MINUTES

CLERMONT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

FEBRUARY 24, 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, Chris Rich, Amy Matheney, Julia Bertermann,  Theresa Herron.

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

ROLL CALL:

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

All present recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

JANUARY 27, 2025, MINUTES:

Motion by Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Ms. Bock, to approve the January  27, 2025, board meeting minutes with two corrections. All present were  in favor, none opposed. Motion was adopted.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:

None.

BOT BRIEF

Mr. Ramos discussed rules that govern the conduct of guests using the  Library. Libraries are allowed to enact rules to address the proper  management of library facilities as long as they are reasonable.

Ms. Doss recognized Mr. Humphrey for receiving the Martha Dorsey Pacesetter Award presented by the Clermont Chamber of Commerce.

GETTING TO KNOW THE LIBRARY

Ms. Wick, Ms. Brofft, Ms. Baird, Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Rich, and Ms. Matheney presented information about the Library2Go service.

FISCAL OFFICER’S REPORT:

Ms. Smithey presented the January financial report.

Motion by Ms. Waite, seconded by Mr. Humphrey, to approve the January  financial report. All present were in favor, none opposed. Motion was  adopted.

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

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

DIRECTOR’S REPORT:

Ms. Wick said the final piece of the survey conducted by the UC  Evaluation Services Center is similar to a focus group and will take  place March 6, 2025, at UC Clermont. Ms. Brofft is making the  arrangements.

Work is ahead of schedule for the Vega Project which includes  building a new website, implementing a new calendar of events, and room  booking software package that will work with the new website. The  Community Engagement Department is doing this work. Additional work will  begin soon on the Discovery Layer portion of the project. This work  will be done by the Information Services and Collection Services  Departments in coordination with CED.

Ms. Wick introduced Julia Bertermann, the new Human Resources Director.

The UC Clermont management training program has stalled. In the  meantime, the new Collection Services manager will attend a 10-week  management-leadership training course offered by Gateway.

Ms. Wick and Ms. Brofft attended the America 250 planning meeting.  The Library and the Clermont County Educational Service Center will work  to offer programs focused on the 250th birthday of the United States in 2026.

She announced that Community Engagement Manager, Theresa Herron, will retire in July.

The Imagination Library is serving 65% of the eligible children in  the county. Ms. Wick announced the steering committee for Dolly Parton’s  Imagination Library of Clermont County, Ohio will host a fund-raising  event April 29 at RJ Cinema in Eastgate where they will show the  documentary film The Library that Dolly Built. More information will be available soon.

Mr. Ramos asked about door counts and if the Library is still  recovering from COVID? Ms. Wick said libraries are still recovering.  COVID also changed how people use the Library. For instance, the use of  digital materials and library lockers have increased. Mr. Ramos asked  for additional statistics on key performance indicators kept by the  Library.

Ms. Bertermann gave a short summary of her background and said she is excited to be working at the Library.

Motion by Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Ms. Schlueter, to accept a bench  for the Williamsburg Branch Library from the Kiwanis of East Fork  Region. All present were in favor, none opposed. The motion was adopted.

NEW BUSINESS:

Motion by Ms. Kocica, seconded by Ms. Bock, to approve Resolution  2025-04, Acceptance of Gifts to the Library, donations as listed. All  present were in favor, none opposed. The motion was adopted.

Ms. Kocica asked about the $3984.27, donation from the Greater  Cincinnati Foundation. Ms. Smithey said the Greater Cincinnati  Foundation sent the funds with no specific purpose. The Board expressed  thanks for the contribution to the Library.

Motion by Ms. Waite, seconded by Mr. Ramos, to approve Resolution  2025-05: Disposal of Unneeded or Obsolete 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.

Mr. Humphrey suggested the Library look into disposing of eligible items through egov.

Motion by Ms. Bock, seconded by Ms. Schlueter, to approve Resolution  2025-06, that authorizes the Director and Fiscal Officer to execute  documents on behalf of the Board of Trustees. Roll call vote: Ms. Doss,  yes; Mr. Ramos, yes; Ms. Waite, yes; Ms. Kocica, yes; Mr. Humphrey, yes;  Ms. Bock, yes; Ms. Schlueter. All present were in favor, none opposed.

Ms. Doss asked for a list of contracts signed by the Director and  Fiscal Officer on behalf of the board. Ms. Wick will provide the  information at the next board meeting.

Motion by Mr. Ramos, seconded by Ms. Schlueter, to adjourn the  meeting at 7:16 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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