Uh, I want to call to order a statement of compliance with Open Public Meetings Act NJSA 1048. As revised, this meeting is an advertised in accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act and is publicly accessible in accordance with law. Roll call, please. >> Sure. Roco
>> present. >> Dr. George is Dr. George. Is that her or no? >> No. >> Okay. So accent um Sarah here Maria
>> accent Rosemary I am here Zad Gina >> Maddie >> here >> Mayor Walker >> absent Frank Weber >> here
>> and Dr. bragging. >> Thank you. >> I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> All right. Um, make a motion to go into executive session. Motion. >> I will second that motion to go into executive session. >> I will um to our member
I to our member of the public. You will be in the waiting room until we are out of executive session. No. All right. A motion to go out of executive session. >> I'll make a motion out. >> I will second. >> All in favor?
>> I. >> And I will readmit and I will have to take that out of the recording because I forgot to stop that. >> Okay. All right. Um,
>> okay. Um, can I have a motion for the minutes or the approval of the regular meeting minutes August 6th and the approval of the executive session minutes from August 6th? >> Right. Discussion. >> No discussion.
>> Discussion. Uh, Rocco. >> Yes. Sarah, yes. >> Yes. >> Uh, Maddie, >> yes. >> Frank, >> yes. >> Um,
>> on personnel, you have several appointments and one resignation. Why don't we do A by itself and then we can do B through I inclusive unless there are any objections from the trustees. >> Perfect. Um, so motion to accept the resignation
of library assistant support services, Jenna say effective September 19th, 2025. >> I can make the motion. >> Yes. >> And I'll second >> uh discussion.
>> No motion. Uh Sarah, >> yes. Uh I have a yes. Maddie, >> yes. Frank, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. And then we are
Yes. Okay. So, approving the appointment of uh library assistance. >> So, let me just through I to
approve all of the ones listed. >> I will second it. >> Second it. >> Any discussion? No. Okay. Um, yes. >> Frank, >> yes. >> Bronco,
>> yes. >> Sarah, >> yes. >> Thank you. Great. And then we have item J under personnel for our discussion in executive approving for Felicia Fleming a 10%
effective August 27th through September 4th Jay worked for her for additional duties in the absence of the library director. >> I'll make I'll make a motion for Jay. >> I will second the motion. Second motion.
All in favor? >> Frank? >> Yes. >> Roco? >> Yes. >> Sarah? >> Yes. >> Yes. Maddie? >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh, moving to we need an action on the September 10th bill listing. We have
$200, $31.90. Second. discussion. >> Roco, >> yes. >> Sarah, >> yes. >> Yes. Maddie, yes. Frank, >> abstain.
>> Thank you. >> Good. And then accepting the 2024 audit report, please. >> I'll make the motion. >> I can second it. Is there a second? report.
>> No. >> Anything on the order? >> No. >> All right. Roco. >> Yes. >> Sarah. >> Yes. >> Yes. Maddie. >> Frank. >> No. And uh I wish I had more time, but
uh this I think it should be reviewed more. >> Okay, we're done. >> Okay. Uh, moving back. Moving on to old business. >> No, nothing for old business. >> Business. Okay. New business. >> New business. I do have two items. Um,
and I apologize with these again. Um, I drafted language to make sure that I have something appropriate for all of you to consider. There are two matters in new business. One will, um, come up later for the buildings and grounds discussion. It is a motion to enter into
a cooperative purchasing agreement with the Mammon Ocean Educational Services Commission to provide access to state contract purchasing in accordance with the New Jersey Cooperative Purchasing Program. So essentially with well not
essentially exactly what this is um we are already a part of ESCJ which is um a cooperative purchasing program through the state of New Jersey and when our architect went in on one of our projects and submitted it to them
they found that they thought that the price was a bit high and took it upon themselves to look at other options and went to uh the Mammoth Ocean Educational Services Commission which is another cooperative purchasing
group in New Jersey that we can join. The public schools in Oldbridge are already a part of of that cooperative and I spoke with them and all we need to do today in order to join that. There's no cost. there's um a resolution that
needs to be passed and then an agreement for the board president and secretary to sign off on and then anytime we have a project that's above bid threshold we can send it out to them um and the purpose of
them I just want to read exactly from their website um it is a team effort to obtain benefits in pricing product quality and an efficient contract pro process for public purchasing entities. So
that's what these cooperatives do. So it is simply um a motion to enter into that agreement >> and it avoids the bidding and procurement >> struggles that you guys have gone through. It's good to have as many head services commissions as you can have. >> Yeah, I was going to say
>> because they they essentially have open approved contracts which are like time and materials for them and then when you need them, you just use them >> and it's already pre-bid for you. >> That's good. That's awesome. >> It's why our renovation um our furniture renovation phase one didn't need to go out to bit because that's through ESCJ.
>> Is there any reason you wouldn't want this? No, right. No, I couldn't think of anything. >> And it doesn't bind you to use them ever. >> So, it's just an an option. >> I would make the motion. I will second that motion. >> So, Don, can you read the motion just
into the record? Linda's notes. The motion is to enter into a cooperative purchasing agreement with the Mammoth Ocean Educational Services Commission to provide access to state contract purchasing in accordance
with the New Jersey state with the New Jersey Cooperative Purchasing Program. >> 11. She got it. She always does. >> All right. So, I think we've discussed, right? We can go to roll call. >> Okay, >> we did it. >> We did motion.
>> Motion. Sarah motions and second. >> Uh Sarah, >> yes. >> I am a yes. Maddie, >> yes. >> Frank, >> yes. >> Roco, >> yes. >> Thank you. >> Great. Okay. Our next item of new
business is to approve the closure of the library to the general public on Friday, December 19th for a full staff training day. We've done this um once a year since I arrived and we've uh I think it's been well utilized. Um, and
it it's a also a nice day for staff to um have an opportunity to meet with their departments when they can all be together and not on the the public desks. I'll make the motion. I will second that motion.
Is there any discussion around that? No. Okay. I am a yes. Maddie, >> yes. Frank, >> yes. Roco. >> Yes, >> Sarah. Yes. Thank you. >> Um, there's another there's one last item I don't believe the board needs to
vote on, but I wanted to just check in to make sure that everyone's okay with not um voting on that. So, for a full closing of the library, that is a board vote. When we need to close one branch, I don't believe we need to have a vote,
but I just want to make sure that everyone's comfortable with that. There are two days coming up. That will be Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve when the library closes at 2 PM and our Lawrence Harbor branch doesn't open
until noon on those days. So, the main branch will be open until 2 p.m. Um, but the Lawrence Harbor branches will be closed on that day and those employees will report here. >> Okay. Um, and that's all I had for new
business. Okay, great. Um, moving to the >> Oh, yeah. Does anyone else have new business? >> No. Okay. Uh, director's report. Director's report. Um, does anybody have questions about what I sent out in the
written report? >> Okay. Um, lots of um, good news. We had I think I I put in a note about we're going to have a Wi-Fi report. So, the last piece of our uh, technology infrastructure upgrade is our Wi-Fi and
our Wi-Fi has been pretty good. So, we haven't been, you know, it hasn't been urgent. So, we undertook going in proactively to get this done. And it's a good thing we did because we were on the verge of not having a great Wi-Fi experience. So, you're going to be getting that next month. We're looking
at roughly about $10,000, but it was going in for the Wi-Fi that's for the public, the Wi-Fi that's for the staff, the projection of Wi-Fi out into the parking lot. all of those access points and new software that's going to allow
us to actually start reporting how many Wi-Fi sessions we're granting it every year. We've not had that capability and it's an important number to um give to the public and to the state so that they
know. So that the report has come um HVAC with our move to our new HVAC contractor. I'm monitoring it carefully. We've had two parts to our um HVAC maintenance here. One has been to the
software system that controls all of the units and then one has been actually maintaining the units themselves. Our new company came in and did both of those things for us already. So, I believe we're going to be able to
cancel the contract with the other service and simply move ahead with our one service. And they've been able to do a lot of the temperature air balancing already without any additional cost. So,
we're excited for that. Um, we did have one complaint from the public, but it's a good complaint from the public. They want more STEM programming. We currently have one after school programming per month and it fills up right away.
>> Good problem to have. >> That is a great problem to have. So I have assured the person from the community that we're going to be building that in. We'll certainly be reaching out to the schools to see, you know, if if there's an opportunity for us to collaborate more on that once we
have the idea from motivated and we can get to our robotics. That will be um a great program. But um the person did say that this is a very large community and we need to offer more and I think we all agree. >> Okay. And again, the parking lot every
night when I leave work >> packed. Packed. There are times I come back from lunch, I came and bought a pork. >> Yeah, it has been. It's great. >> It's wonderful. >> It has been. And next month, you're getting a comparison of I think it was
January to August of 24 to 25 so that you can see the increases there. It's already done. I just didn't want to launch another thing onto this meeting. But the numbers are coming back. I will tell you that we're not quite back to precoid >> really, >> but we're close. So, Old Bridge used to
lead the parade and we're getting back to where we're doing. >> And I'm going to say that I know that the school district has been increasing in numbers of students um enrollment increased tremendously >> and they're going to be making the push. Uh Dan and I are both working on a
project right now to maybe even increase that >> with visits from the from the librarians here to our schools in town. One of the biggest problems we're having right now is dealing with transportation issues obviously >> uh due to the financial nature and
nursing and making sure that we follow all the rules of those of transporting people around the district. So what seems to be a much more cost-effective way of kind of dealing dealing with the library and the school system is sending librarians to the schools. Uh today I
received today from Dawn a list on the curriculum that will be discussed. Uh it is something I'm going to be bringing to Dr. Tui, the head of curriculum and instruction. I'm sure he's going to approve it. Uh and hopefully in the month of hopefully later this month, maybe early October, we'll start seeing
librarians visiting uh at least the secondary schools and I'm going to work with the elementary supervisor to set that up. So, >> and I'm going to move ahead with the purchase because we just in this day and age need them anyway. So, we're going to be adding a database called Ground News
that um I think I sent the link to everyone. So, we're going to be adding that. And then we're also going to be getting at minimum in print the opposing viewpoints series because they really are incredibly valuable for students. We'll make sure that they can check them
out. And then we're going to look at getting that resource online as well. the EPCO version of that points of view reference center is not it's it's just not as dynamic as the other and and we can afford that and that's an excellent resource for the schools. So getting
them some overviews with that we're um we're very excited about all of those things and absolutely love that. Well done. >> You keep we keep building and we also spoke about um the book kits which have been kind of sitting there. We are working on planning on bringing them out
toward delivering them at the end of the month this year. and our new driver. >> So we don't have to go worry about picking them up. We just got to work on a schedule >> that and the cards. We can pick up the cards, drop off the cards and do that kind of thing. So the driver is also
very excited to to get involved in that. >> So >> um two other things that I sent to all of you and I don't know when or if we want to um discuss them. Um, I sent a
draft of the community report. Um, our library wants to send to the community every year a beautiful community report. And what we did was go in and and draft that for everyone including um I borrowed from Oaken
Library just to give them credit. Um that pie chart that's a graphic of where we're investing taxpayer dollars in in what we're spending, how much we're spending on personnel versus programming. And it's also a really valid exercise for us to see what what
we want to increase and that's our materials. >> Okay. >> Um so I don't know I don't I don't think that's a vote item but we I would like to certainly have from the board feedback as to whether we want that in
print. Do we want 500 copies printed and available? Do we want it sent out to the full community? Who do we want to send it to? But if anybody has any feedback on that community report, it's the 2024 and we'll get the 2025 out sooner. But I
think it's good start with that. And I think it's community community building. Um, >> not me. I think it's um I think it's community building to show
some responsiveness and explain what we're doing, the increases that we're seeing. So, if no one has any objections to what was in that report, I'll I'll finalize getting it ready to send out to everyone next month. It's just um foot
traffic, how many programs we had. And I really like the way I think that Pam Candello, our coordinator um for communication and strategy, did an excellent job of making one page be like we're your art center, we're your community space, we're your workspace.
So I think that um I think that the community would like to see that. >> I think that's a great idea. >> All right. So is it like a physical digital physical? So, the the one that I sent to everyone um and maybe maybe in next month's
packet before we decide to go to press with it, we'll have a print copy to see. >> And this is just to see what it looks like. Um and starting off with a general
quote is what a lot of them do just to talk about libraries. um our picture which is I find endlessly amusing it little sopranos the staff really liked it and this will be a director's note in here um and then
we wanted to say >> okay um So, it has our mission statement, who the trustees are. Um, >> un the phone, >> the one on the bottom. >> The bottom one. >> The 732.
>> This one. I mean, >> this. >> Yep. >> He'll probably get a notification. >> Okay. Um, so a space was left. You can see here, board of trustees space for either a write up or a picture, right? You know, maybe we want something for
our Frank, can you hear us still? >> You can, but he can't answer. >> Oh, Frank, unmute yourself. All right, hold on. Oh, >> I can't unmute him. >> See what happens with the other box. Wait on on Frank.
>> Go up and then the three dots to the >> And that was the problem. >> It's ready that you can mute but not >> I know. Frank, can you ask >> Frank, unmute yourself >> on your phone? >> How is it that we can mute him on the
phone? It's so weird. How does that even work? >> Frank. Yeah, maybe calling him. I understand. >> Sorry about that. I was trying to solve a problem. I made a problem. It's okay.
>> Is that a cell phone that is along with the Zoom? >> Yeah. But then at least can't hold that. Now >> in theory, >> what if we text them? >> You put a chat in there.
>> We can do that or you can uh remove the phone number and then text them. >> You can you can chat right because he's on Got it. So, the phone number dropped off and now
if he calls back, we're okay. >> Yes. >> Should I ask him if he can call us back? I'm not clean. the last thing. No, I have to connect my watch still. I changed my story. Can
someone call him again? I changed my phone about four times to Apple. They finally gave me a new phone, but now my watch isn't attached to it. I'm paying for it, but I get to times go back again. I literally have >> Yes. I'm going to put you on the speaker
on my phone. Okay. So we can just get through the rest of this. >> You hear me? >> I can hear you. >> All right, we're back. >> All right, >> welcome back, Frank. >> So this is um the there's a pie chart. U Frank, this is in the materials that
were in your packet. Um the pie chart just showing where our expenditures are. I can adjust this any way that we want to, but it's nice to also see that we're roughly in line also with Hoken with um what we're spending. Um then this is
just the library is your destination for work play and inspiration. Uh your literacy hub, your art connection. Um it just really personalizes what we're doing, showcases these things, curates
our numbers a little bit. Um your neighbors is your community. Um and then what we did this year kind of our highlights. Oh, your workplace and then our highlights and then what we're
looking for forward to what was 2025, what we plan on doing. So, like I said, if anybody has anything that they want to send to us, I can um I can uh draft my letter to the community and then ask
the board if anybody wants to submit. >> I'll write something and share with everyone. >> Well, there there is something you should be aware of and I just found it out today. Uhhuh. >> Um there's if someone comes into the library and asks you for any information
that might be on a state report, uh you already send them to the director or whoever else is there in his or her charge. Uh and they deal with it. Uh so they're not getting access to that because the next thing will be, you know, that report has what 150 items on
it seems. >> Yeah. And uh there's some things that you may not want, you know, once they get into those things you're going to offer them, they may want more. And the second thing is that uh with the uh clarify for me or
clarify for me, what do you librarians are going to be doing when they get to the schools? The librarians are going to be um telling the kids about our programs, about our resources um and how we can support them in their
assignments. And uh they're going to be given um sign up cards or registration forms for library cards. And then they'll be able to take those home and whoever has their parents sign off on getting a library card and all those
things, we'll go back and pick them up, have their cards made, and then bring them back to the teacher for distribution in the classroom. >> All right. The only thing I was suggesting is that if at some point, you know, whether you have concern on any of
the issues because the libraries most of >> how many years ago? >> Oh, the school librarians. Yeah, there's >> there is only one left in the district. >> Yeah. And prior to that, we had one at every school and I think sometimes two or more at the high school.
>> Correct. >> So, just something to be uh but based on what you said, I don't think there'll be a problem. Yeah, I I think we've got everything under control and the the community report is what
Oldbridge did. >> Make great community reports and we're just getting back to that. >> I think it's awesome. >> I think it's a wonderful idea. I think Pam did a wonderful job. >> She did. Amazing. >> Yeah. So, um like I said, we'll we'll make sure that everything we have finalized with any commentary for the
community report and have that ready to send out after next month's meeting. Um, the bookmobile report. I know that that's a lot more to digest, but I wanted everyone to have that. >> Um, and I've explained that to staff. That's that's something that we need to
give the board an opportunity to discuss if everyone wants to get together and have more of a conversation about it or wait until we get some of our other big projects done before we head into that. And I think everything else um are notes
that I have that would be under um committee reports. >> Okay. Uh moving on to committee reports, building and grounds. I think you guys have some >> Yeah, we got a lot in building to discuss. Um we had a meeting last week
uh last Thursday uh and we brought up a we brought up several um particularly three major there are three major things but they need a little bit of expl some one of them needs a lot of explanation. >> Uh the first thing is a small one. Um the interior doors are
falling apart. >> Not anymore. >> No, sorry. So I guess we had an update >> the change from last week. Um I called the contractor. He came in. It was a sensor issue. I assumed that the exterior doors would be uh similar in
lifespan to the interior. Most incorrect. They said that we are we don't have to worry about that. My apologies. >> Oh yeah, >> that's great. >> Problem solved. >> Okay, that's a good So moving on. Uh so here's the the bigger thing. We um we
pay for uh the architect set and breed to come in and uh prepare specifications um for all of the things that we need uh done here in the library. And that includes uh renovations of the bathrooms
uh and the family room, the server closet in the finance office. Um, basically all of these things they've been um Dawn specifically gave me a list of things uh that are part of this um specifications that the architect drew up.
>> Uh those specifications were then sent to ESCJ, our cooperative. >> Uh and they hunted down a proposal for us. It came from a company called Murray Contracting. Uh the total price is $598,000.
uh five I should say $598 uh,500. Uh this would you know again be a all of the renovations that we have listed up to this point um it's on there. Um Senro turned around and told us that they
thought the bid was too high. Um and so they went to uh that's that's when we got into the situation with the OEC which we just voted on today. Okay. >> Um they provided an estimate. Uh Senator went to them and their estimate was 520
524,36. >> So considerably less. >> That's tough. >> Okay. The third option we can also um as a group we could go look at a third option which is to go out to bid but then we would not we would have to provide specifications and do an open
bid process. So after our discussion uh with Don and I um we said that the best thing to do is to go with the cooperative. Um both companies have been vetted um we do have the funds. Uh on August 28th in 2023 um
we had a capital draft plan that came out. Um it was u recent through some questions. Uh we voted on it back in 2023 on October 11th. Uh and then we officially moved the funds into
the capital fund with the approval of the capital plan and the funds. >> Uh we now have funds in there since 2023. We currently have over $1 million there. Um, we should, um, it is at least the
building and grounds committee suggestion that we move forward with making a decision on one of these, uh, cooperative bids and begin the work of beginning to renovate. Uh, >> make a motion now.
>> Well, no, I do not want I do not think we need to make a motion now. I think every member of the board should get a thorough look at the bids. >> Okay. Um I think we need to have a discussion and um I believe Dawn is going to have set come in next month in October. No,
>> they're not going to be able to come in. Okay. Um what they have proposed is that and I can send dates to everyone. I can send these proposals out by Friday. I don't even think we would need one that I will include the proposals that we have and then um they would like to take
any questions ahead so that we can have any questions answered prior to the meeting. >> Right. And I I I am under the belief that if we spread this information, everyone on the board should take a look at this information, we should take have a have a good sense of it before we have our meeting in October so that we can
vote on this in October >> so that we can discuss it >> because I would like to have this um kind of have a decision. I think building grounds as a whole, we would like to have a decision made so we can begin the the hard work of doing these renovations. Absolutely. >> Um I think it's a long time coming. We
have the funds to do it. uh it's not putting us in any kind of financial bind. I think we need to move forward. But again, I think transparency with the entire board, everyone getting a good look at it um is the best way to go. >> Can I have a question though? >> If we did go out to bid,
>> if we did do that, are we locked into whoever comes in at the lowest bid here? We're not the lowest bid, right? >> No, it would be. It would be it would be lowest bid, but you're not locked in. If all the bids are outside of your anticipated budget, you reject all and bid again or you say, "We're not doing it." Okay. But >> but yes, if you are going to bid and
move forward, you are bound to go with the lowest >> B. Just curious. >> As long as they're responsive. >> I gota >> how many different fields of uh never, for example, electrical, plumbing, whatever the case may be, uh could not
be let separately. So, if you're talking about pulling out each independent part of the project and bidding or looking at all of those things separately, first of all, I don't
think it's feasible because who's going to coordinate electrical versus plumbing versus tile? Someone would have >> done it's done all the time. The OBA MUA does it? >> It's not done by a library director >> and that's who we have to do it.
>> So, That doesn't mean you can't get something consulted because it's understandable that you don't feel qualified to do it. That's fine. >> But we also have what is in and this is why I brought in the language from I
mean Oldbridge uses pricing cooperatives all the time. Oldbridge Township is a part of ESCJ and what I brought in from um >> county. What I brought in from them is
that using these cooperatives is a team effort to obtain benefits in pricing product quality and an efficient contract process for public purchasing entities. So it's just my suggestion that if we can't guarantee that this
board would be able to know the pricing on these things, be ready to evaluate the product quality and efficiently run this contract price that it is reasonable and certainly strongly
suggested to go with the public cooperative. >> Well, can you send me a copy of everything you've done so far? start on that tomorrow morning. >> Yes, I think that's what we that's why I brought it up tonight. Um I would like to get all that information out and so
we can immediately discuss this before the board meeting and and have all of that ironed out so that we can have every like I said full transparency everybody can see everything and then we can go from there. >> Chris for just to clarify Roco so everybody's on the same page.
Um, we're talking about reviewing all of this, understanding the scope of the project, getting questions out that you want to be asked to set seven, and taking action in October. >> Yes. >> Okay. Everyone clear on that timetable? >> I I don't know that all of the things
that may come up between now and then that it should not necessarily come into October because it's another month's going to kill everything. No, but I think it's important that that's the goal and then if we have obviously if if the board's not prepared to move forward as a consensus board then obviously we
won't. But I think that that should be the goal and then if we go month to month after that then that's >> we should we should have a goal to try to commit to do this in October. Absolutely. >> I would just like to ask that um because things have we have
um we have repeatedly seen things sent out and not responded to. So, what I was hoping was that I would have the uh proposals from and ESMJ sent out by the 12th and that we would have questions
back by the um 26th if that's possible. That gives everybody two weeks for questions. >> I was just going to ask you to give us a date. >> Yep. And then we would have until October 3rd to get answers from the architect and that would then give us
time to consider them before October 8th. >> Perfect. >> Should would it be helpful to put all those in in the email then for everyone that's again I think providing providing all the board members as much information as
possible should be um is what we should be doing. >> Okay. So, I will send it out by Friday and then everyone will have two weeks to the 26th to submit questions and then I will get answers to those questions by October 3rd for the 8 meeting on the
8th. Yeah, >> very good. >> Okay. Uh there are also two other projects that are being worked on right now. Uh the lighting renovation. Um two quotes were sent to building and grounds on August 4th. Uh they were both over the bid threshold.
Um and the recommendation with that is um with the recommendations that we are getting from the electrician is to the rewiring of the current fixtures over replacing them because uh just replacing the bulbs is easier and instead of replacing the entire fixture and if uh
the light goes in the future the entire fixture will have to be replaced again if we were to change fixtures. So just changing the bulbs is the easiest way and cheapest way for us to move forward. >> Okay. Okay. Uh the new LEDs, they need to they they basically it's not just the bulb, it's the entire fixture that needs
to be replaced. >> But so we're not rewiring it. >> We are rewiring. >> So what has been recommended by several electricians is that the rewiring is the the way to go
>> because the older fixtures are built more solidly and all that kind of thing. So that was the the recommendation from buildings and grounds is that we're going to move forward, but we are going to have to do the bid process on that, >> right? And um you know that is something
that I I would like to have us go out to bid take a look at. Um we also have the garden >> um which is with that cricket going. >> So we have a cricket in the room, Frank. So, um we have uh there's the clearing, grading, paving. One estimate again is
is again above the threshold. Um >> Frank is no longer here. >> Frank is still here. >> Oh, okay. Sorry, you're not showing up on Zoom. My apologies. >> Um we're Frank.
And and again when it comes to writing the bid for this um you know Don has admitted and and I agree and again I may be the chair of building and grounds but again and I may have had some landscaping experience in my backyard but um I really don't know how to write
a bit for this. >> Um so other libraries what they do is they consult the township. So I'm suggesting uh that Dawn do the same uh and consult the township and see what uh what they come up with a bid for us on that. and I reached out. Go ahead.
>> Another question on the lighting. >> Now, I know the newer fixtures would have been uh better lighting, I believe. If is since this is the original lights that were installed, are the bulbs that they're going to be putting in that
fixture, are they improved somewhat over what the old ones are? >> They're exactly the bulbs that would be put into the new LED fixture. So there is no difference between the new fixture and using the LED on the old ones. Um
and I did ask uh the business administrator if she is okay with that process with us using the town as all the other libraries do. She responded to me immediately and said to go ahead. I reached out to our financial officer on Friday and I have not heard back as yet,
but um I will make sure to follow up on that because once we get started and the bids are prepared, it takes a month. And just so you know, both of these projects had come in around $50,000 each. Um and
we have the funds for that. >> And that's and that's basically it with building and grounds. That is a lot. Um, we do have quite a bit of stuff to look at, but I I think, you know, again, one of the things that, um, I am quite proud of is the fact that we keep moving
forward to renovate this building. Um, especially now where we're seeing, you know, our numbers going up, people are coming back to the library, I think coming back and seeing it in in in in transition and becoming something bigger and better than what we have, uh, I
think is a major plus. And I think it in the long run it will attract more people to >> very exciting. >> Depending on what happens with the garden project because that's the least expensive of the projects we talked about. >> Just so you know QPA wise the authorization the bid threshold is now
moved to 53. >> So if it's for the municipality so if you're using their QPS 53 it went from 44 to 5. So that may or may not matter. >> I think they were both around 55. It doesn't matter.
>> But um so >> I was I was very disappointed when we when I learned about the bid thresholds being raised. >> And I I understand your point about it's municipalities property. So perhaps it doesn't have to go through us.
>> I I appreciate that. But it was for the schools and it was for municipalities but not libraries. >> I I'm sure that was an oversight. Um but anyway, um yeah, I I'm certainly going to be um looking at those options. You
know, the town has a lot of projects going on, so I want to be conscious of that. But at the same time, this is our only option. We're and and I've said that basically we're asking for these projects at no additional funds from our municipal appropriation. So,
>> it's a good thing. Um okay, so was that everything? I feel like >> that's everything. >> Okay, >> that is everything. >> All right. Uh, finance Maria is not here and I have not heard from her. Do you guys have any update? >> I have a request. >> Okay.
>> Um, we I've um reached out regarding a um a budget meeting. >> Yeah. >> Next month is October. Um this may be inappropriate, but I'm going to request that I can send the budget out to the full board. We've not had a meeting and I sent it out to the
finance committee in February. >> Well, the finance committee is two people and one of them unfortunately I'm able to contact with. I'll be happy to send you my version of it before you send it out to them. >> Sure. >> All right. >> Other than that, is there any reason why
we couldn't see it? >> You can then proceed to send out to the full board at that point. >> I would send it out to the full board given that. So Frank, is yours commentary or is it an entirely separate draft? >> No, it's just it's mine
comments on some of the things you got in the budget whether I agree whether I have questions or not. That's all. >> Excellent. Okay. Okay. Great. Um outreach and marketing. I just want to give you all news. I know this isn't from the committee. It's from us, but I
know it's things that the committee would want us to do. So the monies that we have committed to the library marketing group to get the style guide done, we are making outstanding progress with the style style guide. >> And these are things that we're, you
know, coming out of triage mode and getting back to really um, you know, are we calling it OBPL? Are we are we saying Oldbridge Public Library? When is it okay, you know, to use this font and that font and how we're doing things? So, um, I'm going to send that out to
everybody just for fun for everyone to look at once it's done. And the other big thing that we're doing here also ties in with ADA compliance. So, this is something for the municipality as well for communities over I think it's 50,000.
this um in the spring of 2026 for websites there are going to be um very different and increased standards for ADA compliance and it has to do with colors and being able to see things in different ways for people who are um
blind or visually well visually impaired but it does also relate for folks who are blind because it's making sure that things are you can translate things and that our website is compatible with devices that are Yes. Awesome. We're we're getting all of that done.
>> So, I'm on this committee. I've never received a phone call about this committee. So, can we talk about this committee, please? Because I actually think that our reach of marketing is very important. It is very important >> and we're lacking it and I want to get working, but I'm not the chair of it. So, Frank, you're the chair of it. So,
what are we doing with >> Who have you called and when? >> I'm sorry. >> Who have you called and when? >> I haven't called anyone. I am not the chairperson of this committee. You are >> calls from it. Okay. >> You you are the chairman from what I understand of this committee. Correct.
Is that correct? Okay. >> Call me. >> I'll be happy to call. >> I I think what she's asking for is that you call a meeting of that committee. >> All right. Great. Thank you. Awesome.
Personnel obviously a lot of updates today. Okay. Nothing else. >> One other thing. Okay. >> So, at uh at last meeting, one of our board members made a suggestion about a position that might be needed in administration
and I agreed to send out to the personnel committee the job description for that role. And then um it was the suggestion was made about an assistant director. And I feel that because of the
way administration is weighted right now, I think that we're doing pretty well with those things. The problem is facility. So I did draft a job description for a facility manager, which is also less expensive than an assistant
director. and the facility manager um position that I put out. I've not heard anything back from the personnel committee, but it would be managing these bids and bid processes, doing the proactive maintenance, all of the um all
of the inspections that have to be done every year. That some of this is in Irene's role. And let's remember that our budget is very different from when Irene started this position compared to what she's doing now. It would also be someone to manage our cleaning services um
>> on the bathrooms and everything >> and and and all of that. Okay. >> So, that was sent to the personnel committee. I've not heard anything back, but I did send that. >> When did you send >> Yeah, I don't think I Are you sure? >> Yeah. >> Me neither.
>> All right. I will resend it tomorrow. Okay. >> I may not be uh in tomorrow, but definitely by Friday, I will make sure that I resend >> that email. Okay. Um and that was all I
had. Yeah, because I think that's smart. Um Okay. Uh any policy updates? >> Nothing on policy. >> Okay. And finally, technology. >> I already went in on the Wi-Fi, so you'll get that next month.
>> Okay. Um, moving to public comments. >> No one present. >> No one present. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Can I have a motion to adjurnn? >> I will move the cricket.
>> Okay. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor. >> Favor. >> Good night, Frank. >> Good night, Frank. Dancing.