January 2025 Board Meeting Minutes
ADDISON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD
MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, January 21, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m.
Call to Order: The Library Board President called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m., in the Addison Township Public Library, 1400 Rochester Rd, Leonard, MI 48367
Board Members Present: J. Baldiga - Yes, J. Elsarelli - Yes, C. Meininger - Yes,
J. Newby - Yes, W. Pack - Yes, M. Szost - Yes
Pledge of Allegiance All in attendance participated
Approval of Agenda: line item added for Directors increase in New Business. J.Baldiga moved to accept the agenda as amended. J.Newby 2nd,. All in favor, motion carried
Call to Audience: No comments made
Consent Agenda:
● Approval of November 19, 2024 meeting minutes- Names were misspelled in the Nov 19 meeting minutes.
● Approval of December 26, 2024 special meeting minutes C,Meininger noted addreses were transposed in the Purchase Agreement during the Dec 26 special agreement.
● Approval of November 2024 bills and expenses as paid
● Approval of December 2024 bills and expenses as paid
J.Elsarelli moved that Consent Agenda be approved with corrections made;J.Baldiga 2nd: roll call vote- J. Baldiga - Yes, J. Elsarelli - Yes, C. Meininger - Yes,
J. Newby - Yes, W. Pack - Yes, M. Szost – Yes; all in favor, motion carried.
Financial Report:
Special Assessment on current lakefront property is due Feb 14, 2025. Need to complete Purchase Agreement on property by then or pay the Special Assessment. J.Baldiga moved that we pay the Special Assessment by Feb 14, 2025 if necessary; J.Elsarelli seconded. Roll call vote-. J. Baldiga - Yes, J. Elsarelli - Yes, C. Meininger - Yes,
J. Newby - Yes, W. Pack - Yes, M. Szost - Yes; all in favor, motion carried.
M Szost noted the 2024 year end Financial Report showed approximately $90,000 was underspent. This balance will be carried over to the 2025 year as an unrestricted balance.
J.Baldiga noted that $42,500 of the HUD grant was spent in 2024 for new building expenses.
J.Elsarelli moved to accept the financial report as presented. J.Baldiga seconded. J. Baldiga - Yes, J. Elsarelli - Yes, C. Meininger - Yes,J. Newby - Yes, W. Pack - Yes, M. Szost – Yes. ; all in favor, motion carried.
Director’s Report:
Director reviewed Library Use statistics and programs. State aid submitted in December. Staff and sub raises were implemented before new year. A new streamlined checkout to be implemented later this month. Staff had in inservice day Jan 17.
Director proposes that library go fine free;that is patrons will only be charged for damaged or lost items. Since this is an issue for the Policy Committee it will be reviewed by them.
Committee Reports:
New Building:
● Project status on building permit: approve funds required for building permit
J.Elsarelli noted that building permits are in process and is working with contractor for timeline to complete new building. Need D. Lamsa to add line item for permit
J.Elsarelli moved that a $5, 00line item for permits be added to the new building project. J.Baldiga seconded the motion with an amendment to add inspections to the permits and increase the line item $2,500 for a $7,500 total. Roll call vote-. J. Baldiga - Yes, J. Elsarelli - Yes, C. Meininger - Yes,J. Newby - Yes, W. Pack - Yes, M. Szost - Yes; all in favor, motion carried
● HUD Grant updates
● J.Baldiga mentioned that the primary support person for the HUD grant is now someone located in Detroit not Chicago.
Public Information:
● Signage
● Publicity committee presented two 3foot by 6foot design proposals for the new building. Proposals were debated and will have further review next meeting.
Policy Policy will consider the fine free policy for late returned items.
Finance: None
Capital: None
Communications: None
Old Business:
● Purchase agreement for selling parcels 05-27-256-009 and 05-27-254-007
Purchase agreement for selling parcels 05-27-256-009 and 05-27-254-007 is waiting for township review.
New Business:
● Director compensation increase
Director increase-J.Elsarelli removed himself from this decision. J.Baldiga took over. J.Newby moved that the directors compensation be increased to $25/hour. J.Baldiga seconded motion with the amendment that the increase only be to $23/hour. W.Pack seconded the amended motion. Much discussion ensued. A roll call vote was taken. J.Baldiga-yes, J.Elsarelli-abstained, C.Meininger-yes, J.Newby-no, W.Pack-yes, M.Szost-yes. Motion carried.
J.Baldiga returned presiding of the meeting back to J.Elsarelli.
Public Forum: Linda Hodges stated that the book club was very impressed with the library providing books for the book club.
Next Meeting: February 18, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m. (unless otherwise posted)
Adjournment: J. Elsarelli moved to adjourn at 8:32pm., 2nd by J. Newby; all in favor, the meeting adjourned.