MINUTES

CLERMONT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

APRIL 21, 2025

MIAMI TOWNSHIP BRANCH

Present: Jennifer Doss, Ernie Ramos, Mary Jo Waite, Judith Kocica, Ed Humphrey, Katie Bock, Laurie Schlueter.

Staff: Chris Wick, Melanie Smithey, Debbie Williams, Andrea Brofft, Lynn Baird, Don Carpenter, Theresa Herron, Kasey Richey.

Ms. Doss called the meeting to order at 6 p.m.

ROLL CALL:

Ms. Doss, yes; Mr. Ramos, yes; Ms. Waite, yes; Ms. Kocica, yes; Mr. Humphrey, yes; Ms. Bock, yes; Ms. Schlueter, yes.

All present recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

MINUTES:

Motion by Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Ms. Bock, to approve the March  17, 2025, board meeting minutes as corrected. All present were in favor,  none opposed. Motion was adopted.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:

None.

BOT BRIEF:

Mr. Ramos reviewed the role the Prosecuting Attorney’s office has in approving the Library’s contracts.

GETTING TO KNOW THE LIBRARY:

Ms. Richey shared information about the Union Township Branch Library.

FISCAL OFFICER’S REPORT:

Ms. Smithey presented the March financial report.

Motion by Ms. Bock, seconded by Ms. Schlueter, to approve the March financial report. All present were in favor, none opposed. Motion was adopted.

Motion by Ms. Waite, seconded by Mr. Ramos, to approve the March bills paid. All present were in favor, none opposed. Motion was adopted.

Motion by Ms. Kocica, seconded by Mr. Humphrey, to approve the March bill (Anthem) paid. All present were in favor, none opposed. Ms. Doss  abstained. Motion was adopted.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT:

Ms. Wick said the final report for the Community Survey done by the  University of Cincinnati Evaluation Services Center is expected to be ready for the Board’s review in May.

She discussed the proposed changes to library funding in Ohio. The  Public Library Fund (PLF) is a line item in the House’s proposed budget  and there is a concern that line items are easy to reduce or eliminate.  

 Library officials across the state are being asked to stay on target  and urge legislators to keep library funding the same as the Governor’s  original proposal, leaving the PLF as a percentage of the General  Revenue Fund, with an increase to 1.75%.

Ms. Wick updated the trustees on the Library2Go collection delivery  service. Ergonomic training was conducted at the Owensville Branch by  the Bureau of Worker’s Compensation.  Owensville LAS Job descriptions  have been updated to reflect the work being done.

Linda Bergholz, the daughter of Paul and Mary Fischer who donated the  land for the Felicity Branch, wants to donate a bench, tree, and stone  in honor of her parents.  Ms. Bergholz would like to conduct a  dedication at the Felicity Library Sunday, May 18. Details will be  shared when they are available.

Motion by Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Ms. Waite, to accept the donation  outlined by the drawing detailing where the bench, tree, and stone will  be placed at the Felicity Branch.  All present were in favor, none  opposed. Motion was adopted.

The Library was recently accepted as an affiliate to FamilySearch, a  genealogy database.  The database will be accessible at the Batavia  Branch on a designated computer.

The Wall Street Journal will be available to guests starting June 1 as an online service.

Ms. Wick explained that part-time staff have been offered additional  hours through the Hours Bank. These hours are available because certain  funded positions remain unfilled as they are under review by library  administration. This approach allows branches experiencing staffing  shortages to maintain service levels while long-term staffing priorities  are assessed.

Ms. Wick reported that Doug Mayhugh, Lynn Baird, and Theresa Herron  are meeting with vendors that install sound/video equipment to gather  information on what is needed to hold virtual hybrid meetings as  outlined in the new Ohio law that went into effect April 9. Once the  proposals are in, the By-Law and Policy Review Committee will meet to  discuss.

She reported that the age limit on library cards has been removed. The age for a juvenile card is now 0-17.

Ms. Wick congratulated Ms. Baird on receiving an award during the  recent Salute to Leaders program hosted by the Clermont Chamber  Foundation.  Ms. Baird was nominated for the award by the Union Township  Trustees.

She invited everyone to the fund-raising event set for April 29 at RJ  Cinema in Eastgate for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Clermont  County, Ohio.

She mentioned that each Trustee was given a copy of the May/June Library Insider newsletter as well as the 2024 Annual Report.

Ms. Wick stated she had received several suggestions regarding the  Branch/Update report from a board member and asked for additional input  from the board on any suggested changes they would like to see in the  monthly report.  A discussion was held, board members conveyed their  suggested changes, and Ms. Wick will review and incorporate as  applicable.

NEW BUSINESS:

Motion by Ms. Schlueter, seconded by Ms. Bock, to approve Resolution  2025-12, Acceptance of Gifts to the Library, donations as listed. All  present were in favor, none opposed. The motion was adopted.

Motion by Ms. Waite, seconded by Mr. Ramos, to approve Resolution  2025-13: Disposal of Unneeded or Obsolete Library Inventory. Roll call  vote: Ms. Doss, yes; Mr. Ramos, yes; Ms. Waite, yes; Ms. Kocica, yes;  Mr. Humphrey, yes; Ms. Bock, yes; Ms. Schlueter, yes. All present were  in favor, none opposed. The motion was adopted.

OLD BUSINESS

Mr. Carpenter updated the board on capital improvements.

Ms. Doss clarified that the Budget Committee discussed and  recommended that until a firm estimate is received for the Bethel Branch  roof, the exterior electronic message board signs for the Goshen and  Williamsburg Branches are on hold.  Each has an estimated cost of  $50,000.

Mr. Carpenter said he has purchased a 2025 Ford Transit van to  replace the obsolete “puppet van.”  Due to the upgrades the vehicle came  with, it will be used for the Library2Go pop-up library events.   Shelves and other equipment ordered for the 2024 van will be placed  inside the new vehicle.  Cost with wrap is about $4,600.  Mr. Carpenter  was very satisfied of the puppet van’s trade-in value of $9,000.

Mr. Carpenter is working with roofing consultants for a proposal on  evaluating the Bethel roof.  Once a consultant is chosen, their  recommendations will be used to write a request for proposals for an  owner’s representative to manage the project.

Mr. Carpenter discussed the handicapped parking at the Miami Township  branch. After careful consideration, he asked the Trustees to  reconsider the plan presented at the March meeting and instead support  an alternative that provides three additional accessible spaces closer  to the branch’s main entrance.

Motion by Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Ms. Schlueter, to accept this  revised handicapped parking plan at the Miami Township Branch at an  estimated cost of $36,450.00. Ms. Doss, yes; Mr. Ramos, yes; Ms. Waite,  yes; Ms. Kocica, present; Mr. Humphrey, yes; Ms. Bock, yes; Ms.  Schlueter, yes. The motion was adopted.

Motion by Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Ms. Bock, to adjourn the meeting  at 8:08 p.m. All present were in favor, none opposed. The motion was  adopted.

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Board President                                                          Board Secretary

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