ANN ARBOR DISTRICT LIBRARY BOARD
343 S. FIFTH AVENUE, ANN ARBOR, MI
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2010
10-275 I. CALL TO ORDER
Vice President Barney Newman called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.
10-276 II. ATTENDANCE
Present: Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Stearns, Surovell
Absent: Head, Rosenthal
Staff: Choate, Doll, Neiburger, Nieman, Parker, Wilson (recorder)
10-277 III. RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR LABOR NEGOTIATIONS
10-278 IV. RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING AT 7:00 P.M.
Vice President Barney Newman reconvened the meeting at 7:02 p.m.
10-279 V. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
(Item of action)
Secretary Leary, supported by Trustee Murphy, moved to approve the agenda.
AYES: Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Stearns, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 5-0.
10-280 VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 20, 2010
(Item of action)
Secretary Leary, supported by Trustee Stearns, moved to approve the minutes of September 20, 2010.
AYES: Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Stearns, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 5-0.
10-281 VII. CITIZENS’ COMMENTS
Alan Haber
Hello, I am Alan Haber, I live on Third Street and I’ve been advocating that the Library Lot next to you be a commons, a community space, a front porch to the library, a front yard to downtown residents, and an attraction for the town. When I presented this to the Library Lot Advisory Board they were really not interested and I understand that you as a board have sort of taken position that this is not your business so you’re not taking a position. On the other hand this is definitely, if not in your purview, in your view and so I would like to share with you the ideas that are developing around the commons ‘cause my sense is this will actually become your front yard, front porch and so you would definitely like to have the sense of the concerns that the Library has and the questions that we would need on your behalf to respond to. The basic idea that we are developing and we as a group of like minded group of people who want to see as a public space green and open in the heart of downtown and indeed make a heart for downtown. We see having a meeting room and the main concept of this is wherever there is driveway Library Lane coming into the parking structure there would be a deck level above that as a people space. It would have a connection with Liberty Plaza the deck level would continue over, you can see this plan and I would like you to know my request was to get some time on the agenda where I could do sort of a clearer presentation of these images and slides and explain since this time very limited. But essentially there would be a meeting room and the top of that would be part of the second level pavilion which would continue around and connect over to the transit center. From the meeting room down to ground level there would be a sloping area, an amphitheater with a stage that could be appropriate for summer theater or Shakespeare or Greek theater with a chorus. The second level would have another smaller stage, there would be a fountain, there would be green and garden. There would be places for just tables or other activities, yogurt stands or whatever. Basically it’s to have a concept with maximize the people space and then allow people to say what are the things we really want to do here. The governance of the commons would be by a community group and nonprofit where all the citizens would be members, but basically be user developed. You have in the library some excellent books on user developed facilities about People’s Park, city repair in Oregon, I’m glad you got those. We see also being able to deal with problems in the park that might arise by seeing a school social worker with whom I talked with actually feel placement for people looking for students helping people who have difficulties. We see this as an area of training on non-violence and conflict resolution, and helping people in one way an education place, an arts place, for the continuing changing Chautauqua for Ann Arbor and a creative spot for all the community to sort of put out what is good and exciting and indeed a attraction for downtown, something for people to discover, and so that would be good for the residents, good for the neighbors, good for people coming into town. Really these drawings are to sort of sketch out, and help the imagination and to see what could actually happen there and my request is to give more clearly the kinds of concerns you have in terms of your use of your facilities that there we should be addressing, if we ask citizens what are your comments on this, how can this can be made good and better and best. And should the city council decide not to go in this direction its very likely the question would come up to a referendum ballot in the spring elections so it would be very much of public concern. So, I really while you say, you don’t want to take a position, I hope each of you would think of yourselves as a citizen as part of this commons park imagination and offer both your creative input and what concerns to which we address ourselves. And if there were a way to have a time on the agenda where I could show, so you could see more largely what these images are, one thing we do want is to be able to put up this as a poster in the library somewhere or adjacent to a desk to ask for peoples comments and suggestions.
10-282 VIII. FINANCIAL REPORT
Associate Director Nieman reported September showed unrestricted cash balance just over $13.5 million. September tax receipts totaled $8.7 million reflecting 77% of the budgeted amount. The Fund Balance reflects just under $7.5 million.
Seven line items are over budget in operating and should come back into line later in the year with the exception of Employee Benefits. Health care costs are still an issue along with increasing contributions to MPSERS.
10-283 IX. APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS
(Item of action)
Secretary Leary, supported by Trustee Surovell, moved to approve the September disbursements.
AYES: Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Stearns, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 5-0.
10-284 X. DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Director Parker reported the Friends of the Ann Arbor District Library received an excellent audit report. Their auditor congratulated them for three years of very hard work.
AADL was recently “secret shopped” by Jack Bernard, UM Council for Disability Concerns and Jane Vincent, Accessibility Manager for the Center for Accessible Technology in Berkeley, CA. We received high marks for bringing the WLBPD into the system and for the assistive technology lab on the second floor. Ms. Vincent was impressed with the knowledgeable and consistent answers she received from staff throughout the building. She is planning on including a chapter on the training of AADL staff in her next book.
Director Parker announced that this was the third year AADL appeared as a five star library in Library Journal. She thanked the Board, staff and public for AADL’s success.
10-285 XI. NEW BUSINESS
10-286 A. VOTE FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION AT THE NOVEMBER 15, 2010 REGULAR BOARD MEETING FOR LABOR NEGOTIATIONS
(Item of action)
Roll call vote
Secretary Leary, supported by Trustee Murphy moved to hold Executive Session at the November 15, 2010 regular Board meeting for labor negotiations.
A roll call vote was taken.
AYES: Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Stearns, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 5-0.
10-287 XII. ADJOURNMENT
Vice President Barney Newman adjourned the meeting at 7:22 p.m.