MINUTES

CLERMONT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

NOVEMBER 18, 2024

MIAMI TOWNSHIP BRANCH

Present: Ernie Ramos, Mary Jo Waite, Judith Kocica, Trisha Lyons, Ed Humphrey, Katie Bock

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

Guests: Joe Violand

Mr. Ramos called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.

ROLL CALL:

Ernie Ramos, here, Mary Jo Waite, here; Judith Kocica, here; Tricia  Lyons, here; Ed Humphrey, here.  Katie Bock, absent; Jennifer Doss,  absent.

Katie Bock arrived at 6:21 p.m.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

All present recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

OCTOBER 21, 2024 MINUTES:

Motion by Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Ms. Waite, to approve the October  21, 2024, board meeting minutes, as mailed. All present were in favor,  none opposed. Motion was adopted.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:

None.

Joe Violand, RedTree Investment Group, discussed the investments his  firm makes for the Library. The Library is projected to earn $480,000 in  net profit by the end of the year. The total investment profit realized  by the Library since RedTree began working with the Library is expected  to reach $1 million by the end of February 2025.

BOARD OF TRUSTEE BRIEFS:

Mr. Ramos discussed the Ohio Sunshine Law. He suggested including in  the Board By-Laws language that clearly states how guests can address  the board during meetings. Mr. Humphrey agreed. The issue will be  referred to the By-Laws and Policy Review Committee.

GETTING TO KNOW THE LIBRARY

Ms. Brofft, manager of Collection Services, outlined her department operations.

FISCAL OFFICER’S REPORT:

Ms. Smithey submitted and discussed the October 2024 Financial Reports.

Motion by Ms. Waite, seconded by Ms. Lyons, to approve the October  2024 Financial Reports, as mailed. All present were in favor, none  opposed. The motion was adopted.

Motion by Ms. Bock, seconded by Ms. Lyons, to approve the October  2024 Bills paid. All present were in favor, none opposed. The motion was  adopted.

Motion by Ms. Kocica, seconded by Ms. Waite, to approve the October  2024 bills paid – Anthem. All present were in favor, none opposed. The  motion was adopted.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT:

Ms. Wick presented the Director’s Report.

The Library2Go program has met the goal of having 16 childcare  facilities enrolled by year’s end. Library personnel were on hand  recently to receive the $5,000 Connect Clermont grant that will help pay  for the Library2Go program. The first purchase made with the funds was  for bins to ship the collections to the childcare centers. The service  is now delivering more than 60 bins a month. The program continues to  grow. Another application has been submitted for a grant from the  Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

The University of Cincinnati Evaluation Services Center is rethinking  the third pop-up event that is part of the Community survey that ended  in October. They will make a recommendation for how to conduct this  pop-up once they analyze the existing data. They expect to have a  preliminary report to the Library in January.

Ms. Wick recognized Assistant Director Leslie Jacobs on her recent  retirement after 36.5 years with the Library. Ms. Jacobs recently  focused on public services, senior programming, and system programming  by Adult Services staff members. The Library thanked her for her many  years of service. The library is currently reviewing applications from  qualified candidates for the Assistant Director’s position.

Letters 2 Literacy is a non-profit in Batavia that tutors young  children in reading. The Library will be working with this group to  create Science of Reading-based activity sets designed to help children  learn how to read. They will be housed at the branches.

Ms. Wick said there is no update on the development plans being considered in Pierce Township.

Ms. Wick and Ms. Smithey are almost done with the 2025 budget. They will meet with the Board’s Budget Committee December 4.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Clermont County now has 7,609  children enrolled, which is 64.9 percent of the children eligible for  the program in the county. The committee is working on fund raising.

The annual Cozy Winter Read program will start in January.

The Program Promotion Challenge is proving to be successful. Branches  have recorded a 19-percent increase in program attendance this year  over 2023.

DEPARTMENT BRIEF

Mr. Carpenter, Facilities manager, discussed the possibility of  adding handicapped parking spaces outside the Miami Township Branch. He  also discussed the repair of the gas line to the generator at the Miami  Township Branch.

COMMITTEE REPORT

The Board discussed three changes to the updated HR Policy Manual.

Motion by Ms. Lyons, seconded by Ms. Bock, to approve the updated HR  Policy Manual.  All present were in favor, none opposed. The motion was  adopted. The Manual became effective immediately.

NOMINATION COMMITTEE

Mr. Ramos asked Ms. Lyons, Mr. Humphrey, and Ms. Bock to serve on the  Nomination Committee. They are expected to make a recommendation on  Board officers for 2025 at the December Board meeting.

NEW BUSINESS:

Motion by Ms. Lyons, seconded by Ms. Bock, to approve Resolution  2024-26: 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. Humphrey, to approve Resolution  2024-27: Disposal of Unneeded or Obsolete Inventory. Roll call vote: Mr.  Ramos, yes; Ms. Waite, yes; Ms. Kocica, yes; Ms. Lyons; yes; Mr.  Humphrey, yes; Ms. Bock, yes. All present were in favor, none opposed.  The motion was adopted.

Motion by Mr. Humphrey, seconded by Ms. Bock, to adjourn the meeting  at 7:31 p.m. All present were in favor, none opposed. Motion was  adopted.

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Board President                                                          Board Secretary

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