Lawton Memorial Library Board Meeting

                 Regular Board Meeting          Monday, October 16, 2023

                                                                                               

*10:30 a.m. Chair Barbara Melvin called the meeting to order at the Lawton Memorial Library, 118 N. Bird St. Roll call was taken with board members Melvin, Carol Persons, Georgia Everson, Gwendolyn Hatfield, Gail Muller, and Kimberly Walker present. Absent was Donna Niles. Also present, Librarian Lisa Ahler.    

    

*Verification of posting at the Bank, Post Office, and Village Office on October 13, 2023, was given.  

 

*Hatfield moved, Everson seconded to approve the meeting minutes from July 25, 2023, August 15, 2023, September 12, 2023, and September 27, 2023. (Carried).

  

*Financial report: Reviewed the report from 1/1/23 to 10/13/23. The balance is $24,026. Of this amount $3,000 is donations to use, leaving an operating budget of $21,026. The regular savings has $21,038, plus the 2 CDs of $4,054 and $30,682. Persons moved, Muller seconded to approve the financial report. (Carried).

      

*Statistical Report: Lisa reviewed the statistical report for July, August, and September numbers. Looked over the circulation count, community room use, and the various groups. Also looked at the revenue from fines, copies, faxes, and donations/miscellaneous.

        

*Friends Update: Barb mentioned it was great to work with them on the 100-year celebration event. It was a nice joint venture. Carol reported they recently voted on officers: Jean Beck is President, Kristina Ralph is Vice-President, Jan Gremban is Secretary, and Kristi Torkelson is Treasurer.   

 

*Directors Report:      

**The new ILS-Go live is set for September 2024. The cost is about the same as the last one but looking at the first year to be free.

**Carol and Becky attended the Organic Valley picnic.

**Vernon County Reads was August 24th. The author was Jeff Nania.

**Peggy and Lisa went on a bus library tour with WRLS. Saw some ideas to implement for us.

**Lisa is attending two days of WLA next week in Middleton.

**The 100-year anniversary open house night went great. 63 were in attendance.  

 

*Business:

*Hatfield moved, Persons seconded to convene into closed session, in accordance with Wisconsin State Statutes section 19.85(1)(c), for considering compensation and performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility. (Carried).

 

          ***CLOSED SESSION***

 

*Hatfield moved, Everson seconded to return to open session and continue the meeting. (Carried).

 

*Persons moved, Hatfield seconded to approve the employee compensation package for 2024 as discussed in closed session. (Carried). 

  

*Reviewed the revenues and expenditures of the 2023 budget year. Projected revenue is $98,634.04, and projected expenses are $96,773.22. The proposed budget for 2023 was $98,048.00.             

               

*Set a projected 2024 budget. The county aid went down $1,844, from $35,548 to $33,704. The copies & fines category was raised $300 to $800. For expenses, the Print/Periodicals was raised $500 to $8,500. With raises, Payroll was raised $4,000 to $65,000. Social security went from $4,700 to $5,000. Retirement went up $150 to $2,950. The % the employer and the employee pay went up, from 6.80% to 6.90%. This is on Lisa’s pay only. The life insurance went from $235 to $260 (age based). Audio visuals, public relations, repairs, programs, miscellaneous, telephone, and Health/HSA Plan all stayed the same. Dropped the heat $300 to $1,300 and the utilities from $3,000 to $2,500. Supplies rose $48 to $3,000. Raised Workshops/ conferences by $500 to $1,500. This includes mileage and motel stays. The WRLSWeb cost is $5,591.00. The board agreed upon an overall balanced budget of $103,401. To help balance the budget, added a category to the Revenues, of Library Savings, in the amount of $3,897. At year end, if we need funds to help, will take it from here. Will ask the village for $65,000. This is up $3,000 from last year.     

         

*Hatfield moved, Persons seconded to recommend the proposed $103,401 budget for 2024 as agreed upon, and to ask the village for $65,000.00. (Carried).

       

*Public comments: None.           

    

*The next meeting was scheduled for November 28, 2023, at 5:15 p.m.  

             

*Hatfield moved, Muller seconded to adjourn. (Carried). Adjourned at 12:23 p.m.

 

                                                                         ____________________________________

Kimberly Walker, Village Clerk/Treasurer