Trustees Agree to Begin Negotiations for Sale of the Chardon Library Branch
Geauga County Public Library (GCPL) Regular Board Meeting - May 19, 2026
Meeting: The GCPL Board met on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 4:00 pm at the West Geauga Branch. This Board Meeting was in-person with a virtual attendance option. To access the virtual option see information here. The meeting was not recorded. Minutes of this meeting will be posted on the GCPL website after they are approved at the June 16, 2026 meeting.
Observer Note: Each member of the GCPL Board and Staff receives a copy of the meeting packet, as does this Observer. It is available upon request in accordance with Ohio public records law (ORC 149.43). The board discusses and votes on the information in the packet. This Observer Report is made up of decisions made at the board meeting and information taken from the board packet.
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 Crist Miller, Vice President Joshua Hutchinson, and Board Trustees Karen Delano, Kate Pitrone, and Paul Newman were present. Trustee Jake Yanchar and Secretary Kristen Brickman were absent.
Library Staff Attendance:
Mary Balog, Thompson
Danielle Hollar, Bainbridge
Erika Noark, Geauga West
Rachael Hartman, Middlefield/Mobile Services
Nicole Burnside, HR
Denise Javins, Marketing
Marlene Pelyhes, Technical Services
Michael Pope, IT
Debbie Schrock, Development Coordinator
President Crist Miller called the Board Meeting to order at 4:00 pm and roll call was taken.
Minutes: Minutes of the April 21 Regular Board Meeting were approved as presented. Board minutes are available online. Click on the highlighted link for past meetings to access the minutes. The minutes are posted as soon as they are approved at the following month’s Board meeting. Prior to March 2023, videos of meetings were available to the public here. GCPL is no longer posting videos of their meetings.
Communications, as reviewed by Director Carroll:
Agenda: The agenda presented in the Board packet was approved with one change - to add an executive session regarding property purchase or sale.
Fiscal Officer’s Report - Ms. Havlin
APPROVAL received for April Disbursements and Accounts
APPROVAL received to close an investment account. The Board packet states that approval is needed to close the FNB Wealth Management Investment account. “This account was opened to hold the 2018 bond proceeds. In March, the board approved moving these funds to a Star Ohio account which has similar interest earning and no monthly fees. All funds have now been moved and the FNB account currently has a zero balance.”
Director’s Report: Ms. Carroll said they are moving forward with the sale of property and completing paperwork that day. She said that "everything is moving forward.” Observer Note: At the Board of County Commissioners meeting on May 12, 2026, the Commissioners agreed to buy the Geauga County Library Administration Building on Ravenwood Drive for $3.2 Million. See the LWVGeauga Observer Report for the May 12, 2026 County Commissioners meeting for more information.
Approval of Tuition Reimbursement Requests - There were three requests that were approved.
Observer Note: The following information is taken directly from sections of the Director’s Report contained in the Board packet. This is not the entire report:
System Updates “Over the past month, I have focused on advancing the Chardon Branch project. A significant milestone was reached on May 12, when the County Commissioners approved the purchase of the Administrative Center, allowing the Library to move forward with financing and construction of the new Chardon Branch.”
Construction and Facilities Updates - “Construction documents for the new Chardon Branch are scheduled for completion on May 22. The early site work package was completed in early May and is currently being bid by Regency, with plans to break ground in July. The library has received multiple bids for the sale of the current Chardon Branch and continues negotiations to ensure ongoing occupancy through construction. In recent weeks, the project team has reviewed service desks, security and door hardware, landscaping, seating, and all mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and technology systems. A furniture inventory was completed at the Administrative Center and will also be conducted at the Chardon Branch to determine items that can be reused in administrative and staff areas of the new building.”
Facilities “Landscaping is now underway at all Library buildings. TRC is overseeing landscaping at Middlefield, Bainbridge, and Geauga West, while Facilities staff are maintaining Chardon, the Administrative Center, Thompson, and the new property. Additional exterior work has included painting parking lot bumpers and light pole bases at Geauga West, power washing the patio at Thompson, painting bollards and light pole bases, patching concrete near the dumpster gates at Geauga West, and repainting handicap sidewalk curbs at Bainbridge and Chardon.
Several facilities projects are in progress or moving toward completion. We are obtaining estimates
for replacing the front doors and foyer flooring at Geauga West and met with Meridian and HLM to
secure multiple quotes related to hail damage at Bainbridge. Plexiglass has been replaced on the
damaged StoryWalk at Bainbridge, and study rooms at Geauga West have undergone extensive patching and painting.”
Tech Services - “Technical Services staff met on April 10 and April 15 to review workflow and furniture layout in the new space. These conversations were constructive and focused on how staff can adapt processes to support a smaller, more efficient physical footprint. Staff approached the changes with a positive, problem-solving mindset, demonstrating flexibility and engagement as the Library continues to
realign administrative and technical work to fit new space constraints.
Additional workflow adjustments reflect ongoing attention to sustainability and staff capacity…. The department continues to redistribute responsibilities and cross-train staff to strengthen oversight and flexibility, including invoice processing and materials handling. Together, these changes support a more resilient and adaptable Technical Services operation during a period of organizational transition.”
Marketing - “April was a transition month focused on getting important work into patrons’ hands while preparing for what’s ahead. Materials that support public programs, such as Summer Reading pieces and
program bookmarks, were printed and delivered so staff could promote services and activities across the system. At the same time, the library continued planning work that supports long-term access and sustainability, including ADA improvements to our website, preliminary capital campaign efforts, and the GCPL Impact Report. Overall, the focus was on making sure the public sees, understands, and can easily use library programs and services now, while laying groundwork for future needs.
The library continued to connect with the community through digital channels. Social media interactions remained strong and consistent, showing steady interest in library programs and information even after a busier March. Video content continued to reach a larger audience, helping tell the library’s story and highlight services and events. Email remained one of the most effective ways to reach patrons, with more than half of recipients opening library messages, demonstrating that the community values timely updates about programs, resources, and opportunities.
The library website continues to be an essential service tool for the public. Thousands of people
used the site in April. Continued strong use of service and branch pages shows that patrons rely on
the library’s online presence to plan visits, register for programs, and access information.”
IT - “IT staff resolved 69 helpdesk tickets, addressing day-to-day technology needs across the system. Monthly updates were completed on makerspace equipment at Bainbridge, and replacement laptops and printers were installed for supervisors, managers, and administrative use, helping ensure reliable access to tools that support daily library services.
Mike (Pope) continued work on longer-term planning and infrastructure improvements that support accessibility, security, and efficiency. Although new federal ADA website requirements were delayed
until 2027, work is continuing to update public-facing forms and digital content to meet accessibility
Standards…Digital Learning Lab and local history work continued to have a meaningful impact on patrons and the community. Progress was made on the Ohio History Project, tutorials were updated and added, and partnerships with local historical organizations were strengthened through outreach and
consortium participation….”
Development - “Debbie (Schrock) represented the library and Foundation at several community events in April, strengthening public awareness and support. She attended the Chardon Volunteer Fair on April 18 to promote volunteer opportunities, which resulted in strong interest and several completed volunteer applications…. Debbie is working closely with Kris (Carroll), Lisa (Schrock), and Denise (Javins) to advance the capital campaign. The group has decided to manage the campaign internally to maintain consistency and deepen community connections. In addition, Debbie is developing a grant strategy and is actively preparing and submitting grant proposals to secure additional funding for library initiatives.
...In April, library branches also supported the Claridon Community Helps food drive, collecting a full pallet of donations through branch-based collection bins, demonstrating strong systemwide participation and community generosity.”
Assistant Director’s Report
Ms. Farrell said that Summer Reading starts June 1st. The theme is “Stars and Stories.” They will be at the Fairgrounds on June 5th for the kick off of Summer Reading. There will be entertainment and a chance to get your picture taken with Abraham Lincoln. See more information here.
Ms. Farrell’s Projects (as presented in the Board packet):
Interim Manager at Chardon
“I started as Interim Manager at the Chardon Branch on May 1, following Judy Lasco’s retirement on April 30. I work at the branch on Thursdays and Fridays weekly, in addition to covering desk shifts as needed. I have met with supervisors one-on-one and together, interviewed candidates for positions, and am overseeing the public desk schedules.
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
We received the report from Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities regarding accessibility at our branches. This came at an ideal time since we were able to immediately utilize it when considering service desks at the new Chardon Branch. Several grant resources were included, which were shared with our Development Coordinator.
Construction process
In addition to the regular OAC (Owner-Architect-Contractor) meetings this month, we also attended meetings regarding door hardware and service desks. Internal meetings covered landscaping, accessibility, furniture, financing, and timelines.”
SYSTEMWIDE PROJECTS (also from the Board Packet)
“Summer Reading Program
The staff worked together to finalize the steps for Stars & Stories, this year’s Summer Reading program. The Summer Reading Kickoff is Saturday, June 6, at the Geauga County Fairgrounds, and Cheryl Mullins and Paula Wagner are co-chairing the event. Joya Hoge and Cheryl Mullins are overseeing the Summer Reading Program for the system. This is the first year that we designed our own theme (to correspond with the America250 celebrations) and changed how we track participation. In March, we discontinued using an outside vendor to reduce costs.
Adult Services Training
The Heads of Adult Services held a training session for Adult Services Assistants at the Admin Center on May 1. During this training, they covered: genre blending and reader's advisory, DiSC Evaluation and Interpersonal Communication based on DiSC, Digital Legacy Lab and makerspace recap, best practices for Difficult Interactions with Patrons, and program sharing.
Essentials Training
The Spring Essentials session started in March with a revamped session at the Administrative Center, featuring safety training from John Johnston, and a visit to the Chardon Branch to learn about genealogy/local history resources and book challenges.
In April, Bainbridge and Geauga West hosted 14 staff members during Essentials sessions. At Bainbridge, participants learned about the history of the branch, the makerspace machines and services, and the digital legacy labs. They also discussed why programming is an essential library service and played a fun game to get the creativity flowing. Based on feedback from previous attendees, Erika added a short description of Overdrive ordering to her presentation and attendees were surprised to learn the cost of digital materials. They also discussed library ethics, working through multiple scenarios based on real-life examples.”
Reporting from Branches
Observer Note: The board packet also contains a report of activities from all branches and departments. This is under the heading of the Assistant Director’s Report. The following is taken from the Board report.
BAINBRIDGE
“The after-hours Wizarding School Mystery Party was held at the suggestion of the branch’s Teen Advisory Committee. While the event didn’t require much hands-on prep, the teens enjoyed an evening in the library while absorbing a character from one of their favorite literary realms.
Daycare and preschool outreach concluded for the school year in April. Visits included Goddard School, Bainbridge Christian Preschool, Timmons Preschool, and Chagrin Falls Park. Summer Reading visits began early with daily visits to Timmons Elementary School to promote summer reading. Staff met with 20 classes over three days.
CHARDON
Twenty-nine attended the Martha Washington program on April 22. Melissa Cole noticed some “famous” faces in the audience - local reenactors who portray George Washington, Lucretia Garfield, Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln, and Betsy Ross. Also in attendance was a direct descendant of James Garfield.”
It was also noted that there were two drop-in Tech help open hours in April.
GEAUGA WEST
“Youth Services organized the Great Geauga West Egg Hunt once again, with 63 people participating throughout the month of April. Taylor Pudelski hosted Family Feud at the library on May 8 for 20 participants. Staff reported, “All the people exiting the family feud program were laughing and happy and talking about how much fun they had. They all wanted to know when the next game was going to happen.”
In April, the library hosted Holden Forests and Gardens for the Sprouting Young Scientists program. Grace hosted an Earth Day program where kids planted flowers and listened to stories about Earth Day. Elizabeth hosted a Let’s Lego program, and Charlotte hosted Board-om Busters, a board game program. For teen patrons, staff hosted a program for teens to compare generic versus name-brand taste tests.
MIDDLEFIELD
Rachael Hartman worked with AARP to organize and coordinate tax preparation services at the library again this year. AARP filed 798 returns at GCPL, with 72 percent for seniors. That equates to $1,047,275 in taxes refunded to our patrons.
This is the first year for the Little Seed Library at Middlefield, and in April, 42 patrons took over 200 packets of seeds.
Middlefield became our third branch to have a Public Services Assistant in May, when Ashlee Lichtinger started. Ashlee previously worked at the Chardon Branch, in both Circulation and Reference. Heather Passow had a Tinker Lab on 4/10 with 12 adults and 23 children in attendance. The children sorted and counted by stringing beads onto flower stems. They made Play-Doh monsters using googly eyes, feathers, pipe cleaners, and beads. They also sorted pom poms by moving them inside of a food glove.
MOBILE SERVICES
Mobile Services celebrated National Bookmobile Day on Wednesday, April 22. They handed out stickers, bookmarks, coloring pages, and cut-out bus models for the patrons that day. The Fun Bus was taken to two events: Touch-a-Truck with Geauga Park District at the West Woods on Saturday, April 25, and Careers on Wheels Day at Munson Elementary on May 6.
...They welcomed 346 people at Touch-a-Truck and 132 people at Careers on Wheels Day. The Amish School book delivery program ended in April at the end of this school year. The team already has volunteers helping to clean the sets to prepare for next year’s deliveries!
THOMPSON
Thompson patrons explored a variety of creative activities this month. Children celebrated Earth Day by crafting unique beaded garden stakes. Adults experimented with a new medium—alcohol ink—while painting glass bowls and cups. Meanwhile, homeschool students stepped into the role of engineers during Explorers’ Lab, designing and building bridges and skyscrapers.”
STATISTICS
April 2026 Statistics:
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39,272 patrons served at the branches
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17,313 computer and wi-fi uses
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233 programs presented for 5,005 patrons
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10,655 reference interactions
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Total circulation of items: 242,822
Observer Note: The host/local branch manager gives an oral report at the board meeting. This month that report was given by Erika Noark, Geauga West Branch
Local Manager’s Report - Erika Noark, Geauga West Branch Manager said they are focusing on America 250 programming. They are utilizing a Master Gardener to present ideas about native plants and fruits you can grow at home. They will be using native plants on their back patio and will be hosting “All American Sips” during the summer serving drinks that feature native Ohio fruits and locally grown herbs. In May they will have their first program on Women’s survival. Observer Note: In July there will be a program about the First Ladies. See information here.
Human Resources Report - Ms. Burnside received approval for personnel actions as follows:
4 promotions and 4 terminations.
From the Board packet: “GCPL’s updated Volunteer Program is up and running! We have created a Volunteer Handbook, developed an online application, and procedure. This project was completed through the coordination of the Development Coordinator and Human Resources.”
Committee Reports - None
Unfinished Business - None
New Business - The following Resolutions were all approved:
26-01 - Approval of Bond Funding - use funds to refinance current outstanding bonds
As described in the Board report: “The Geauga County Public Library Board is authorizing the issuance of refunding bonds not to exceed $19,895,000.
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The purpose is to refinance (refund) portions of two previous bond issues (Series 2018A and 2018B), originally used for constructing, renovating, and improving library facilities, as well as acquiring land.
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The refunding is motivated by the opportunity to take advantage of lower prevailing interest rates, which can reduce the library's debt service costs.
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Maximum Maturity: The new bonds cannot mature later than December 1, 2047, matching the
latest maturity of the bonds being refunded.”
26-02 - Approval of additional debt of $6 million to complete the Chardon branch- It was stated that this would produce no additional tax and that the actual total and numbers will be determined as they get more information.
From the Board packet: ‘Purpose and Authorization:
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The Board of Library Trustees of the Geauga County Public Library will authorize the issuance of Library Facilities Notes (Series 2026) for up to $6,000,000.
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The funds will be used for purchasing, leasing, constructing, remodeling, renovating, equipping, and furnishing library facilities and other real property.
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The improvements financed have an estimated useful life exceeding five years, with a maximum period of usefulness of 30 years.”
Approval of Resolution #26-03 – A RESOLUTION APPROVING A WRITTEN POST-ISSUANCE
COMPLIANCE POLICY IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE OF TAX-EXEMPT AND TAX-PREFERRED OBLIGATIONS BY THE LIBRARY - Approved
This was described as a post-Issuance Compliance Policy Authorization and covers all required funding.
From the Board packet: “This document outlines the policies, resolutions, and procedures for the Geauga County Public Library regarding the approval, compliance, and management of tax-exempt bonds and related financial disclosures. The Geauga County Public Library's Board of Trustees will approve updated policies and procedures to ensure compliance with federal and state laws related to bond issuance and management.
Post-Issuance Compliance Policy Purpose and Scope
The policy aims to ensure legal compliance for bonds used to finance library capital projects.
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Covers bonds, notes, and certificates of participation.
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Ensures adherence to federal, Ohio, and applicable laws.
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Outlines procedures for bond proceeds, investments, and use of bond-financed facilities.
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Establishes responsibilities for outside counsel, disclosure, and tax law compliance.”
Approval of May Discard List - 4 obsolete printers were approved for discard.
Board Development - Ms. Carroll said they are going to four year Board terms. She said that HB96 changed the terms from 7 years to 4 years. Observer Note: See more information here and the updated Ohio Revised Code (ORC) citation here. Ms. Carroll said she did contact the Prosecutor and they have been corresponding with the Commissioners’ Office. Going forward there will be 4 year terms. Ms. Carroll said that their goal is to have a full Board. Observer Note: There is one vacancy to be filled by June 30, 2026. The Library Board recommended a renewal for current Board president Crist Miller. The Commissioners decided that they wanted to solicit other nominees. No decisions have been made by the Commissioners to date.
Foundation - As stated in the Board packet and discussed by Mrs. Schrock:
“During the Maple Festival on April 25th and 26th, the Foundation once again coordinated festival parking as a fundraising effort. Debbie Schrock and Foundation volunteers raised nearly $2,000. In addition to generating support for the Foundation, the event provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with community members and increase visibility for the Geauga County Public Library. Maple Festival, parking went well raised $2,000; Debbie Schrock completed the Foundation’s annual update for the Candid Seal of Transparency profile, and I am pleased to report that the Foundation maintained its Platinum Seal of Transparency status, the highest level awarded to nonprofit organizations…. We were pleased to receive a generous donation of $412 from Rotary for Reading in support of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program. We are grateful for Geauga County Rotaries continued support of literacy initiatives and their investment in the children and families we serve.”
FRIENDS COMMITTEE
“The Foundation held its annual Maple Festival Book Sale from April 23rd through April 25th, generating a total of $1,765.00 in sales. This year’s event exceeded last year’s total by $26, reflecting continued community support for the sale and the library.
Our Annual Drive Thru Book Donation Day was held on Saturday, May 9th, and was another successful community event that welcomed 70 vehicles throughout the morning. Patrons generously donated gently used books and media materials to support future library book sales.
A dedicated team of 15 Friends volunteers assisted with greeting donors, unloading materials, sorting donations, and directing traffic throughout the event. The event continues to grow as a valued annual tradition that not only supports the Foundation financially, but also strengthens community engagement and volunteer involvement.”
Comments from the Public
A man had various comments, chiefly about architectural design. He objected to the design of the Bainbridge Library as he said that glass is hard to heat and a flat roof will always leak. He said that he likes the Middlefield library because they have a display that enables him to view the DVDs and it is more handicapped accessible. He said that at Bainbridge there are a lot of steps to the building and they don’t have the similar type of DVD display. He said he thought they were going to have to close the library because it will be so hard to heat and cool. His main concern was whether the new Chardon library building would have a handicapped accessible parking lot and the same design as Bainbridge. Ms. Carroll said it was a different architectural firm from the one that designed Bainbridge.
Executive Session - The Board entered into Executive Session at 4:24 pm for the purpose of discussing the purchase or sale of property. Observer Note: This observer was unable to enter the meeting after the Executive Session, but the following action was confirmed by Assistant Director Farrell.
Return from Executive Session - Paul Newman made a motion, seconded by Josh Hutchinson, to approve a resolution authorizing the Director and Fiscal Officer to conduct negotiations with New Covenant Fellowship regarding the potential sale of the Chardon Branch property. The motion passed unanimously. Reviewer Note: Learn more about the New Covenant Fellowship here.
Meeting adjourned at approximately 4:50 pm.
Next Meeting: The next Regular Board meeting is June 16, 2026 at 4:00 pm at the Thompson Branch. See website for information on meeting dates and locations.
Observer: Gail Roussey
Editor: Carol Benton
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Date Submitted: May 23, 2026
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