2010 April 29 LM Meeting

							TYPE OF           LIBRARY MANAGERS, APRIL 29, 2010
MEETING
FACILITATOR       Barb Wright-Wisner
                  Janine Reid, Elena Rosenfeld, Cameron Duff, Rita Kadavy,
ATTENDEES         Jody Hungenberg, Cindy Osborne, Charlene Parker, Tony Brewer
                  Location: Carbon Valley Regional Library



                     BUDGET REDUCTION
DISCUSSION                                                                                    ALL
                     DISCUSSION
          The Library Managers submitted a draft of recommended budget reductions for
          Janine’s consideration. Janine, Eric and Cameron were invited to attend the meeting
          to give their feedback. Topics discussed:

          Substitutes – Because expenses for substitutes are included in salaries, it is difficult
          to know how much is budgeted for this. Janine said the budgeted amount is $63,000.

          Budget recommendations – Janine said that the recommendations provided by the
          library managers help to prioritize the conversation with the Board. She would want
          them to know if there were anything that would erode salaries and benefits,
          collections, facilities. Janine expressed her thoughts on several of the
          recommendations, and asked questions for the rationale behind some of the
          suggestions.

          Refinancing COPs - Janine feels that one thing we need to act on is to refinance the
          certificates of participation this year. Interest rates are lower and it is a three month
          process. If the Proposition affecting COPs passes this year, we couldn’t refinance
          even if it saved money.

          Amount to be saved – Library managers asked how much it is that needs to be
          saved. Janine said the amount is $4.5 million.

          Staffing reductions – Janine explained that the “expect less” comments came about
          because there has been no staff turnover. She thought that the savings could be
          achieved by attrition. When that didn’t happen, she realized we need to be looking at
          different strategies. There was discussion about the pros and cons of reductions
          across the board or by scaling back positions. There was agreement that beginning
          discussions about voluntary reductions would be a place to start. .

          When we will know revenues –We will know the revenue status by August 25. We
          might learn earlier, like June, but Janine is wary of going by information from that
          date because they have been burned in the past.

          Addressing the concerns - Janine said that she is aware of the concerns of staff as
          we go through this process. She would be willing to come talk to staff if that would
            help, though she would like to wait until after the May 10 Board meeting, when we
            will have a better sense of direction from the Board. She encouraged library managers
            to set the tone, communicating that this is not a surprise. Others have gone through
            this, and now it’s our turn. It’s cyclical, and the remedy is to go through a thoughtful
            and deliberate process, even though not everyone may agree with all of the decisions.

            Propositions- There was a question about the propositions. Janine indicated that she
            and Andrew are working on the anticipated effects of the propositions. Part of the
            problem is that there conflicting opinions on the effects of the propositions. She
            mentioned, as one example, the starting point for the Certificates of Participation. So
            she is planning on taking the worst case scenario. She has been drumming ideas for
            getting the word out. There was also discussion about the BHAG (Big Hairy
            Audacious Goal) of recruiting advocates from outside of library staff. Janine
            indicated they would get working on this at the May 10 Board meeting.



DECISIONS
            Begin conversations about level of interest in voluntary staff reductions.


ACTION ITEMS
                                                          PERSON
                                                                                     DEADLINE
                                                          RESPONSIBLE
Janine will take the suggestions from the Library
Managers and refine her own list to prepare for           Janine                     May 10
presentation to Board on May 10.