Parks & Recreation Committee - Regular Meeting

I'm gonna call our library board meeting to order at 05:04PM on today, Monday, November 24. Starting, I guess, just I don't know if you have everyone, but Steph Peters, Chris Abel, and, Basil Busczko, all absent. Michelle. Oh, and Michelle. And then Megan is present virtually.

Any request to amend our agenda for tonight? K. Seeing none, then we'll move on to public comment. Members of the public are invited to speak at the Manitowoc Public Library Board of Trustees meeting each month on any matter related to the oversight of Manitowoc Public Library. The comments from each speaker shall be limited to five minutes in length unless extended by the action of Manitowoc Public Library Board of Trustees. Do have anyone present for public input tonight? Second call, public in or publiccom oh my gosh. Public comment.

Last call, anybody?

Alright. Closing public comment then, and we'll move on to approval of minutes. We have our regular board meeting minutes from October 27 and our personnel committee meeting minutes from November 10. Looking for a motion to approve. So moved. Second. Motion by trustee Pauls and second by trustee trustee Brick. Any discussion? Okay. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Okay. Those are approved. Thank you, everyone.

Then moving on to financial reports. Am I doing that? I got it. Alright. We have Great.

So we have our budget status for fund twenty eight ten and also twenty eight thirteen for the months of October, the NPL check register for November 2025, and the financial summary for October 2025. Hope everyone got a chance to look those over. Do we have any questions, concerns? Otherwise, be looking for a motion to The financial reports? Correct.

Okay. I'll make a motion to approve.

Oh, yeah. That's my motion.

Here we have a motion to approve. Do we have a second? Yep. Second. Second Second by trustee Burke. Any discussion? Do you have anything, Margaret?

A financial report? No. I just didn't know if you want a motion altogether or, like

Either way. Sometimes it's separate. It can be. Yeah. Okay. Scott, want to have

some questions? No. That's fine.

K. Any further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed?

That passes as well.

Moving on to our next, item number six, correspondence. We do not have any for this meeting, so we'll move right on to our administrative reports. Did anyone have, I hope everyone got a chance to look that over as well. Our director's report, manager highlights, our monthly stats, and then October articles. Any discussion on any of these?

I wanted to thank Sharon and Laura S for getting Lauren and Holly's staff to have the teacher collection pick up. I think that's a great idea to get more of the schools involved in the library. It's wonderful to have that. And, also, the truck or treat, that's a huge project and have over a thousand people involved with library. I mean, 1,300 people on one day. I think that really thank you, especially the youth staff. I know you guys work really hard on that. It is appreciated, and it's a wonderful community event. It was wonderful. I wanted to say, oh, all this wonderful maintenance work. I stopped by the library, I'm

like, something's wrong.

But it wasn't.

It was like there was a light on at night. It was at night. And I thought, what's going on? And then I remember that

you guys always work so hard. The maintenance people are sometimes doing stuff at all hours. And it was really, really neat that you guys do work hard even though it's,

like, in the evening and. It's

and it's appreciated that you guys are doing that when it's not you know, when it's when it's helpful to the patron and when it's at a good time for the community. And I just think that's really great about all the things going on there. That was all I had.

Absolutely. I agree. Thank you. I'll add too. I was in the chamber leadership committee meeting last month, and the they had positive things to say about junior leader the junior leadership class that came as well as the adult leadership class.

So I know this year, they said, you know, it was a little different than in past years when they come, and they really enjoyed it. Even though the kids the youth junior leadership are they don't offer a lot of feedback. They didn't add a sense either. And it sounded like they were that way at every stop that they had. So I just wanted to share that in that meeting, there was a lot of praise for the library. So That's a lot. I have I've been on that committee for a while, and I have been the day coordinator for both the adult and the junior leadership groups. And I can confidently say that is the case every year with the

junior leadership group. So They were very nice and

respectful, though. Mhmm. And as soon as we took the picture, as you can see, they all

they all smiled very nicely. Okay. Sure.

Anything further with any of that? Any questions for any of our managers or Karen? Is there anything you wanted to say? No. It's all in your Yeah. Perfect. There's no further discussion or anything on that. We will then move on to our new business starting with the 2026 library calendar. So we do have a memo and a calendar. Okay. Got So

just so you know, I did really stick with just the holidays and our staff development days on this calendar. Those are things that we know that we have for. Margaret did remind me of our employee picnic, which is typically in the summer. Without knowing the date of that, just because last year, it was a little awkward to put it on our calendar without having a date. Yeah.

So I I guess I understand that there is support there for it to be able to close at 05:00, but without knowing the date and or if the city will actually have it, that's also still up in the air. It's kind of hard to put it on our calendar. I can always report it when I'm done for sure,

which would be a month ahead of time. Sounds good. Does anyone have any questions? Need to set the calendar. Motion. Do we have a second?

No. That's different than disclosure request. Correct.

Correct. That's all different. Okay. Yeah.

So we need a second. Okay.

Okay. Thank you. Alright. So then we have a motion by trustee Frick, second by trustee Morell. And any discussion on this then?

So what do I do in amendment?

If you are looking to make an amendment, then you should do

it now before we

I was thinking given what

Karen said, I think we could just say if there is a picnic, we're going to close it so that people know when they get that notice that they can plan on having their families come, that the library employees are all gonna be off, that this is kind of a yearly thing

that we're gonna do.

If they're they're gonna do a picnic, they're gonna have all the employees in the city do it. And

Okay. So what is your motion? Approve that.

So my motion will be if there is a city appreciation picnic, library will close to the public at 5PM on that date for

the city picnic.

Okay. We have a motion to amend. Do we

have a second? Do we need

discussion first, though? I mean, how are we how are you going to do that? Are you gonna have an asterisk or something on the side

of your calendar? The amendment would be to accept as proposed with this sentence.

Yeah. Just like it was last year.

Last year, there was something at the bottom that said, we're gonna close on August. We find out the date of the That was on

the one. I just don't even know if it's gonna be wait. This is all typical, but I don't know for sure.

So Right. But I would the city if it will be or if there will be.

But I would like library employees to be able to plan on going plan on having a family go there.

Does that need to be on the calendar, though?

Can't you

just come with a closure amendment or a closure request like you're gonna do for this one?

That's what I was planning on. Yeah.

Yeah. I would say we just leave the calendar as is, and she just comes forward with one of these. We'll just approve it as a board.

But do it whatever day it is. Over.

Have to As soon as we as soon as she finds out that that the picnic is scheduled, then she'll come in.

Yeah. Okay. Alright. If that's

enough time for people to plan and

Sure. Just to get on and all the logistics and my my staff have never had an issue. The only issue there was was people weren't allowed to attend because we were open till eight.

Okay. Okay. That's what

I think we would all be supportive of giving them the time to go to

Well, then I'll, like, get rid of my.

Whatever. Well, there was no. Yeah.

There was no. So then the motion failed. So now we are back to our original motion to accept the calendar as is. Any further discussion for that? Because we do have a motion and a second for that. K. Then all in favor?

Aye.

Aye. Opposed? That passes. Thank you. Then moving on to our next, memo that we have here, disclosure request.

Do you want this? This is, yeah, this is for this year, not for calendar. Did everyone have a chance

to look Mhmm. This over?

K. I make a motion to accept your closure request.

Second. K. So we have a motion by trustee Nerol and a second by trustee Berg. Any discussion? Yes. Margaret? Okay. So I did some research.

Brown Pike Library is open the twenty sixth. Meade Library is open the twenty sixth. Milwaukee Public Library is open the twenty sixth. Leicester is open the twenty sixth. That is the first day after the holiday that kids are off school in the mornings.

And in the mornings before nap time is the perfect time to go to library. Having as someone who's had small children, it is extremely frustrating to get small children out of the house, ready to go library, and find out the library's post, whether it's in the morning or the afternoon for the development days, which is my own fault because I should've looked for the development date. But this is something that I think we do with the employee picnic. We thank them with giving them that time off. And I also think that this is something that should they could've that needs to be brought up when we do our regular calendar, not less than a month before.

Like, it could've it needed to be brought up, like, in the calendar, not as a separate thing a month before it's gonna happen. So that's those were my concern with it. I think it's too much of a hardship for our patrons to write to the library, not have it open on a day that we already have off Christmas day. We already have off Christmas day. And I just think that closing it now is a bit last minute.

And while I appreciate the work of library staff, I don't think it's worth, not that the work isn't worth it, but I think that the disruption to the community, especially on that day when kids are off school for the first time, we're trying really hard to literacy is not the best idea. I

would like to just just respond to a couple things that I couldn't bring this forward last year because this is meant to be a reward for the work that we did all year. Mhmm. So how was I supposed to know that we were going to accomplish and the staff were gonna accomplish so much that I would plan it a year ahead of time? Mhmm. So that's the reason behind it coming now. Mhmm. And as you know, we just went through performance evaluations. So this was Mhmm. An idea generated out of that. So the timing is correct in how I thought about it Mhmm.

And what I wanted to do to show appreciation to the staff in the way that I know that they would appreciate. Mhmm. So I just wanted to make sure that you understood. I can't plan this ahead of time.

That's logical. Okay.

I just also want to sitcom. Most school districts have off each other week. So the most school districts I mean, I know Manitowoc, but Ballard's the surrounding. We have off already, like, on the it's a ridiculous amount of time off, but Mhmm. It's not like the twenty

sixth is their first

it's not like they only have off Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and then that's their first day. Like, they have off Monday. They have off

the whole week before Christmas.

I mean, that coming up. So just telling you that way too. Plenty of time to go to library before Christmas as well. Mhmm. Because there's no school Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.

Right. But the thing is Or terms are getting ready

for Christmas before Christmas.

Well But that's an assumption. Yep. Right. It can't I mean, you know, just give you a different glimpse. It's not like they do have a So

Is it back open on Saturday?

It's it's open on the twenty sixth.

It's open on Friday. O'clock.

It is on eleven on the twenty sixth. Yeah.

Yes. That'll open up.

And then we open regular hours on Saturday. Yep.

And Sunday. And Sunday? Yeah. Any further discussion? Thank you, everyone, for your input. I also I'll just say before we vote, just wanna say thank you to Karen and all of the staff at the library because a lot was done this year. You guys have worked very hard, so very appreciated. Anything further? All those in favor? Aye. Aye. And opposed? Nay. K. So we have one nay.

How many of us are your neighbors? Yes. I am. So,

yes, it yes.

Then

okay. I I for the next one, I have information to share. December board

meeting. Oh,

I skipped it. Our December board meeting. I coming from the the city, it didn't have all the information, like, posted agenda. But it does look like there was an approval of the city budget. But by No.

It was a recommendation of a finance

Finance committee. Yeah. But not fully approved by the city council. So what I what Sean Alfre gave me permission to share, though, are the two pieces that come with that recommendation is that employee compensation raises would be 3%, and the health insurance increase is 13%. Those are the two pieces that we're missing from the fire, but I can't give you the budget until it is fully approved by the city. So

That vote won't happen till the December 15.

Right. So that would be our only new business. Those final numbers would be the only new business every December. Otherwise, you can opt not to have a December meeting, and I can share that whole budget again. That was approved by the city council at the January meeting.

You need us to approve it again?

Or No. It would just be if I yes. If December would be like

that. Yep.

Okay. Yeah. So And if we are going to have a December meeting, then you need to decide on a date because the fourth is the week of Christmas, which is fine for me, but we need to have a quarter if we're going to have December 14.

I would say if the only item is budget update on a final, not having a December meeting.

I agree.

So then we can

Of course, there can always be comes colleague versus Right.

Yeah. Something comes up. It comes.

We would need

an option to officially not have a December meeting.

So moved.

A motion by trustee Nerrill.

Do we

have a second? Second. Second by trustee Pauls. Any discussion? All those in favor?

Aye.

Opposed? Is it a hard time I do. Yeah.

The only thing that drastic that would happen is if the council decides not to improve the city's budget overall.

Right. You would know that. Just as a

person. Yeah. Alright. Then next up on our agenda, we have our facilities update with Stacy.

Are you here again? We're into round two of the interviews to fill. Oh, I didn't Is that provisions?

No. Oh, I thought that was

oh. So we went through a group, and nothing panned out. Oh. So now we've posted again. It is online again. So I thought that was,

like, a second interview, but no. It's We went through a couple of those. So,

Cher, if you know anybody, you can

to join the library. It's full time with a bunch of us.

Yes. We're directly with Stacy.

And the other wonderful people. Yeah.

Lots of

jokes and funk. So

So we've already got a lot of people coming already signing up on city website. So we're taking them fast and quick and letting them know that they're either gonna go forward to interviewers or not, so we're not kinda hanging around waiting. So it's as they come in, we're taking care of them. So this is center. We got the car pinging and I know that's funny to Karen and training things. But they wanted to offer the job to Karen because she's been doing some over there. She took some some of the signs off the column, which with Meredith's help, you figure out how to get the toggle bolts out. So

All cutters. So

we're kinda focusing some of the lighting down there as well to kinda get the so once the covering is finished and get the equipment in, we have check come in already, and they already set up the lines that come through to the ceiling. Everything will drop through the ceiling. That's already set up as junctions, and we'll just finish up the lighting. And then one, three, everything will be ready. So the lighting, we've got our first line in for the rotunda and underneath the ring this week. I'll be coming in Thanksgiving, so we'll finish that up. But it's next time when those days off. Intense up. Can just do the lights here. When you scare me, I'm like, what was I doing here?

But, yeah, we'll be getting that done. So the big strobes that are in the dome, and then those ring lights will be all set up and ready to go. And then we'll start doing all the stacks that are in the collections and getting those done too. So but this is been business center first, and then I got the chance.

So Okay.

Any questions? They have nothing about seagulls. They're back again. So

They're banned.

No. They come and go. They gone for a month and then they

Happy holidays. They're not.

So that's bad.

The babies are not being born yet, so they're not aggressive.

No. They're not.

Interesting. I know.

The everglades are coming.

It looks

beautiful. Nice. I was at Wayne's Yoga, and they are doing a bingo card for the month. And one of the spots on the bingo card is to come and see the Everglades at the library. Oh. So I thought that was really cool.

Great. Okay. Thank

you, Stacy. You're welcome. Alright. Next up, we will convene in closed session. Notice is hereby given that the above governmental body may adjourn into a closed session during the meeting as authorized by section 19.85 sub one sub c of the Wisconsin Wisconsin statutes for the purpose of considering employment, promotion, compensation, or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility.

The specific subject matter that may be considered in the closed session is the following, executive director annual performance evaluation. So we have to do a roll call vote go into closed session.

Need a motion to go into closed

motion first.

So I will make the motion to

do a closed session. K. We have a motion. A second. A second. Now roll call. You have a sheet. Right? Pam? Rick? Aye. Yeah. Megan? Yes. Aye. Aye. Yep. Dana? Yeah.

So I

And and me. I. Alright. Then we are in closed session. I do okay. Alright. We have reconvened in open session. I

would make a motion to approve the recommendation of the personnel committee regarding the executive director's annual review.

We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. K. Any discussion on that? Alright. Perfect. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. And opposed? Alright. That concludes our agenda unless anyone has anything else.

Motion to adjourn.

We have a motion. Second. And a second. Last name.

All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? We are adjourned. Thank