LOCATION: Hoffman Estates Branch Library

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Frankel, Mrs. Froehlich, Mrs. Jonen, Mr. Lyons, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Scott and Mr. Sesso

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS PRESENT: Mr. Madden, Mr. Scott, Mr. Zdnienicki, Mrs. Adrianopoli, Ms. Teasdale and Mrs. Jones

TIME MEETING BEGAN:
Budget Hearing (7:00 p.m.); Board Meeting (7:30 p.m.)

Budget Hearing.
Mr. Frankel called the Budget Hearing to order at 7:08 p.m. There were no members of the public present for the Budget Hearing and there were no budget questions. At 7:30 p.m. he called the Budget Hearing closed.

Pledge of Allegiance

Public Comments

Board Comments.
Mrs. Miller congratulated Mrs. Scott for her contribution at the Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce Fashion Show. Mr. Sesso gave an update on the Library’s recent blood drive.

Minutes.
was moved by Mrs. Miller and seconded by Mrs. Jonen that:
The minutes for November 19, 2007 be approved.
Motion passed unanimously.

Lights At the Central Library.
Adam Zdzienicki of the Library’s Computer Department did a presentation on the Central Library’s lighting. At the previous Board meeting, there were questions about the turning off of lights in the Central Library. He distributed a sheet showing the times lights were turned off on seventeen different dates in six different library areas. He also demonstrated what each area looked like when the lights are turned off. The cleaning service has been regularly turning off lights in the sample which ran from November 29th through December 15th. There was a question about how long it took him to complete this lighting study. He said that it took two days to complete.

Report on Library Investments.
Larry Rankens of Mischler Financial Group, the firm responsible for library investments, then spoke. He first distributed a report giving background on the investments that the library presently has. He noted that basically the library invests in government securities. Mr. Frankel mentioned that only highly rated investment are allowed and that the library has an investment policy prepared by the attorney.
There was then a discussion about the fact that the Cook County Treasurer has not released tax bills. This has resulted in the library borrowing a substantial amount of money from the Working Cash Fund. If the delay continues, some additional securities will have to be sold. Mr. Frankel noted that the borrowing has reduced the amount of interest that the library will be collecting. Mrs. Miller suggested that Timothy Schneider, a suburban member of the Cook County Board, be contacted to explain the issues relating to the late distribution of taxes in the county.

Reference Department Report.
Ms. Teasdale had distributed a Reference Department report that covered the investment grant that had just been awarded, Microsoft Office 2007, Electronic Resources Expo, an art display and current departmental statistics. Mrs. Miller was happy to see the increase in reference statistics. Ms. Teasdale said that these statistics only represent one month and need to be monitored over a longer period of time. Mr. Frankel expressed concern about using financial consultants in assisting with the investment grant. His concern is that some of them may use this opportunity to promote themselves and their services. Ms. Teasdale explained the process in place to keep this from happening.

Director’s Report.
This report consisted of a variety of statistics relating to 140 public libraries located in northern Illinois. The Board would like to have a tour of the Naperville Public Library in early February.

NSLS Representative.
Mrs. Scott reported that new trustee training classes will soon be available and that on February 18th there will be a Legislative Breakfast at the system.

TIF District.
Mr. Sesso reported on the TIF District meeting that he attended earlier this evening at the Village of Schaumburg. The Village gave an update on the TIF District which covers the area located around Roselle and Schaumburg Roads. More extensive parking will be created on the southeast side of Roselle Road. The Village has also purchased two buildings: a furniture store on Roselle Road and a ranch house on Schaumburg Road. In both cases future improvements will be made. He also did an update on the status of the Pleasant Square development on the northwest side of Roselle Road.

Treasurer’s Report.
Mr. Frankel reported that tax income is being received and there is no longer a need to borrow from the Working Cash Fund. His biggest concern is the loss of interest income because of the late collections by Cook County. As far as expenditures are concerned, they appear to be in good shape.
He also reviewed a letter from the auditor explaining why the auditing firm can not issue a statement commending the library. Present auditing standards do not allow such statements since they can open the firm to liability issues.

Levy Report.
The following information on levy procedures by four taxing agencies in Schaumburg Township was reviewed:

Levy Report - December, 2007

Taxing Body	% Of Income From Property Taxes	Levy 2007-2008	Levy 2006-2007	Total Receipts 2006-2007	Property Tax Income 2006-2007
Library	90.8%	$16,075,654	$15,547,195	$15,090,925	$13,684,925
School District #54	78.9%	$151,675,391	$164,871,150	$200,076,532	$165,374,647
School District #211	81.8%	$187,390,817	$185,148,327	$219,883,496	$179,837,055
Schaumburg Park District	43.0%	$18,872,509	$17,609,770	$25,857,679	$11,118,802

It was noted that the practices of the various agencies vary greatly.

Levy Ordinance.
It was moved by Mr. Frankel and seconded by Mrs. Jonen that:
The levy ordinance be approved.
   Mr. Sesso     Yes
   Mr. Lyons     Yes
   Mr. Frankel     Yes
   Mrs. Jonen     Yes
   Mrs. Miller     Yes
   Mrs. Froehlich     Yes
   Mrs. Scott     Yes

School District #54.
It was moved by Mr. Lyons and seconded by Mrs. Jonen that:
School District #54 be allowed to use the entire Rasmussen Room on January 8th and January 10th.
Motion passed unanimously.

Ethics Ordinance.
Mrs. Froehlich had asked that a review of the Ethics Ordinance occur at this meeting. Mrs. Froehlich said that at the last Board meeting Mr. Frankel had mentioned a letter he had received and it made her wonder if the Ethics Ordinance is being followed. Her concern is about Section 2-1 that no officer or employee shall intentionally perform any prohibited political activity during any compensated time. She is concerned about a mailing that Mrs. Scott sent out. Mrs. Scott said that she did send out a notice about her candidacy to registered voters. Mrs. Froehlich said that she understands that this mailing went out to employees. Mrs. Scott said that the mailing went out to registered voters and some of the registered voters could be employees. Mrs. Froehlich said that a staff member received a letter and it was addressed by hand. Mrs. Scott said that she had volunteers addressing envelopes to registered voters and that she also got names from a mailing list.
Mr. Lyons then explained some details about the Ethics Ordinance. Trustees of this Library are covered by the Ethics Ordinance when they are performing official library duties such as attending a Board meeting or representing the library in another place. But, if a trustee comes into the library as a patron to get a book, that trustee is not performing any duties as an officer of the library. It is important to differentiate between official library duties as a trustee and personal activities. Mr. Lyons noted that the use of a mailing outside of the library by a candidate is just not a violation of this ordinance. Mrs. Scott added that registered voter lists are readily available.

Suggestions.
Mrs. Miller noted that she would like to comment on a suggestion that was made. The suggestion was about outside security lights at the Hanover Park Branch Library when the Library was closed. That needs to be checked to insure that there is adequate security lighting there. Mrs. Froehlich then asked about how compliments about specific staff members are handled. Several of the department heads discussed how they address compliments. She also mentioned that the reduction in the video overdue fees from $1.00 a day to ten cents a day is quite dramatic. Mr. Madden said that higher fines are primarily for items in demand where the library does not have enough items available. In the case of videos, the demand has dropped sharply and a higher fine can no longer be justified. In this case the reduction in the fine was long overdue and it was good that a patron identified this issue. DVDs will continue to be $1.00 a day when overdue.

Time of Adjournment.
8:33 p.m.