South Central Library System Board of
Trustees Minutes
11/19/2021, 12:15 p.m.
Chester Room
4610 S. Biltmore Lane, Suite 101, Madison, WI 53718
Meeting held remotely via BlueJeans & in person
Action
Items:
Approved Updated Employee policies: Sick Time, End of Employment, Bereavement
leave, Severe Weather, Working Remotely
Present: B. Clendenning, P. Cox, S. Elwell, N. Foth, M.
Furgal, J. Healy-Plotkin, J. Honl, N. Long, M. Nelson, R. Nelson, G.
Poulson, T. Walske, K. Williams
Absent: N. Brien, S. Feith
Recorder: H. Moe
SCLS Staff Present: M. Van Pelt, K. Goeden, Corey Baumann
Call to Order: 12:15 p.m. J. Healy-Plotkin, President
a. Introduction of guests/visitors: Shannon Schultz, DPI
b. Changes/additions to the agenda: Add Personnel report to committee reports.
c.
Requests to address the Board: None
Approval of previous meeting minutes: 10/28/2021
a.
Motion: K. Williams moved approval of the 10/28/2021 minutes. T. Walske seconded.
b. Changes or corrections:
c.
Vote: Motion carried.
Financial
Statements: K.
Goeden provided an overview of the financial statements.
Bills for Payments: The payment amount is $247,739.84
a. Motion: K. Williams moved approval of the bills for payment. M. Nelson seconded.
b. Discussion: None.
c. Vote: Motion carried.
Presentation 1: Shannon Schultz, Public Library Administration Consultant, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction – Role of Trustees
You may view her Power Point presentation in the documents online. Trustee Liability
Systems in
Wisconsin are truly unique and very autonomous. Wisconsin is the only state
with this set up. They are “rainbow unicorns”. The statutes are enabling but
not prescriptive.
Questions:
Has DPI come across scenarios in Wisconsin where interaction is required with a
board or a board member that is not acting appropriately?
Not at a system level, but compliance issues have occurred with local
libraries, for instance a director that has not completed the required
certification. System Directors meetings are occurring weekly to help engage the
directors and share questions and concerns.
It was requested that an explanation of Chapter 43 as “enabling and not
prescriptive” be expanded upon. Chapter 43 provides the guiderails, but not
how to drive. It doesn’t provide details or step by step instructions but more
how to go about doing things without specific details. Chapter 43 has no sense
of flow so it can be vague and confusing for boards due to the lack of clear
cut answers.
SCLS has insurance for our board, director and Finance Coordinator. Is that
necessary?
DPI has never experienced a need for the insurance. The statute provides the
protection. It is uncommon for a public library to be sued for a willful act.
The board as a whole takes action, not an individual trustee.
Committee Reports
a. Advocacy: Trustees are library advocates. What have you done in the last month to promote libraries?
b. Bylaws: Will meet following this meeting.
c.
Nomination: The slate of officers will be presented to the board at the December
meeting and will vote for the following in January: G. Poulson- President; S.
Elwell- V. President; M. Nelson- Secretary; N. Foth- Treasurer.
d. Personnel: M. Nelson noted the committee conducted the 2021 performance review
and goals for the System Director. The committee approved the 2022 System
Director goals and also reviewed the 5 personnel policies and as a committee
recommended the changes as proposed to the updated employee policies.
Action Items
a. Approve updated employee policies
i. Sick Time
a. Motion: M. Nelson moved approval of the sick time policy change. S. Elwell seconded.
b. Discussion: None
c. Vote: Motion carried.
ii.
End of Employment
a. Motion: J. Honl moved approval of the end of employment policy change. M.
Furgal seconded.
b. Discussion: None
c. Vote: Motion carried.
iii. Bereavement Leave
a. Motion: N. Foth moved approval of the bereavement leave policy change. P. Cox seconded.
b. Discussion: None
c. Vote: Motion carried.
iv. Severe weather
a. Motion: G. Poulson moved approval of the severe weather policy change. N. Long seconded.
b. Discussion: None
c. Vote: Motion carried.
v. Working Remotely
a. Motion: P. Cox moved approval of the working remotely policy. M. Nelson seconded.
b. Discussion: None
c.
Vote: Motion carried.
SCLS Foundation Report: M. Van Pelt noted the committee met 10/28/2021.
System
Director's Report: You
may view the System Director report online. M. Van Pelt noted Marathon County Public
Library has hired Leah Giordano as their new director. The Marathon County
board also met with the Wisconsin Valley Library System (WVLS) to discuss an
expectation assessment and created a task force with four tenets that WVLS has
to improve in order for Marathon County to remain in the WVLS system. They
will continue to meet quarterly to discuss the proposed changes to see how
things are coming along. SCLS applied for three ARPA grants on behalf of its
members and submitted the pre-applications. We will find out the last week of
November if we can move to the next step of the process. A BNAW update was
provided. J. Healy-Plotkin requested the System Director Report provide a
brief update of the building process as well as the timeline of the steps
required with the City of Madison.
Presentation 2: Corey Baumann, SCLS Delivery Services Coordinator – future statewide delivery plan: You may review the Power Point presentation in the documents online.
Administrative
Council (AC) Report:
Cancelled due to the WLA Annual Conference.
Other Business:
a. 2022 Committees: Start thinking about which committees you would like to serve on in 2022 including staying on your current committee. Send requests and updates to Heidi Moe.
Information
sharing:
Adjournment: 1:55 p.m.
For more information about the Board of Trustees, contact Martha Van Pelt
BOT/Minutes/11-19-2021