with the county to try to get.

B

That building completely finished as soon as we possibly can second update is that the electrical.

B

Vehicle charging station at leonard town was commissioned on friday, so it was installed. Last.

B

Year, but it was finally activated this past friday, so if you've got an electric vehicle.

B

Those of you out there in the public- this is the first one in the county. Please come on over to the.

B

Leonardtown library, the wi-fi has been extended, so you can look at wi-fi in your car as you charge, it.

B

Or if you just want to charge and come in and use the computer in the library please come on out and.

B

The one at the charlotte hall library is going to be installed. Next, uh there's going to be one.

B

At downtown leonard town in the interim, but we are early on in the process of putting the electrical.

B

Vehicle charging stations in thank you so much to smeko and the county for supporting that effort.

B

If I go along, please stop me: if you've got any questions next, we're going to take a look at.

B

The budget so far about halfway through the year, in fact, 52 percent of the year completed.

B

And we provided that document, those of you who are in public who are.

B

Wanting to see it, you can look at it on board docs and see these documents. They are public record.

B

Or you can email me with questions about them with 52 of the year elapsed, we're doing pretty.

B

Well, we've got 44 percent of the budget spent um and the um really no big problem areas.

B

Looking at it a little bit ahead on the telephone service, um we've changed telephone services, so the.

B

Atlanta towns, that's a bit more than we were anticipating. It was going to be.

B

The lexington park, uh water, sewage and trash is up a little bit but other than that. We're pretty much.

B

um Within tolerance on just about all of our budget lines, none really looking problematic here.

B

um You know in in some of them we pay ahead of time, so it looks like we've spent a lot.

B

But that's really spending for the year in many of those cases so, for example, insurance.

B

The ebook grant 89 spent, but we've.

B

uh Actually, there's a little bit more left there. I wonder if we've got an expense from the prior.

B

Grant factored into that, um because the prior grant actually ran through september so I'll.

B

Get that figure fixed um so um basically, um no that's about right. So we're looking good in terms.

B

Of the budget, do we have any questions about any of the budget lines or any of the expenses.

C

I have one if I may sure, please, okay sandy did I understand during your presentation.

C

That the it's strictly the income off these two funds that is being utilized budget-wise.

C

Yes, no wait. Wait, john, I think go ahead. Fella. I think you're confusing the budget that.

E

Michael was just talking about is the fun we get from the tent.

B

And what sandy was presenting on was in fact, the board budget. The board has a fund.

C

Okay, I guess I get that.

F

Many many years several boards prior to fundraising.

F

Now I decided that yeah he originally has four.

F

Club, so what what are they in? Are the investments in the two um categories.

C

Are they the same investment they're they're a little bit different? I didn't set them up, but I.

F

They're, both art accounts, they're different, different they're, different.

F

This one with tutorials.

F

The share price is always the same.

C

Would you mind at your convenience sending me the ticker symbols for those, not all okay? Thank you.

A

Michael before you move on.

A

The volume coming out of you is much lower than, for example, john and sandy. Just I don't know.

A

Others are having difficulty hearing you, or is it just my computer but at least to me across.

A

This very low volume I will move closer to the mic and I hope that's that's better.

B

So um if no other questions about the budget, we'll look at the second quarter, statistics.

B

Reminder that st mary's county library has been largely shuttered due to the covid pandemic.

B

Since the start of this fiscal year on july 1., we had a limited period when our stacks were open.

B

And then, with the resurgence of the pandemic, we're now only open for computer use in the library.

B

So not surprisingly, our statistics are going to be.

B

Substantially down with the one bright spot being the digital use, and we are seeing not surprisingly.

B

Substantial increases over prior years in our digital use, um since that is still available.

B

So for the quarter, our overdrive use up 44 and for the year 44 percent.

B

Hoopla up 30 on the quarter and 28 on the year, rv digital, which we split statistics with other.

B

um Libraries on that one- and it's not really our specific use uh up on the year. um So while our.

B

Circulation of physical materials, not surprisingly, although we are maintaining our curbside service.

B

And when our customers come to the library, we will give them book bundles, um there's about 15 items.

B

That we'll check out for them it might be a genre. Oh, I like cozy mysteries, we'll try to.

B

Find something for you. I like action. Dvds, we'll try to find something for you check them out on.

B

Your account and let you take those home, not surprisingly physical items, the circulation.

B

Is down both because of the um the not being able to come in the library as well? Relying on curbside.

B

Service people not traveling or being out as much um michael can, I enter jack for a moment. Sure.

D

I just want to say um I I use that service of asking the librarian staff to curate some material.

D

And uh I had an incredible experience, I said I would like some fiction and nonfiction books.

D

About contemporary social issues- and they gave me the best bundle of stuff, it was books, I'd.

D

Heard of and hadn't heard of, and I was just incredibly impressed with the materials that.

D

Were available and the librarian skill and pulling it together so kudos to them and thank you so much.

D

And I think this is an incredible service. That's kind of a bright spot about the pandemic.

B

Well well, thank you very much, michael, that's great to hear and we um we think our staff do.

B

A really good job about finding items and right now it's sort of an advantage. The one advantage.

B

We might have is that more of the collection will be sitting on the shelves, so we've got.

B

More to pick from so uh come on out public. Please take advantage of this service. We're waiting to.

B

Get great items into your hands and again thank you so much michael.

B

um So you know, user visits are going to say. Yes, I have a question.

H

Yes, are you selected that.

H

Success on the um programming, the library is doing the virtual program. There are so many great.

H

Programs I was wondering if you're doing that, or did I miss it um if you look under programs.

B

You'll see um some listed for online programs. Yes, we are. We are keeping track of those statistics.

B

To the extent that we can okay, okay thanks any statistics you see there basically are.

B

um Are online, we haven't done any in-person programming this fiscal year. We are.

B

Considering doing some outdoors programming once the weather starts to warm up a little bit.

B

And we have a couple of arrangements with some outside agencies, for example, the.

B

Patuxent naval air museum we're going to be doing a virtual, I'm actually going to be doing.

B

An in-person program there coming up, so we are planning on a little bit more in person um and.

B

We, you know, are very careful about social distancing about mask wearing, but we're trying.

B

To um consider having some at our branches as well, and it's a question of where to have it when it's.

B

Got to be pretty much outside, but we are moving forward on those plans so look forward to those.

B

um If there's no other questions or comments about the statistics, obviously it's not apples to apples.

B

This year to last year, we look forward to getting back to.

B

To full service as the pandemic eases and with any luck, the vaccination program succeeds.

B

More on that information later, um just a quick, fol and foundation update the friends of the library.

B

Have an online bookstore now and you may visit that and buy items from them. um They continue.

B

To sell items that are kind of rare or unusual as well, and they did very generously give us a twenty.

B

Thousand dollar stipend in december. So thank you for the friends for that. um They have plans for.

B

A book sale this upcoming spring we'll see to what extent they're able to do that. Obviously,.

B

Keeping our fingers crossed that that will be able to happen. Our foundation got some very nice.

B

Donations in towards the end of the year and we collect about 25 000 for the foundation this year.

B

And michael dunn, thank you for your work with the foundation uh moving that forward. um So uh we will.

B

um Be talking a little bit about later about how we're going to use some of that funding.

B

I'd like to talk about an exciting program that we have coming up for black history month. It's called.

B

Black men in white coats and that will be at the end of february- and this is a movie and it is.

B

About the fact that fewer black men are applying for medical school now than than in 1967,.

B

And so this is a film by the by a doctor and talking about um that and how we might.

B

Begin to address that concern um so and we don't have the exact dates figured out yet, but roughly.

B

February 26th, um I'm sorry 25th we'll have a kickoff for that. There'll be three days where.

B

People will be able to move to watch the movie virtually and then on sunday, roughly the 28th.

B

We'll have a virtual book discussion, a movie discussion of that and talk about that.

B

It is time to be something that can be viewed during the virtual college: fair.

B

That we're working on with the naacp, which will be the 26th. I believe that is that date.

B

So charles county and calvert county libraries are also interested in partnering with us. In addition,.

B

To the naacp, we'll be partnering with the unified committee for african american contributions.

B

Historic solderly on that program and we hope to have really good attendance uh we've arranged.

B

For up to 2 000 people to view the video and so we're looking forward to having that event um and.

B

All our partners will be um doing their work uh sort of promoting this as well. So looking.

B

Forward to that program coming up and we've got a lot of exciting virtual programs on as well.

B

And those programs for the public can be all found on our website. A quick update about the.

B

Upcoming legislation session- I'm sorry were there, questions about anything related to the programs.

B

Okay, good there's several legislative things related to libraries coming up in the upcoming.

B

Session and two are of particular interest to saint mary's county, um the first one last year.

B

Hb, 1000 and senate bill 524 were put forward and they will prohibit the public library from.

B

Charging a fine to overdue library, materials on a miner's library materials we had already arranged.

B

To forgive many children's fines, we simply don't have them on the youngest items for.

B

Children, this would extend into teens prohibit a public library from charging replacement fee.

B

From miners overdue library modules into 21 days after the date, the materials were due.

B

Requiring a public library to cancel the fifa miners overdue materials are returned. We would.

B

Have done that anyway, incidentally, I'm requiring the governor to include seven million five hundred.

B

Thousand for fiscal year 22 in each fiscal year thereafter in the annual operating or capital.

B

Budget for library, capital projects, that amount is currently 5 million and we got 1.6 million of that.

B

To build a new leonardtown library, um for example, um what we're hoping is that, if.

B

This the the governor vetoed it, it wasn't an anti-library vote. um It was simply that.

B

With the pandemic beginning- and we were all in lockdown at the time, he decided that no bill that.

B

Was going to increase, maryland's budget would be passed and he vetoed this in accordance with that.

B

We are approaching the legislation to override that veto. If so, the money that will come to us.

B

We would like to use to simply eliminate all fines. It would be enough roughly equivalent to what.

B

We get in fines each year and we would simply not charge fines for any of our library users.

B

Basically and calvert's experience with eliminating fines, sort of bears this out.

B

When the library eliminates fines, materials come back just as quickly just as well, it's not like.

B

People hang on to them, in fact, they're more likely to come back because people don't get an overdue.

B

Fine and either have a sense of shame or, frankly, the financial inability to pay that fine. So they.

B

Bring the materials back as well, it doesn't slow that process down. We get everything back. Libraries.

B

Are basically built on trust, so we don't have any downsides in that and if you look to those.

B

Budget figures: you see that, not surprisingly, our fines and services so far this year.

B

Are way below what we anticipated, they would be, they were declining over the years in any case, but.

B

Frankly, um we were anticipating about 56 000 in fines coming in roughly matching.

B

Last year, and so far about 5000 have come in, so we're not getting fines at all. This.

B

Would be very helpful for us if the veto could be overridden at a state level, so we're hopeful that.

B

That our legislators will agree to that and we're talking with all our legislators. I've got two.

B

Sessions set up so far, one with delegate crosby and one with delegate morgan for later this month,.

B

And um hoping to add, delegate clark and senator bailey as well just to talk about. What's going on.

B

In libraries give an update on the fact that we've opened our new leonard town branch and everything.

B

That's going on here in the county and three of the four did support this legislation last year. So.

B

We'll ask them to consider an override of that to try to provide a little bit more library funding.

B

The other thing that is of concern for us is a bill. That's called public libraries.

B

Electronic book licenses access and uh john- this will be somewhat new to you perhaps, but.

B

The rest of you have been familiar with for years. We've been talking about how publishers, especially.

B

Big publishers make their digital content available for us at under difficult terms.

B

And there's some major digital content providers- amazon, for example, being one of them.

B

Who will not let libraries license their content at all, so this bill will call for.

B

If a publisher licenses materials to the public, it has to license them to libraries in maryland,.

B

So um and the the good news is that at the end of last year, um we found out that amazon was working.

B

With an organization, we do quite a bit of work with the digital public library of america to make.

B

Its titles available through that organization, which would allow them to be accessed through the.

B

Simply e-app, which st mary's county library has been deploying for the whole state, so it looks.

B

Like amazon has decided, they're going to come on board and work with libraries, but this would.

B

Have been a publisher last year for mcmillan when they started the year, they were not well, they were.

B

Licensing one copy of a book to a library and not allowing any more for a three-month period to try.

B

To boost their commercial sales, this would prevent that kind of tactic. Macmillan's not doing that now.

B

When the pandemic started, they said fine, we're just going to go back to what we were doing, but.

B

We have no assurances from any of these publishers in the future that they wouldn't uh window is what.

B

That's called content to libraries or prevent libraries from having content a major audiobook.

B

Publisher blackstone does not allow some of its titles to be in libraries, and this would make that.

B

Inappropriate in maryland, there's similar legislation in rhode, island and new york.

B

At a federal level, we are doing a little bit of work trying to um trying to.

B

Have the publishers play better with libraries? This does not set a specific dollar amount.

B

It just says reasonable terms, and the reason for that is dictating what is reasonable is.

B

More a matter of the publishers talking with libraries: this is not an anti-publisher bill.

B

It's a pro library bill, we're not trying to do the publishers down. We want to work with them. We will.

B

You know say what is reasonable with them: the best that we can and currently a couple of publishers.

B

Have lowered their prices, we hope that they will consider doing that, even as the pandemic eases, but.

B

So that's what the sort of nexus of this bill is. Is there any questions about any of these bills?.

A

Any really sense of the over the potential override on the fees.

B

um I've only talked to one legislator so far, delegate crosby and he has said that he will.

B

Vote to override um we are working on the other legislators. The bill passed very overwhelmingly.

B

um So I'm sure that some of this will have to be what the state funding looks like. I'm sure that.

B

No one's eager for an override, if that's looking, really bad, but so far I'm hearing that for the.

B

State and locally, as we'll, discuss a little bit later, that revenues for maryland are not down as.

B

Much as were expected, in fact, there's a little bit of a budget surplus that will be expected.

B

Over this year, anyway, at the local and state level, so we're hopeful that um that this funding will.

B

Extra funding will come through to libraries. I don't know about the capital grant funding, but.

B

But the the local funding that would allow um us to move forward in this way.

B

If the veto override doesn't happen, there's legislation that we have.

B

Drafted with um the the firm that represents us to try to get at least the local funding.

B

Passed for this year, even if it doesn't include the capital funding.

B

All right other questions.

B

I have one yes so going back to your discussion about the drop-in overdue book fee revenue.

C

If I heard right, you had been running about 56 000 and now it's about 55 000, something yes.

B

When we were closed for the covid um shut down, of course, we weren't charging.

B

Fines at all people couldn't bring their books back and have them checked back in.

B

We started charging fines again on in september, but.

B

Even then, because we've seen such a large decline in our physical material circulation.

B

Then people don't have overdues, they don't have books that are overdue at all. So.

B

We are not collecting anything like the fines we did in the past, and so we, you know this. If this.

B

Funding came through to eliminate fines completely we'd, certainly embrace that.

C

So the shrinkage on that side is not an indication of shrinkage of your inventory because those books.

C

Have just disappeared from the collection? No, we still have, as we still have as many items as.

B

Ever it's just that right now, they're not being checked out um as much as they usually will be.

B

And once the pandemic eases and we go back to our full hours and open the stacks.

B

We're sure that physical circulation will go back up again. um That's not you know it.

B

It's and you know when people feel more comfortable, coming out again visiting going.

B

Where there might be other people around, um then library circulation is going to go back up again.

B

But for now another question: I might I'm sorry, yes, okay, so the first thing going back to those.

C

Bar chart stations did we do any kind of a public relations announcement on that, so the.

C

Community knows smeko and the county have been publicizing that, um and that has appeared in.

B

Local media, although- and there was a press press release about that- I don't know that the library.

B

Has specifically done that, but I'm happy to get something out now that it's officially.

B

Actually open and that just happened this past friday, so um we, I think, can uh announce that.

B

And in partnership with smeko, we didn't pay for that. That's all this mecco initiative.

C

And the other thing is given, given the rave reviews.

C

Or the library staff, putting together a collection of books.

C

Do we have anything that allows for.

C

Client reviews, in other words, could that be posted as a five-star review. Yes, we do take.

B

Customer comments and people can use our website to comment uh on our services and.

B

When we present, for example, annually to the county, we include the things that the customers do like.

B

Every other year we do a customer survey, and this year we did one last spring.

B

As part of the um strategic planning process, so people are able to comment on and talk about.

B

The services that they like and we do highlight those on our website. Okay, thank you, mr walden.

G

Hi, I'm marianne, I'm the deputy director I haven't, met you yet.

G

We uh we are also on google, so somebody could do a review on google.

G

It's not something we've promoted, but I will talk to our marketing communications manager about that.

C

We had just one two thumbs up reported here at the end that ought to be on there and we do we're also.

B

On facebook, so people are able to comment on us that way uh and other social media as well, um but.

B

We can highlight that um and I always enjoy reading the comments.

B

From the public, um it's really nice to see because they're almost always universally, very favorable.

B

When somebody has a complaint, they tend to take it with me individually so um or with our staff.

B

Individually, so it's always good to see the kudos and people will email in as well. So that's good.

B

um I just provided, I was gonna ask this at the end, but since it sort of keys off with john's question,.

A

um Have there been any reactions, complaints, perhaps question about the duration.

A

Between when you order something online and when you get it, I'm really in the.

A

Interlibrary loan aspect and again it's my experience. It's been, it takes a long time.

A

And encountered by the issue um you know of the services that we go to online. Take.

A

A long time overall, I guess, have you heard anything any complaints or any problems.

A

I'm not really hearing any complaints, but I can tell you why people about the duration, the.

A

Length of time it takes to receive something that we've ordered primarily through the library yeah. I.

B

I we're not really hearing a lot of complaints about that. None have been brought to my attention.

B

At all, um possibly frontline staff have heard some, but I can give you an explanation and.

B

That is the quarantining process. Basically, if you make an interlibrary loan request- and I.

B

Assume you're referring something to not that's coming here from the tri-county area, although.

B

There's quarantining involved with that too so much as outside when something comes through.

B

It will ship probably about the normal time, but when it gets here we have to.

B

Quarantine, it, and in our case and in many other library cases it's for a full week.

B

And so we um and marianne just commented in the chat um we explained that to people you know.

B

We're sorry about the delay but we're trying to ensure your safety, and so things are not.

B

Arriving as quickly as they normally do, there's other reasons for the slowdown as well.

B

On new materials, at least, and that is that um it's taking us longer to get materials in to.

B

Get them processed to the publishers, slow down in providing materials. So there's any number of.

B

Reasons why, when you initially see something and place a reserve on it, it might take a bit longer.

B

Obviously, once the pandemic situation eases we'll get back up to speed on that.

F

B

And I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you.

F

None of it, I I didn't hear any of it. Yes, a little bit closer to the mic. Thank you just like me,.

B

um The county government on their twitter feed on friday, they filled out a video.

F

A library like them to do and.

B

um Well, that's good to hear um we. You know, I think that.

B

uh You know we work very nicely with the county and I'm glad to hear that that they are promoting our services as well.

A

I can just go back to my point earlier then, if it continues, if their complaints are coming or.

A

They've seen a need for it. I've mentioned this to at should we develop some sort of communication.

A

That explains why things aren't taking much longer, but I'm aware of the things you describe.

A

But I don't know if the average customer really is aware of that whole process of displays and.

A

Swirling delays and library delays even from the library where the book is held. So if you sense it.

A

Growing, let me know, and I think we need to do something in terms of communication.

A

That could come at a smaller just to provide it to all libraries. All right, as I say you know you.

B

Know people are making anecdotal comments gee this is taking longer than usual, but we're not.

B

Really hearing a lot of complaints per se, I think people are very understanding about the situation.

B

um I did provide you with a schedule of our trustee meetings um for the year um since that.

B

uh John had a question about that and um a reminder that next month, we're not having it.

B

At our usual time, because, like this month, the day we would typically um meet on was president's day.

B

So we're a week early next february, but after that it's just a regular uh schedule for us.

B

um An update about uvc, wands and coveted filters and a little bit of discussion about.

B

The pandemic situation we received from the um the cares grant from the health department.

B

About 120 air filtration devices and those have been installed in the libraries now they're in.

B

Staff spaces each one covers about 450 square feet and also in areas that are frequently.

B

What just happened.

B

They're good at rn, um my video just disappeared. Can everybody hear me still? Oh there we go sorry.

B

um The um they remove coveted particles from the air. Now we have to be careful.

B

When changing the filters which we haven't had to do yet, and we may not have to do.

B

uh Depending on how quickly the pandemic situation eases, but one has to be careful because it doesn't.

B

Kill the covet particles so there's a complex process for changing out the filters that.

B

Jeff knows on our staff, so we'll be careful with that, but it does make the air you know less likely.

B

To contain covered particles from people breathing sneezing whatever, so that's a nice little.

B

Upgrade on our safety process, um the county has purchased and we are going to get uvc. So there's.

B

You know uva uvb uvc is the type of unit of ultraviolet radiation that the atmosphere removes.

B

And it's quite deadly to the covid germs. One has to use extreme care using these wands.

B

You wear gloves long sleeves, you don't want to have your skin exposed because it will give.

B

You what amounts to a sunburn? You don't want to look into them because they can cause eye burn.

B

But if you want them over a non-porous surface, they kill the coveted bacteria. That's on it.

B

So, while surfaces are not the primary mode of communication of covid, we have been very careful.

B

At st mary's county library about sanitizing, so we're going to get some of these we'll train staff.

B

On how to use them and the county nurse will come out to visit with staff and talk about the various.

B

Things that one has to be careful about, but they will be used on computer surfaces, which they will.

B

Not hurt keyboards surfaces where people you know might stack their books. um They will be.

B

Used we think on the outside of books, so a marlar jacket can hold covid for quite some time.

B

That will sanitize that we might be able to go from a seven day, quarantine down to a five.

B

Day, quarantine, we won't be able to do every page in a book, so we can't necessarily guarantee you.

B

Know this item is covered free, we'll continue to be cautious about this, but it might allow us to.

B

Speed up just a little bit in the treatment of the virus or our quarantining process.

B

So far, we've had quite a few staff tested for the virus. They were exposed.

B

So far knocking on wood here we've had no positive cases. um We continue to be very careful.

B

With somebody who might potentially be exposed- and we require a negative test and a certain number of.

B

Days before coming back, but I'm very happy that so far, we've not had any positive cases on staff.

B

We'll talk a little bit later about leave during covid.

B

We're starting with the vaccine and the vaccine is being given here in the county.

B

About how we will reopen- and it will obviously depend very much in part upon.

B

How quickly we get to something like herd, immunity where there's no longer community.

B

Transmission, even after you receive the vaccine, it is not 100 guaranteed. It's maybe 95 that you will.

B

Not get the virus and people who are giving. It are being very frank about that. Just because you.

B

Have the vaccine doesn't mean you get to stop wearing your mask or stop washing your hands.

B

So we probably until community transmission, stops and and the county removes its.

B

Various restrictions and levels of quarantining go back to full service. um I have emailed the.

B

County health executive, dr brewster, and also at a state level we are trying to have.

B

Library staff moved up in the queue I mean we have people who are on the front line of this.

B

Right now we're only having computer service, but we will, you know for many people in the county.

B

That is an essential service. um We were open for people coming in and using the stacks and- and you.

B

Know looking at materials and we'd like to go back to that once the pandemic begins to ease somewhat.

B

um But we've asked that um employees be moved up to phase 1b.

B

So I'll read just a little bit of a letter from the maryland associate of public library.

B

Administrators to dennis schrader, the acting secretary of maryland, department of health.

B

We request the state include public library workers in phase 1b of the adopted, coveted.

B

19 vaccination plan, along with teachers, daycare providers and education staff.

B

So we know that the teachers will probably be getting vaccinations possibly later this month.

B

Here in county, possibly early february and are are hoping to begin having at least limited in-school.

B

Visits come later in february, we'd, like library staff, to be included with that. We view ourselves.

B

As educators as well, obviously, there's incredibly high demand for this. We'll we'll see how the.

B

County responds, but if we're going to have you know people on the front lines as well.

B

We'd, like our staff, to get that protection so, as I say, we'll just have to see how that goes.

B

But we are starting to think about how and when. We will reopen.

B

um Unfortunately, we can't really promise our full hours and our full services until such time as.

B

There's almost no community transmission and covet is very much in our rear view.

B

Mirror but we're eager to get back to full service as soon as we possibly can.

B

Questions about that one we will move on to your action items and the first one is from.

B

Jim, it's about smurla board membership and I don't think you've got a vote on this one. But jim. Please.

A

Yeah chess's background, um as many of you may know, the swirl of board.

A

Consists of nine members, three from each county.

A

And we recently revised our bylaws that allow.

A

An on-board non-county board member to be part of the swirls award and again the reason why we did.

A

That was because the challenge and getting volunteers to serve on the scroller board.

A

And also allow us to bring in certain skill sets that may not be present in the smiling board.

A

So um for st mary's.

A

I will continue the next year now that has agreed to stay on. I think it gets involved. The.

A

Four years is different than the fiscal year. Basically board members are selected.

A

On the meeting of the corporate meeting and this year, it'll be march.

A

So beth has agreed to stay on the board for her period of membership, which runs through may 23rd.

A

uh But in that capacity, then, since she's no longer on our board she's that other person.

A

Who is um not part of the current county board, um so we have one other position that carolyn.

A

Was the third member of the county county board uh will not be continuing um and again.

A

Let me explain a little bit of that: carolyn has served on sterling for extended periods.

A

um Number two came back on the board at my request.

A

Because we needed a balance of input from the selection of a new ceo in swirling.

A

Thirdly, again, this is where the difference between when members are introduced or part of the board.

A

Marilyn's term on the county ward will end in december of this year, but she can't stay on.

A

The scrolling board, because we already have one non-county member- I know this gets so.

A

Bottom line, we need one more member um to serve on the smaller board.

A

As michael indicated, I'm not going to ask somebody to stick their hand up now, but I would ask you to.

A

Consider it we do need a third member, um it's important to ensure that we have a balance of.

A

Input we'll be making some significant decisions at school, some of which have been delayed until.

A

He brought someone new on board, so we need to get into some really very important decisions, um so.

A

It's important, therefore, to have a balance among all the libraries before the decision process.

A

So again, we're going to meet in mars and it hasn't been confirmed fully yet. But.

A

It's my preference to me and mars fall back april, um so I don't need a decision. Bottom line.

A

As to who would like to be on the scroll board right now, but I asked you to consider it and.

A

Let me know by february this place where I set to go, because this board has to approve.

A

That, third member- and so um it's not part- I haven't- looked at the schedule.

A

Our schedule versus smearly, but we'll have to have at least one meeting of this board.

A

To agree to the third number before I go to the sterling board, so I get involved but again.

A

Bottom line, I need one more member from the current board, which is the challenge.

A

Because many of you um from off the board um really soon like like myself but dennis.

A

Of course, caroline, as I mentioned so you know it's shrinking in terms of.

A

The numbers of people who can't volunteer, but I would encourage you all to think about it.

A

And then let me know if you would like to volunteer for that.

A

Okay, michael head over here all right. Thank you. um Next agenda item is the ffcra.

B

Extension, the first family coroner virus act expired december, 31st 2020.. It was not renewed.

B

So that allowed employees under certain conditions.

B

Specifically, if they had a local quarantine or isolation order, if they were advised by a.

B

Healthcare provider to self-quarantine if they experienced 19 symptoms and are looking for a.

B

Diagnosis, if they're caring for an individual um who's suffering for covid caring for a child whose.

B

School or place of care is closed or experiencing kind of coveted conditions. It allowed two weeks.

B

Of full pay for their normal hours. So if we had a part-time employee, it would be the number of.

B

Part-Time hours, that person had and then another additional 10 weeks for people caring for children.

B

Whose day cares or schools were closed, um I don't know if, under the new administration.

B

These will be revisited, but for now officially under my understanding is we don't have to.

B

Offer them, but I would like to continue to offer these conditions to our employees.

B

It's good for the employees. It is good for the organization um in that people who are potentially.

B

Exposed to covid do not feel the pressure or whose children you know they don't have daycare.

B

um We will we'll pay them um some funding and for the extended period it's two-thirds to pay. It's.

B

Not the full pay, um but we do allow as much as we possibly can people under those circumstances to.

B

Work from at home to telecommute and try to make up all their hours.

B

So while I don't know that we need to put this officially into our our policies and procedures,.

B

But what I'd like you to do is approve continuation of this until such time as.

B

There is no community transmission or the end of calendar year, 2021.

B

um Whichever comes first and and if come, the end of 2021 and let's hope this is not the case.

B

We're still under covered conditions, we would extend it again, but by then I'm sure, there's.

B

Going to be other legislation in place, if that is the case, but I'd like you to authorize us.

B

To continue using the ffcra guidelines to help our employees during this very difficult time,.

A

I'll make the motion to accept. I have a few questions, but um we'll do that. Of course.

A

After we get a second, I made a motion to accept anybody. I need somebody to say.

H

A

The question I have, of course, this legislation.

A

Is really targeting organizations that are fully operational? um Are we, I guess my question is.

A

How many are all of our employees, who don't.

A

Under these definitions, working because our operations have been reduced, um yes, we try to.

A

Get a feel for how many people that are who fall under this category. We actually have everything.

B

We have everybody working um and we don't want to work simply because of the potential exposure or.

B

Concern yeah, we do have everybody working and um sometimes that work is virtual. uh For example,.

B

The virtual programming people can put that together, although they will jump on zoom sessions.

B

To coordinate with each other, but everybody is working their full number of hours. At this point.

B

So when we grant this is when, as unfortunately has been happened, far.

B

Too frequently, let's say a family member of one of our staff is diagnosed. Having coveted.

B

And our staff member is living with that person.

B

And so is potentially exposed and very likely might even if they're asymptomatic.

B

Become a carrier, so we tell that person all right. You under these guidelines will.

B

Be eligible for leave and you know if they want to work virtually. We do allow that that's.

B

Fine, but many of our tasks cannot be done virtually and we have people who are not.

B

Really able to work virtually for one thing: we have security concerns about. You know accessing.

B

Files um on a non-library machine, um it's just too too great a risk of contamination that way of.

B

Viruses not of the literal covid kind of the computer variety. So not everybody can work from.

B

At home those people we we, you know, we have them work as much as they can. They can certainly check.

B

Email, but we don't want them to be without or to feel pressured hey. I've got to have a paycheck.

B

I'm going to come in and not tell people even if I might have been exposed to the coveted virus.

B

So that's kind of how we've been handling it and we do have a number of employees. Their daycare has.

B

Not been open, and so what they're doing is they're working with spouses um to split child care.

B

And they're coming in and we're trying to be as flexible as we possibly can with our hours.

B

But some of them simply cannot do all the hours in a week they'd have to so. This covers them.

B

Under those very difficult circumstances, I hope I've answered the question, but let me know if not.

A

So you answer my questions, any other questions.

C

I have a couple, but did I understand that when those rules were in effect, we actually had people.

C

Who were to whom they were applicable well, they'd, be applicable to anybody um and basically um for a.

B

For-Profit industry, the benefit was that you could for this, pay that you were giving uh have a tax.

B

Break we, of course, are our non-profit. We don't pay taxes so that doesn't apply to us. But yes,.

B

We we were required to apply these rules to anybody who worked for us. Let me rephrase that.

C

Was was anybody using the benefit of that legislation? Yes,.

B

We still have people um who are using it from last year um for child care, for example, recently.

B

We just had another employee um last week. Who's um obviously can't get in details on this, but.

B

It's that same scenario, where a family member has been determined to you know be positive for covid.

B

And this person is living in the same house, so we tell that person, okay,.

B

Please do not come in for two weeks. Show us your negative covid test.

B

And even though you can't come in and do the work because you're not really eligible or able to do.

B

A lot of telecommuting we're not you're not going to lose money doing that.

B

Obviously it's good for the overall economy, but it's certainly good for our employees and yes, we.

B

Have had people who have used this? Well, I'm all in favor of the upside attribute, but I'm getting.

C

Around to ask: can the budget stand it if we have these people continuing and others come across.

B

Well, so far as you see looking at our budget for the year, we're not over on anything.

B

The you know overall now, um if we have coveted conditions for.

B

The rest of the fiscal year and we bring in say, 10 000 on fines. Then we're probably going to.

B

We're probably going to have to eat into our fund balance, but I don't think that this is a.

B

Major stressor on the budget, I mean we're. That's the only area where we're not getting the money.

B

We normally do the county is giving us the money they normally do. The state is giving.

B

Us the money they normally do. So it's not a huge amount. um A huge consideration budget, wise.

C

No further questions, thank you and just to answer that. I think too, michael that looking at the.

A

um The temporary budget- it's really really low, so obviously we're not.

A

Bringing in other individuals to fill in for a staff yeah, the substitute budget is way down.

B

We there's been some times: we've had to use substitutes this year, but um by and large uh we we.

B

Have not had to um just because our regular staff is has been enough, but you know, especially at.

B

Holiday time there were times when people wanted to take off and we brought some substitutes in or.

B

If enough people are staying out- and this is the case at charlotte hall, where our smallest staff.

B

If you have two people there who may have been exposed at a time suddenly, you've got trouble.

B

Covering all the the hours we might want somebody there so a little bit of substitute, but not much.

B

That will probably be an area where we throughout the year, where we're probably not going to extend or expand that full budget line.

A

Any other questions.

C

I call for the question.

A

um So, typically again, we do a voice vote um on issues that I'm a little bit more substantial.

A

I asked for raised hands, but since some of us are not visible, I'm going to go ahead and follow.

A

Through with the voice phone, um the extension of the of the log fcri for library operations.

A

They're, all in favor indicate my voice approval all right, bye.

A

Well, I'm the only one, that's not invisible all right! Thank you on on behalf of the staff. Thank.

B

You so much again, this is um a difficult time and a number of our employees have had to be tested.

B

Or in a situation where child care is very difficult, so um thank you so much for extending.

B

These benefits- and um it's been wonderful- that maryland libraries by and large, have.

B

Not had to furlough employees, libraries that depend on on other funding streams across the.

B

Country have, in many cases really had to, in some cases, lay off staff. My former employer.

B

Columbus metropolitan library, which had 800 000 employees for a while went down to 300.

B

They're they're back up again now, but it uh it's a difficult situation, obviously, for for our whole.

B

Country and so thank you for that support. um Our next item is additional opeb funding. um John.

B

Shortly before you became officially a member of the board, we got a refund on our health insurance.

B

Last year of 51 000, this is unprecedented, at least in my time here, we've occasionally had gotten a.

B

Little bit back, we've occasionally had to pay out quite a bit more, but at the end of the year.

B

We are insured with the county and they, let us know all right. Your share, you know what.

B

You paid wasn't quite enough if a lot of people have expensive operations in a year. Health care.

B

Expenses for the year might be more this year from last fiscal year. We got this big refund.

B

I was a little surprised, but I suspect it's because people um in fact put off having.

B

Medical procedures for probably certainly a quarter of the fiscal year and and more like.

B

A third of the fiscal year because they were all under lockdown um or you know, maybe less exposure.

B

To germs meant fewer other kinds of medical problems or not being out. There were fewer.

B

Accidents, whatever the cause, we got fifty one thousand dollars back um now. Last year we put.

B

Last fiscal year we put no money directly into our opeb john oppem. I think we talked about during.

B

Your orientation is the fund that will, if we can fully fund it, pay each year for the pay go costs.

B

That is what we're paying on a monthly basis for the health insurance for our retired employees.

B

um So while we have and it's it's invested in the stock market, which has not surprisingly.

B

Done pretty well here recently um last year, this time it was way down. It's bounced back. So there's.

B

About 1.2 million, but in order to fully fund, we have to be closer to three.

B

And with the stock market fluctuating fluctuating and probably not over time, getting us to that.

B

Point I don't know that we'll ever be able to fully fund this. The company that is.

B

Managing this, for us tells us that the county is trying to get to 75 funding. I think even.

B

That's an ambitious goal for us, but I think what we've done in the past is we've said if we had.

B

A surplus on any given year, we put money into the opeb directly to try to build that fund up.

B

This past year, we we did not have a budget surplus. We went in the hole according to the audit.

B

I've looked at that figure pretty carefully. We spent 124 000 in friends money last year.

B

um Which, because it's given directly to us, looks like we, um you know that made it look like we.

B

Were a bit farther in the hole than we actually were. I think, when I look at everything we probably.

B

Came out about even um the disturbing thing is that we didn't get as many materials last year as.

B

We, as we had hoped, and that's really not our fault, it was because the publishers were shut down and.

B

Ordering was shut down on at a smaller level, but um for several months. But uh we probably came out.

B

Close to even all told looking at all those those minifigures. So what I'd like to suggest with this.

B

Fifty one thousand dollars is the following: that we put twenty thousand directly into opeb.

B

So that we are trying to build that fund up more and that we save 31 000, why save 31 000 well last.

B

Year, when the county or this year, I'm sorry when the county got its surplus, what it said.

B

It was going to do when we were talking about the budget in a second is, hang on to that to cover an.

B

Increase in health care costs for next year, and if we hold on to 31 000, we should be able to.

B

Handle that kind of an increase, so I'd like to put I'd like you to authorize, however 20 000 to go.

B

Directly into the opeb fund, it's a good idea to try to build it up our costs as we'll talk.

B

About in a couple of minutes on a pay, go um what we pay, you know monthly, to support the.

B

The health care benefits for our retired employees is going up um this year. It was.

B

103 thousand next year, it's probably going to be a hundred and ten a hundred and eleven.

B

Thousand and if we could fully fund the opeb, that fund would start to pay all those costs for us.

B

So, as I say, that's kind of what I'd like to do with that with that money.

B

With your approval, so that's what I'm I'm bringing forward to you now.

A

The motion is then, to utilize a 51 000 refund from a medical.

A

Account into 20 000 into opeb and 31 000 to carry over in the event.

A

We're not funded sufficiently for us all year. So uh let's wait a second.

A

Then thank you.

C

So again, just to clarify for the new guy.

C

If we hold back the excess portion of the excess in anticipation of health care costs, going up.

C

And what we have budgeted for that anyway,.

C

Is it your best guess that those two things together will account for any kind of a price.

C

Increase going forward- yes, um we'll talk about this more in just one minute. When we look at the.

B

Budget itself, but our anticipated rise in health insurance for next year would be about 28 000.

B

And this would be what that money would cover that figure.

C

Or you wind up having about 3 000 on the table that you're not planning on using.

B

Well, um that will depend on what the county funds, but in fact, there's about another 600.

B

I'm sorry about another uh 103 about another 7 000 that we'd possibly be out just because of.

B

The increase in pay go so that 51 000, if we put 24, probably would not quite cover the whole thing.

B

You'd have to put something like 17 000 in. If you wanted to have it be budget neutral.

A

Again, once again, it's still.

A

A lot of collective surgeries have been put off and, as like michael indicated,.

I

Too, I think people are getting more cautious and therefore the frequency of.

A

Blues and other viruses diminished- and we don't know, what's going to happen in the coming year, but.

A

It's just an estimate, as close as you can get.

A

Any other questions: okay, all in favor and using the excess amount of questions by saying.

A

Your motion carries well. Thank you very much. It also looks good to our you know. The people.

B

Managing the fun when we try to try to put money into it, so um that's good! Well, let's take a look.

B

At the the county budget proposal, which is due on friday and I've presented you with.

B

um It's a little bit different in past years. I've kind of just said all right: here's the total.

B

Budget with this this this and this and here's the total budget with this that and the other thing.

B

What I wanted to do this year, because I had just so many potential scenarios- is just to recommend.

B

Several things and it's like kind of like ordering from a menu you're going to choose the items you.

B

Want um to move forward on so, if you look at the sheet, I provided the county's funding for.

B

Us this year was two million nine hundred sixty six thousand six hundred thirty two dollars.

B

So here are some things that we could consider adding. um The first is a maryland minimum wage.

B

Increase, we do have people who are not at the the new wage which will come in next.

B

January- and this is the amount it will take for the half year- that that will be, in effect.

B

To um to pay those positions, it's three thousand nine hundred dollars.

B

For this year, that is the only money that the county gave us. um The only increase.

B

That we asked for last year that we were actually granted. um The county is expecting a 1.5 percent.

B

I'm sorry 1.45 increase in revenue for next fiscal year, um five to six million dollars over what they.

B

Had thought they might have, or over this year in any case, so um that's I think, needs to factor.

B

Into what you want to recommend, but I think that this one's a fairly safe ask that we're likely.

B

To get approval on this so and I don't think we need to do these item by item just so much as.

B

Let me present, and then you decide at the end, how aggressive you'd like to be in your budget. Ask.

B

We have increased utilities. The new leonard town library is a little bit more expensive in terms.

B

Of electricity and we've, the old building used oil. This new one uses uh natural gas, it fires the.

B

The heat and it also fires that kitchen over in the senior side. But we've got a.

B

We've got an arrangement worked out where we're paying a certain portion of this.

B

So that looks like it'd be an additional about twenty six thousand dollars that we.

B

Wanna ask for to be budget neutral there. If you go for the marital minimum wage increase.

B

We'd be increasing our budget about point one: three percent: um if you add these.

B

Utilities on we'd be increasing our total budget from the county about one percent.

B

Our pay go retirement this year. I looked at the audit figures. It was a hundred and three thousand.

B

We put into pay, go, that's the money we pay for the our portion of the benefits of our retirees.

B

And they get a certain amount, depending on how long they've been in the system.

B

How vested they were, the state gets some. We we get some, they pay some, um but um so we.

B

We're looking currently our budget for that line is 99.

B

000., so we spent 4 000 more for that line to cover that cost. We'd need another 11 000.

B

And those are all items you know. Obviously I can't predict what the county commissioners are going to.

B

Give us- but I think those are all very safe asks. I think that we'd be likely to get those and we.

B

Certainly need them to be budget neutral. After that, we come to things that are are more difficult.

B

Typically, in the past, we've asked for a cola and a merit increase if the county gets one.

B

If the county employees get one um and well, it's required some negotiation in the past.

B

When the county employees have gotten that we have.

B

um I don't know that they're getting this this year, but what they are is in their the third year.

B

Of a budget adjustment that the library was not included in, we are not counting employees.

B

And we did not get this so last year, the county employees got a merit and a cola.

B

And we did not, as part of the second year of that adjustment. This is the third and final year of it.

B

We did not get this last year, as I say, and counties has in place, have received an increase.

B

I would like to ask that we consider asking the county for this and remind them that we were.

B

Not included in that three-year budget adjustment that we too lose employees to calvert and charles.

B

um And elsewhere in the county, because we don't have as many full-time employees, because we.

B

Don't pay as well, um and I think that that's a good ask it will if we do all those things.

B

Mean that we're asking to increase our portion of the county budget by 4.79, which is not a figure I.

B

Think that the county commissioners are going to like to see, but I still recommend that we ask that.

B

A couple things that I think might be more optional. The first is that twenty eight thousand.

B

Two hundred thirty seven dollar increase in the health insurance. I I think, because the.

B

County is saying: well we're gonna keep ours to offset that that we should not ask for that. I.

B

Think that we'll just say fine: we got that 51 000 back we're going to use that to cover that amount.

B

um When the new library was planned, we were told we were going to get two ftes.

B

At a then cost of 166 thousand dollars a year so far, we've had 0.5 ftes.

B

That was the previous fiscal year um last fiscal year. I'm sorry this fiscal year we asked for it.

B

But we were not given that so we we had 0.5 and we said well, you know we want to. We want this.

B

Full one full time slot of the two we could have had so please fund that and they did not fund that.

B

That would be 33 000. I don't think in light of the budget situation and coven with not having.

B

As many people in the building that this is the year to ask for that additional half fte.

B

So what this would mean would be that we would be looking at a um having to use our fund balance and.

B

The fund balance figure is going to be about 66 000 um with all of that included um without that.

B

We're probably still looking at dipping into our fund balance by about forty thousand dollars.

B

Thirty thousand dollars uh as and but you know we do that every year and and some years we do dip.

B

Into our fund balance some years, we don't, but um I think that's kind of where we would be um if we.

B

Do these ask so what I want to know is what you'd like to include in our budget: ask from the county.

B

John for just fyi on the state, that's not something we ask for.

B

We're expected to get a 20 cent, assuming that they don't invalidate the current maryland law.

B

It's calling for a 20 cent increase for fiscal year, 22 um 20 cents per capita. Now it's not really.

B

Per resident there's this really complicated formula with 14 factors, including railroad mileage.

B

um But from the state, assuming that that one bill is you know, veto is not overridden, which would.

B

Give us an additional, probably 40, 50 000, which would use to offset all our fines that we've.

B

You know fine revenue, um we'd, probably looking about another 18 000 from the.

B

State just sort of that's what our share would be. I haven't heard of any plans.

B

On the part of the state not to give libraries that increase in funding.

B

Especially since they may have a little bit more money than they thought they might.

B

So what of these different items? Would you like to include in our budget request to the county.

B

Which I will submit on friday, we can, without approving anything per se, but rather trying to.

A

Decide what to get to a point of approval, so it's really going to involve a roundtable discussion.

A

And we all have questions or inputs and so forth and it'll get us to a point where we can vote on.

A

What we'll finally decide on? um Let me let me ask the first question on the memory. What is.

A

That, based upon as a percentage of failure, it is 2.5, and that is on the anniversary of employment.

B

So if an employee came aboard in december, then starting december of the fiscal year.

B

They would get an additional 2.5 percent of their salary. The cola is one percent, and it.

B

Is at the start of the fiscal year, all right, so so they want. The merit only is that 2.2 2.5.

B

2.5, I'm sorry: where did the five come from? That's just the standard uh rate that the county uses.

B

All right, when giving a merit increase, it's 2.5 percent has has basically always been.

C

And you're putting 479 because there wasn't any in the previous figure.

B

um That would be an increase in our budget overall of hang on one second.

B

Eight five two point: five, eight percent total of our budget. um That's just if.

B

Kind of that increase in revenue is all right, I'm sort of being cumulative there.

B

That would be an increase in our revenue. That would be an increase, as I say, of about 2.5 8.

B

So that alone is more than than the county's increase expected to be. um You could improve.

B

Asking for only a cola and not a merit. um But and as I say, there were just too many.

B

Scenarios here to to break it down and give you the total budget for everything for all these.

B

Options, um but these are what I I I've you know what I'd like you to to consider asking for is up.

B

To the point where we ask for the merit increase, and not necessarily those things after that.

A

I think also correcting, I think, those of us who are maybe familiar with terminology. It's.

A

Not truly a merit increase really more of a step increase; in other words, it's not based on.

A

Individual performance that cause variation in the amount received uh template two is what.

A

Really is a step increase which is much more common in union environments than they are.

B

Yeah, that's absolutely correct. This is not a paper, a merit system. You know all right. This.

B

Employee, you know, did this on an annual assessment and that employee did that an annual assessment.

B

So I'm going to give this employee, you know four percent and that employee nothing.

B

This is, it is a step increase really and that's what I typically call it, but apparently the.

B

County calls it a merit increase, so we call it what they count it. What do what they call it.

C

Well, you don't don't care.

A

But I think like what you're asking there is to approve all of it through that merit column.

A

This includes actually minimum increase utilities and so forth. um Is that correct? That is absolutely.

B

That is, that is correct. That is what I'd like to um that is what I'd like to see. You approve us to.

B

Ask for it is an aggressive ask, as I say, if you wanted to be all right, you know we're going to be.

B

Conservative, I think you could ask for everything up to the pay go and you would not be. You know.

B

We'd be increasing our budget, but it wouldn't be more than what the county increase is expected.

B

To be where we start getting, I think a bit more pushback from the county, although this year again.

B

All they gave us was that minimum wage increase and nothing else. um You know, I think that.

B

Those things are, are reasonable asks and because no county employees officially getting that.

B

That step increase in that cola this year, although they are, as that part of that three-year package.

B

um I I don't think that you know we're necessarily going to get that, but I think we should ask.

D

I agree, I think it's important to ask for those things in terms of.

D

Retaining staff diversifying staff and I think we need to make sure that we keep the fires.

A

Let me get your input, um okay, so you're in agreement. I don't know you.

D

I agree as well, I think we should ask for it and keep your fingers crossed and have for the past.

A

Jesse your input.

H

Yeah, I agree with carol. I agree: yeah yeah, okay, so I want to raise I'll make the motion then that we.

A

Accept the budget submission, um as mentioned, which would count support, 4.79 increase in.

A

Our budget proposal click on a second second. Thank you, michael okay, all in favor of the tape I say, hi.

B

I thank you for that again. You know, I I know upfront, it's an aggressive ask. We may not get it.

B

But I I think that this may be a year that we really need to advocate strongly for that. It's.

B

A difficult year for the county in terms of budget- I know, but they are, there- are.

B

Forecasting increase of 5 to six million, and since we have really not had much of anything, this.

B

Year, I think it's fair to ask so, let's see what they will, they will say in response to that.

B

And I'm not trying to make this an oppositional thing. I know the county commissioners need to.

B

Be very careful and they weigh everything um I think fairly. um So, let's just see you.

B

Know what what their! What they're willing to give us this year and and hope for the best.

B

There's one last agenda item and that is trustee officers for 2021 jim. That would be you, though,.

B

Go back to that point, though, I think it's going to really be important, how he then pushes effort.

A

Naturally, if the county doesn't get an increase, the likelihood that we'll get one is somewhere.

A

Remote uh but yeah, I do think that we need to really use this effort on behalf of our staff.

A

It really really pushed this because they have not had an increase.

A

um And you're right we are losing people to the library, um so we really need to make.

A

A strong poison, however, you think the board can help in that process and just let us know.

A

um Yeah, basically,.

A

We have, of course, three officers, president. Vice president and secretary, uh I initially asked.

A

Beth prior to her leaving the award to um approach anyone who or all board members.

A

That would like to be considered for any one of those free roams, um and the end result was that.

A

One that all current board members who are serving in those roles, the president and vice president.

A

Have agreed to secretary treasurer have agreed to stay on for the coming year and um there were no.

A

Other individuals who expressed interest in any other role so um I'm proposing then and I'll, do.

A

It in this form of emotion that we accept myself, um carolyn guy, is vice president and myself as.

A

President, apparently guys vice president, as handy as the treasurer I'm making the motion so second.

A

Thank you, john. um Any questions, comments.

A

Okay, all in favor, then of the officers for the board to dedicate.

A

Michael back to you one more thing, and that is john in emails related to your.

B

Orientation you expressed interest in some signage. Would you like to talk about that.

B

I'm sorry you expressed interest in some signage. Would you like to talk about that.

C

One word is dropping out, I don't mean signs signs for the leonardtown library, oh tiny got it yeah.

C

I think that, given that the building itself is a lot more um invisible, beautiful building, but it's.

C

More invisible than the old, I think that we ought to see what it would take. A blue and white sign.

C

Exactly like the blue and white sign big fight, h on it, tells you where you turn to the hospital.

C

There is there's an icon or a. What do you call those things? A stick figure.

C

Where we could have something like that, north and southbound, that tells you where to turn into.

C

The library highway now I had a I was on the sidelines, with unprecedented bank between the.

C

County, I mean the city commissioner, and a local church over their electronic sign. I don't think.

C

You want to get into that, but I do think a simple black and white or blue and white sign rather.

C

With a stick figure and an arrow indicating the turning point would be appropriate and in fact,.

C

I think that prince frederick, where they have that library buried back in off the highway.

C

Down inside a nice little shopping center or commercial center is what I have in mind.

E

John, I believe that that has to come from the state highway association, because.

E

245 is a state highway. That's what I would think too, although it gets a little.

C

Finicky, because it's within the city, boundary.

G

There is a history of us trying to get these fines when we built the lexington.

G

Park library, we tried to get one for that, one, because it's kind of off the main drag.

G

And um I don't know the all the details, but it was.

G

Difficult, we couldn't get one yeah. We tried to get legislation moving forward to um to allow.

B

Libraries, it's time for another push to do that, though. Yeah to to have libraries uh be part of the.

B

It's it's kind of like tourist signs, so a winery can have one of those.

B

uh In virginia libraries have one of those here in maryland. Officially we don't, but I think.

B

I I don't see any harm in trying to find out um if we could get one there. So, and you know, unlike.

B

An electronic sign where you know, basically that would have been the county putting it in if there.

B

Were any um funds left over from the construction budget on the library which there are not.

B

um You know so we thought about an electronic sign down the road, but I don't think that's going to.

B

Happen it would be rather expensive, but I think we can I'll just try to find out what it might take.

B

To get a get get library just as a sign memory picture of a person reading in an.

B

Arrow and it's just out on the highway- and I don't know you know if, if they would have.

B

They'd say no 246 is too heavily congested or you can't have one or whatever, but I'll find out.

B

um With that, well, I know it's not it's something you're involved with we're.

A

Involved with, but I think curiosity just brought up a question, I guess the town was.

A

Really opposed to the size of the sign out front of the leviton library. Where is that now? Is that.

B

uh I think that's prince frederick.

B

I'll I'd have to drive up there and see if I saw one.

G

Jim, they haven't done anything with the sign yet.

G

He's talking about the leonardtown library sign, oh.

B

All right, I'm a little lost. Now sorry, um you mean the the big sign. That's there.

B

Yeah, uh what about it? Well, I thought there was a dispute where the town felt there was. There were.

B

Signs, yes, there is a dispute over that. um The town says that it is too large.

B

uh They do not allow signs of more than 32 square feet, which is basically eight feet by four feet.

B

um My understanding is that that sign will eventually be replaced with a smaller one.

B

And we've kind of we've we've stayed out of that. I frankly like the current sign. I.

B

Think it's appropriately signed, given how huge the lot is and how big the building is. But.

B

That's that's not something I want to waste any political capital over.

C

Who's whose fight is that um that's between that's between the the county who put in the sign and the.

B

Town of leonard town into the tunnel undertown's restrictions on the size of signs in leonard town.

C

But it's too big and it's going to be replaced and are we paying for that? No officially, the.

B

County owns the buildings and the things on the grounds, so that sign would be their replacement.

B

We own what's inside the buildings, um and I believe I sent you that.

B

Mou between us and the county as to you know everything, that's that we do and they do, but.

B

That would not be us replacing that sign, which is why I'm saying I'm kind of just staying out.

B

Of it, um okay, so the fight is truly between the county and the town. You know, yeah, I'm not going.

B

To go as far as to call it a fight, let's call it disagreement over the sign of the size of the sign.

B

Whatever, okay yeah, that's that's! That's not our! That's! Not really! Our um our affair.

B

Well, um so the county budget submission is due this friday and jim. I will have a draft.

B

Of a final draft of you, with the recommendations for you to sign off on on behalf of the board on.

B

January 14th, I sent you a link to a legislative event. That's really not mandatory attendance.

B

But if you're interested in hearing much more in depth about the different proposals.

B

For that are related to legislation for libraries, you can zoom in to that link and library staff.

B

I would like you to consider attending that it'll be right before a management team meeting there'll.

B

Be another one later in the month, I don't have a link for yet that will be more an evening meeting.

B

That will be more a celebration and a meeting with legislators legislators rather than just.

B

Library staff being updated and that one, I think everyone might want to consider going to.

B

um And then, in late february, we'll have our black men in white coats program so.

B

Thank you so much for all your service to the library. It is greatly appreciated.

A

Hey any other lineup from the board itself.

H

Again, I needed to comment, but I think, with the back of the finance, I think again to revisit.

H

For all libraries, because that would be a great addition to all libraries, if you had that done and.

H

This would be over a hundred thousand population in saint mary's county, and so this might be.

H

Something to go back to the drawing board for, and that's just my comment, thank you. Thank you. Well,.

A

There's nothing else, then the meeting is adjourned. Thank you for all attending. Thank you.

A