Birmingham Public Library Board Minutes

Minutes	June 9, 2020	4:30 p.m.	Via Teleconference
Meeting Called By	James A. Sullivan, President
Type of Meeting	Regular Board Meeting
Attendees	Trustees:Willie S. Davis III, James A. Sullivan, Eunice Johnson Rogers, Judge Scott Vowell, Lynn Flowers-Martin, Sherri Nielson, Fatima Carter, Mona Lisa Morris, Kimberly Richardson Staff Present: Floyd Council, Executive Director; Damein Baity, Chief Financial Officer; Karyn Davis-West, Central Manager; Janine Langston, Deputy Director; Kimberley Wiley; Jamilah Muhammad, Human Resources Technician; Yolanda Hardy, Southern-Western Regional Manager; Richard Manoske, IMS Administrator; Catherine Frey, Director of Development; Bessie Miller, Regional Manager; Edith Major, Personnel Officer; Roy Williams, Director of Public Relations Others Present:Malera Wright, Assistant City Attorney; Jamal McCaskey, Advisory; Terry Oglesby, City Architect; Mike Eddington, City Engineer

Call To Order

Board meeting was called to order by President Eunice Johnson Rogers at 4:30 p.m. Lynn Flowers-Martin provided the invocation.

Presentations

Karyn Davis-West discussed recent updates on the Monumental Stairs Project. She also gave the Central Fiction department updates. In summary she shared the following updates:

The Monumental Stairs Project and the progress of the metal frames for the stairs are being completed.
The terrazzo steps, they will not be built until the 1st floor and 2nd floor mental frames have been constructed.
The Central team has mad progress on fiction move and relocating the books to from the first floor to the 3rd floor.
Updates concerning the Grand Reading Room and the fees that will be charged for events in this space will be reviewed at a future Policy Committee Meeting.
Updates on the lack of security and staffing for the 1st floor in Central Library.

Pat Rumore asked will circulation department will move back to the 1st floor in the Central Library. Karyn Davis-West confirmed that the circulation department will move back after the Monumental Stairs Project in the Central Library is completed. Judge Vowell asked about what the Fiction department space will be used for in the future. Karyn Davis-West stated it will be the Grand Reading Room and there will be some shelving with popular reading items against the wall.

Presentations

There were no presentations.

Public Voices

There were no public voices.

Approval of Agenda

Approval of Agenda: Approval
Judge Scott Vowell motioned to accept the agenda as presented. Lynn Flowers-Martin seconded the motion. The Board responded unanimously in favor to approve the motion. Eunice Johnson Rogers confirmed that the agenda was approved as printed.

Approval of Consent Agenda

Approval of the Consent Agenda: Approval
Sherri Nielson motioned to accept the agenda as presented. Willie Davis III seconded the motion. The Board responded unanimously in favor to approve the motion. Eunice Johnson Rogers confirmed that the consent agenda was approved as printed.

Terry Oglesby

Terry Oglesby discussed the following pending projects with interactive Q&A with Library Trustees and staff:

Central East Monumental Stairs Project
Central Storefront Door Addition
Wylam Library Project
Central Carpet Replacement
Arrington Auditorium floor installation and amended contract
Central Skylight Repair

Attorney Malera Wright, City Attorney

There was no report from Malera Wright.

Operational Items Requiring Board Approval

There were no operational items requiring Board approval.

Reports of the Committees

Finance Reports

Chief Financial Officer, Damein Baity presented the financial report.

Finance Report: Presented

Motion to approve Finance Report: Approval

Damein Baity presented the financial report to the Board. Willie Davis III motioned to accept the financial report. Fatima Carter seconded the motion. The Board responded unanimously in favor of the motion to accept.

Long Range Planning Committee

Eunice Johnson Rogers stated a Long Range Planning Committee meeting needs to be set up before the next Board meeting. Kimberly Richardson stated she would get a Long Range Planning Committee meeting together before the next Board meeting.

Unfinished Business

Library Reopening

Floyd Council presented short updates about the COVID-19 Recovery Plan. The Board and staff engaged in interactive discussion about plans and projected times to reopen.

Recommendation to Revisit the Reopening of the Library

Kimberly Richardson moved to accept the recommendation to revisit discussion about reopening the Library when COVID-19 reporting data has leveled off in Jefferson County. Judge Scott Vowell seconded the motion. The Board responded unanimously in favor to approve the motion. Eunice Johnson Rogers confirmed that the motion carried.

Janine Langston presented short updates about the COVID-19 Recovery Plan and Curbside Service Plan. She shared updates about JCLC handling requirements for materials and certifications that all Library locations have completed.

Langston proposed the following Birmingham Public Regional Libraries to launch Curbside Service effective June 15, 2020:

Avondale Library
Springville Road Library
North Birmingham Library
Five Points West Library

Recommendation to Start Library Curbside Service Effective June 15, 2020

Floyd Council recommended approval of Curbside Service. Judge Scott Vowell moved to accept the recommendation to start Curbside Service for the four regional libraries effective June 15, 2020. Kimberly Richardson seconded the motion to approve (with questions for clarity about what “curbside email” means. A staff reply was provided). The Board responded unanimously in favor to approve the motion. Eunice Johnson Rogers confirmed that the motion carried.

Recommendation for Resolution

Judge Scott Vowell made a recommendation for a resolution to be presented to the family of Thracie Pace, longtime BPL Friends Bookstore manager, in acknowledgement of service to the Birmingham Public Library. Kimberly Richardson motioned to approve a resolution to be presented to the family of Thracie Pace. Willie Davis III seconded the motion. The Board responded unanimously in favor of the resolution. Eunice Johnson Rogers confirmed that the motion for resolution carried.

New Business

There was no new business.

Board Members' Comments

Eunice Johnson Rogers thanked Jamal McCaskey and the Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library for finding the funding for the door in the East Grand Reading Room. Sherri Nielson thanked the staff for the detail they have been putting in the virtual programs.

Fatima Carter thanked the staff for the virtual programs they have been providing.

Lynn Flowers-Martin gave thanks to the staff and everyone for all the hard work during this pandemic. Judge Scott Vowel acknowledged Friends Bookstore manager Thracie Pace for her kindness to staff and thanked the staff for the kind words the staff gave to her family after her unlikely death. Kimberly Richardson thanked the staff for all they do and asked the staff to please be safe. James A. Sullivan thanked the staff for all they do and encouraged everyone to be safe.

Next Board Meeting is Tuesday July 14, 2020

Submitted By

Floyd Council, Secretary