Board of Trustees
of the
Huntley Area Public Library District
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
September 18, 2024
Call to Order: A regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Huntley Area Public Library District was held in Program Room 3 at the Huntley Area Public Library District, 11000 Ruth Road, Huntley, IL 60142 on September 18, 2024. Vice President Threadgill-Smith called the meeting to order at 5:36 p.m.
Attendance:
Trustees Present: Sandy Domagalski, Stephanie Duncan, Katie Kunde, Shannon McKibben, and Leslie Threadgill-Smith
Trustees Absent: Chris Budzynski and Stephanie Weil
Library Staff Present: Frank Novak, Library Director and Loralei Getty, Business Manager; Pamela Kampwerth, Head of Programming & Outreach Services
Visitors Present: Paul Inserra and Marjorie Smith
Pledge of Allegiance: Vice President Threadgill-Smith led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Comments: There were no public comments.
Presentation of Audit by Paul Inserra, CPA: Paul Inserra, of ATA Group, LLC, reviewed the financial statements and operational matters of the Huntley Area Public Library District for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, which included a clean opinion letter.
Kampwerth and Inserra left the meeting at 5:59 p.m.
Secretary’s Report: McKibben motioned, Duncan seconded that the Board approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on August 21, 2024 as presented. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Financial Reports and Checks: Kunde motioned, Duncan seconded that the Board approve the checks and financial report for August 2024 as presented. Roll call votes were: Domagalski-Aye; Duncan-Aye; Kunde-Aye; McKibben-Aye; Threadgill-Smith-Aye. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Monthly Income/Expense Report (Discussion): Trustees reviewed the Income/Expense Report-August 2024 and there were no questions.
Library Director’s Report: Presented by Novak. The Illinois Department of Transportation hosted an informational meeting to share plans to restart passenger rail service between Chicago and Rockford. Construction is expected to begin in 2025 with passenger service expected to begin in 2027. The Metra line will provide two daily round trips. It will stop in Huntley, Elgin and Belvidere before getting to Rockford. Following discussions with Paul Inserra, Novak is recommending that the library board transfer $500,000 from the Operating Fund to the Special Reserve Fund. The Kane County Forest Preserve District is planning to acquire approximately 294 acres of land at the southwest corner of I-90 and Route 47. This acquisition is part of an initiative to preserve and maintain natural lands, enhance wildlife habitats, and improve recreational amenities for the community. If the land is acquired by a forest preserve, it may become exempt from property taxes, and this could reduce the tax revenue for local governments. The library is working on building an outdoor story time area on the east side of the building. This area would consist of two stone arcs to be used as benches and rubber mulch would be used for the flooring. In addition to the story time benches, the library will plant a memorial tree and additional trees around the location.
Committee Reports:
Policy: There was no report.
Finance: There was no report.
Facilities: There was no report.
Friends’ Liaison: Presented by Smith. At the next general meeting, Nancy Bacheller will discuss the history of Huntley. The September book sales raised $1,700. Work has begun on the holiday baskets.
New Business:
Approval of FY 2024-2025 Budget and Appropriation Ordinance: As required by law, a hearing notice was published in the newspaper and a copy of the tentative ordinance was made available for review at the front desk here at the library. McKibben motioned, Kunde seconded that the Board approve the Ordinance Providing for Budget and Appropriations of the Huntley Area Public Library District, McHenry and Kane Counties, Illinois for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2024 and Ending June 30, 2025, in the amount of $12,768,343 as presented. Roll call votes were: Domagalski-Aye; Duncan-Aye; Kunde-Aye; McKibben-Aye; Threadgill-Smith-Aye. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Transfer from Operating Fund to Special Reserve Fund: McKibben motioned, Kunde seconded that the Board approve transferring $500,000 from the Operating Fund to the Special Reserve Fund. Roll call votes were: Domagalski-Aye, Duncan-Aye, Kunde-Aye, McKibben-Aye, Threadgill-Smith-Aye. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Nomination Papers Policy: McKibben motioned, Duncan seconded that the Board approve the Nomination Papers Policy as presented. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Old Business: There was no Old Business.
Upcoming Dates: The next Regular Monthly Board Meeting of the Board of Trustees will be Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 5:30 p.m.
Board Discussion:
Passport Services: The U.S. Department of State-Bureau of Consular Affairs is not responding to email communication from the library. The library will continue to reach out.
Outdoor Story Time Area: The outdoor story time area was discussed during the Library Director’s Report.
Executive Session: McKibben motioned, Domagalski seconded for the Library Board to convene in an Executive Session at 6:26 p.m. under the exception of the Open Meetings Act ILCS Chapter 5, Act 120, Section 120/2 for the purpose of discussing the annual review of the Library Director. Roll call votes were: Domagalski-Aye; Duncan-Aye; Kunde-Aye; McKibben-Aye; Threadgill-Smith-Aye. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried
Novak, Getty and Smith left the meeting at 6:26 p.m.
The Board left the Executive Session at 7:39 p.m.
Items from Executive Session for Action: Duncan motioned, McKibben seconded to increase the Library Director’s salary 2.5% to $134,369.62 effective April 21, 2024 in connection with his annual performance review. Roll call votes were: Domagalski-Aye; Duncan-Aye; Kunde-Aye; McKibben-Aye; Threadgill-Smith-Aye. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Adjourn: McKibben motioned, Duncan seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:42 p.m. All Ayes. No Nays. Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted,
__________________________________________
Shannon McKibben, Secretary
