GCPL Announces Purchase of Property on Park Avenue for New Chardon Branch
Geauga County Public Library (GCPL) - September 17, 2024
Meeting: The GCPL Board met on Tuesday, September 17th at 4:00 pm at the Geauga West Branch. This meeting was in-person with a virtual option. The meeting was not recorded. Minutes of this meeting will be posted on the GCPL website / GCPL Board after they are approved at the October 15, 2024 meeting.
Public Comment: Permitted and included in the regular order of business per GCPL bylaws. Further clarified in Policy 215 - Public Participation at Board Meetings.
Board Attendance: President Paul A. Newman, Secretary Kristen Brickman (arrived 4:14), and members Karen Delano, Joshua Hutchinson, Crist Miller, Kate Pitrone, and Jake Yanchar.
Staff Attendance:
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Kris Carroll - Director
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Lisa Havlin - Fiscal Officer
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Nicole Burnside - Human Resources
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Debbie Schrock, Development Coordinator
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Kevin Barton - Thompson Branch Manager
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Erika Noark - Geauga West Branch Manager
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Denise Javins- Marketing Manager
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Rachael Hartman - Middlefield Branch Manager
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Judy Lasco - Chardon Branch Manager
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Marlene Pelyhes - Tech Services Manager
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Mike Pope - IT Manager
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Dani Hollar - Bainbridge Branch Manager
Public:
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Larry Corbus, Library Consultant
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There appeared to be three persons on Microsoft teams for the virtual meeting.
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This Observer attended in person.
President Newman called the board meeting to order at 4:00 pm and roll call was taken.
Minutes: Minutes of the August Board Meeting were approved without discussion. Board minutes are available online. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to access minutes. The minutes are posted as soon as they are approved at the following month’s Board meeting.
Agenda: Agenda was approved with agenda item 6. B (Approval of Natural Gas Contract) deleted.
Communications - Ms. Carroll
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These were presented in the Board packet. There were thank you cards and letters from patrons thanking the Bainbridge Branch Library for being open during the August power outage.
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There was a thank you for being a part of Geauga Park District's 2024 Homeschool Learning Fair sent from Nora Sindelar, Geauga park Naturalist.
Fiscal Officers Report – Ms. Havlin
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The August disbursements and gifts were approved.
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Ms. Havlin reported that the GCPL’s August budget hearing went well, and the 2025 budget was approved as presented. The Budget Commissioners made positive comments. The Budget Commission certified the 2025 estimated resources as submitted except for a slight increase in the estimated PLF revenue. The certified amount does not impact the actual revenue the library receives.
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Ms. Havlin, a member of the Ohio Library Councils Library Accounting Division, presented at OLC’s Library Council Fiscal Officer 102 state-wide training. Her session dealt with the fiscal office annual calendar – deadlines and mandatory filings.
Director’s Report – Ms. Carroll
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Tuition Reimbursement Requests as presented in the Board packet were approved by vote. These are for university classes taken by staff for MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science) and Bachelor degree programs. Motion passed.
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The Facilities Department replaced carpet in the Chardon Branch that had been damaged by flooding during the August 6th storm.
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The IT Department resolved issues with the new Threat Locker implementation.
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The Marketing Department was asked and quickly designed and printed a pirate-themed coloring book to support the Heads of Youth Services.
Assistant Director’s Report - Ms. Farrell was absent, so Ms. Carroll gave the report
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Bainbridge Maker Space usage continues to increase with 208 reservations per month - up from 119.
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Bainbridge patrons were appreciative of the branch’s Wi-Fi and power during the August storm.
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Geauga West staff represented the library at the Second West Geauga Unity day.
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A Middlefield staff member created a homeschool art program that is being shared across the library system.
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Mobile Services has added an additional six Amish schools to their delivery system this year.
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Ms Farrell has been editing audio clips from the Oral History Project for Voices of Geauga. The project is funded by the America 250 grant program.
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The Staff Advisory Committee held their first Staff Picnic at Big Creek Park on Saturday, September 7. The Foundation funded the event and members of the Staff Advisory Committee planned games for all ages.
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The Teen Advisory Committee planned a Back to School Bash for Kenston students. The Ready for the Library program was offered to introduce parents to the services the library has for after-school students.
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The Bainbridge Branch hosted the Chagrin Valley Chamber of Commerce’s event: Coffee with the Chamber -Social Media Platforms.
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The Skywatchers programming in 2025 has been canceled due to low attendance.
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Statistics for August 2024:
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36,105 patrons served at the branches
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17,758 computer and wi-fi uses
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129 programs presented for 3,275 patrons
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11,763 reference interactions
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Total circulation of items: 231,646
Human Resources Report - Ms. Burnside
Local Manager’s Report - Ms. Noark, Geauga West Branch
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The branch manager reported that 55-60 school kids come to the library each day and are well behaved. The afterschool monitor at Geauga West connects with the kids and plans activities for them.
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This month, there was another Botanical Mixer program, and Karen Wright created a botanical shrub for patrons to enjoy and taught a mason jar arrangement class that highlighted native plants and how they can be used to make a creative floral arrangement.
Committee Reports - None
Unfinished Business - None
New Business - Ms Carroll
Board Development - None
Development Coordinator - Foundation report - Ms. Schrock
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Next mini golf event will be held April 5, 2025.
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The 2024 Geauga County Fair had record attendance and the Friends fair book sale proceeds were double from those of 2023.
Upcoming Community Events
Public Comment - No one from the public spoke.
Executive Session - Mr. Yanchar made a motion, seconded by Ms. Brickman, to move to Executive Session to discuss the purchase of property. The Board invited Library Representative Larry Corbus to join the Executive Session. The motion passed and the board moved to the Executive Session at 4:15 P.M. Observer Note: Ms. Carroll told this Observer before the Board meeting to wait until the Executive Session was over, since an announcement would be made.
The Board returned to regular session at 4:34 P.M.
Approval of Real Estate Purchase Agreement Resolution 24-03. - Mr. Yanchar made a motion, seconded by Ms. Brickman, to approve the real estate purchase agreement and further to grant Director Kris Carroll authority to sign the agreement and any related documents. The motion passed unanimously.
Observer Note: The property purchased for the new Chardon branch is located at 367 Park Avenue, Chardon, Ohio, and is 20.386 acres. Purchase price was $1.2 million.
The meeting adjourned at 4:36 P.M.
Next Meeting: October 15, 4:00 pm, Middlefield Branch
Minutes: The latest minutes are posted here. Prior to March 2023, videos of meetings were available to the public here. The GCPL is no longer posting videos of their meetings.
Observer: Cris Takacs
Editor: Anne Ondrey
Reviewer: Gail Roussey
Date Submitted: 10/13/24
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