I’m Ellie Serras and I am chair of the Our New Downtown Library campaign committee and I just wanted to let you all know if you didn’t, that in twenty one days it will be time to vote for a new downtown library. Yes, August 20th was the last time I reported to you about the Our New Downtown Library campaign. Needless to say a lot has happened since then. So I thought it was time to bring you all up to date about our progress so far. The Our New Downtown Library campaign committee has been vigorously meeting with citizens, speaking to groups and presenting to organizations. Support for the new downtown library building is widespread and diverse. There are over one hundred contributors from corporations and individuals. The Our New Library website includes thirty testimonials from leaders in business, arts organizations, private citizens and non-profits who serve the most at-risk populations in our community. Members in the campaign committee have distributed five hundred small yard signs and we have twenty-five large signs coming soon that will go out this week. We’ve mailed over thirty-five thousand postcards and will be distributing another ten thousand in the next two weeks. We’ve distributed three hundred buttons, of which I am sporting tonight and some of you are. And we’ve just reordered those because we’ve had so many requests. Members of the Our New Downtown Library campaign have attended fourteen events to date and have spoken on two radio segments. Opted pieces were published by the Ann Arbor.com and The Ann Magazine. We have six more events scheduled but are eager to put more on our calendar. So if you know of any one or any organization or any neighborhood interested in talking with us we are always ready to meet with people. The campaign will have ads in local media including The Observer, Ann Arbor.com, Facebook and Comcast and these will start in the next couple of weeks. Campaign committee volunteers can be seen at the farmers market every Saturday morning answering questions, distributing yards signs, buttons and information. This campaign is built on confidence and trust. When I’m talking with people, I’m can say here are the facts. This campaign is not built on rumors or innuendo. Being able to submit evidence and data accumulated over the last decade by astute library staff are the most powerful and persuasive arguments. We are not wondering “if we build it will they come”, we know “they” are already coming and the building can’t accommodate them today, much less tomorrow. To me our new library will be an expression of core values of this community, education and equal access to information for everyone. It will be an exciting place, where cultures are shared, differences of opinion are welcome, ideas collide and innovations explode. I commend the Ann Arbor Library Board of Directors for your leadership and putting this initiative forward at this time. It’s my honor to be part of this advocacy group for this great institution. Thank you.
12-208 VI. FINANCIAL REPORTS
Associate Director Nieman reported September showed unrestricted cash balance just over $14 million. Tax receipts just over $8.6 million, reflecting 77% of the budgeted amount, have been received. Four line items are over budget but are expected to come into line later in the year.
12-209 VII. APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS
(Item of action)
Trustee Kaplan, supported by Trustee Surovell, moved to approve the September disbursements.
President Leary reported that Director Parker is absent as she is attending two township meetings tonight to report on the bond proposal. President Leary announced that Director Parker has been appointed by the Governor to serve on the board of the Commission for Blind Persons. She is one of only seven people on the commission.
12-211 IX. NEW BUSINESS
12-212 A. VOTE FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION AT THE NOVEMBER 19, 2012 REGULAR MEETING FOR OPINION OF LEGAL COUNSEL & DISCUSSION OF REAL ESTATE
(Item of action)
Roll call vote
Trustee Head, supported by Treasurer Murphy, moved to hold an Executive Session at the November 19, 2012 regular Board meeting for opinion of legal counsel and discussion of real estate.