HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - LB - 1978.11.21 BURLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY
MINUTES
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
NOVEMBER 21, 1978
TRUSTEES PRESENT:
Chairman Hechinger, Trustee Phelan, Trustee Weatherbe, Trustee Parsons & Trustee DeMartini
TRUSTEES ABSENT:
None
OTHERS ATTENDING:
Mrs. Joy Molder, Assistant City Librarian; Mrs. Mary Lang, President of The Friends of the
Burlingame Public Library; Mrs. Elaine White, Chairman of the Book Sale; Mr. Jerry Coleman,
City Attorney; Mr. Dennis Argyres, Finance Director; Mrs. Dolores Huajardo, Representing the
Citizen's Committee; Mr. Bill Nagle, Representing the Citizen's Committee; and Kris Cannon,
also Representing the Citizen's Committee, and Mr. Dennis Huajardo.
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Hechinger on November 21 , 1978 at 4:40 pm.
BILLS:
Checks in the amount of $10,379.47 were ordered paid on a motion by Trustee DeMartini, seconded
by Trustee Parsons and carreid. Special Fund bills in the amount of $657.12 were paid on a
motion by Trustee Parsons, seconded by Trustee DeMartini and carried.
MINUTES:
Minutes of the Octover 17, 1978 meeting were read and approved as written and ordered filed.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT:
The Librarian's Report was discussed in conjunction with the Agenda items under Unfinished and
New Business.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Chairman Hechinger read through the correspondence which was mostly related to the Easton Branch
closing. He commented that there was an unusually large amount. Mrs. Bergsing stated that the
letter received from Mrs. Virginia Stodart was especially moving and very well written. She said
she would make copies for the Board members to read at the next meeting.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
COMPUTERIZED ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND GENERAL LEDGER SYSTEM - MR. DENNIS ARGYRES: Mr. Argyres explained
to the Board members that the intent of going on computer to pay the bills for the Library and the
City of Burlingame is to simplify the accounts payable. He stated that there are four sources from
which the checks feed through the finance department every month and that trying to reconcile to the
bank statement is very difficult. He made mention that if a check were lost or stolen that it would
take months to even notice it gone. He further explained that the old system, as we use it now, is
outdated and just too time consuming. He said that the Board of Trustees could continue their past
procedure, in other words, approve the bills before payment is requested from City Hall. He didn't
mean to infringe on the authority of the Board members but merely to "Streamline the whole City" as
far as the check writing procedure is concerned.
BURLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY
MINUTES: NOVEMBER 21, 1978
PAGE TWO
UNFINISHED BUSINESS CONTINUED:
Trustee DeMartini agreed that this would be an expedient way of handline the accounts payable.
Trustee Phelan thought it was a great idea. It was unanimously agreed that it would save time
and effort and it was an overall good idea.
Mr. Argyres suggested that we check into the Interest on Checking Accounts with a minimum
balance to see if perhaps we could be gaining interest on the balance that is always left in
the Special Fund monthly. He said the minimum balance would have to be $2,000.00 and if we
could meet this specification that it would be to our advantage.
EASTON BRANCH LIBRARY: There were a few people from the Citizens Committee attending the meeting
of the Board of Trustees, mainly because they were under the impression that the Board was going
to make a decision as to whether or not to close the Easton Branch Library or keep it open.
Chairman Hechinger took into consideration that there was an option that the Branch could be
kept open 19 hours per week without cutting into the service of the Main Library. He asked if
this might be an alternative. Trustee Parsons asked if the $50,000.00 cost to run the branch
was a true figure. Patricia Bergsing stated that this was a figure quoted to cut back on the
budget, since it cost approximately $50,000.00 to run the branch, it was the most feasible cutback.
Trustee DeMartini addressed Mr. Argyres; could the cutback on the budget which is presently
$50,000.00 be doubled by June 1979? In other words, the Library has been forced to cut back a
set amount at this time, could funds be further cut at a later date which could affect the Library?
Mr. Argyres explained yes it could. He said that he has no control over the funds that the City
of Burlingame receives annually. Since Proposition 13 has passed, it could very easily be that
Burlingame might not receive as much money next year as they did this year and consequently will
have to make further cutbacks if this is the case.
A meeting for the Board of Trustees to consider Committee recommendations and any input from
the public was scheduled for Thursday evening at 7:00 pm on November 30, 1978 to be held at
the Council Chambers at Burlingame City Hall. An additional meeting for deliberation with no
public input was scheduled for Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm on December 6, 1978 also to be held
in the Council Chambers at Burlingame City Hall. Both of these rooms and dates have to be
confirmed.
There was a somewhat lengthy discussion regarding employee scheduling between Patricia Bergsing
and Trustee Parsons. Mrs. Bergsing was attempting to clarify just how the scheduling was done.
Since it is a very involved process it sometimes it difficult to explain briefly.
Citizens Committee member Kris Kannon stated clearly that they have done their share of investi-
gating the Easton Branch statistics, given their recommendations and have nothing else to contribute.
Chairman Hechinger wanted to know what input to expect from the public meeting next week. Mr. Nagle
offered his assistance if needed but the general consensus and overall opinion was that the Board's
meeting may only be to rehash all that has already been said and done.
NEW BUSINESS:
C.L.A. CONVENTION - DECEMBER 2nd THROUGH DECEMBER 5th, 1978 IN SAN DIEGO: Librarian Bergsing
advised the Board that she will be attending the California Library Association meeting on
December 2, 3, 4, & 5, 1978 in San Diego. She gave the Board members an itinerary and literature
and explained that the members were welcome to attend the meeting at their own expense if they
wished to do so.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE GIFT OF THE 8mm SOUND MOVIE PROJECTOR FROM MRS. FERN PERIN: Mrs. Bergsing
stated that Mrs. Perin of San Mateo, California had purchased a brand new 8mm Bell and Howell
Sound Movie Projector for the Library. Chairman Hechinger signed a thank you letter to be
mailed to Mrs. Perin. The Library is very proud to own the new projector and expresses their
sincere thanks to Mrs. Perin.
BURLINGAME PUBLIC LIBRARY
MINUTES: November 21, 1978
PAGE THREE
ADJOURNMENT:
The open meeting was adjourned at 6:10 pm for a brief executive session. The next regular
meeting was scheduled for December 19, 1978 at 4:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia M. Bergsing
Clerk of the Board
PMB:jg:jt