Missed the Meeting? August 24 Library Meeting Cheat Sheet

The Board of Trustees of the Smithtown Special Library District held a meeting on Aug. 24. Take a look at what you missed.

Furniture Purchasing:

• Custom furniture for the Commack, Kings Park, Nesconset and Smithtown branches has been selected. The price of this furniture falls within the budget range previously allocated for this purchase ($255,000 for the Commack Branch and $1.1 million to be split between the Smithtown, Kings Park and Nesconset branches accordingly). Trustees discussed if the chairs were suitable for heavy and handicapped individuals and how the architects selected this furniture company.
• Result: The furniture will accommodate all sizes and architects shopped around before deciding this was the best quality available at this mid-range price. Trustees unanimously approved the purchase.

Telecommunications System:

• Trustee Martins presented a proposal to purchase a phone system from vendor DJJ Technologies for all of the branches, in hopes of improving communication between the branches and lessen the dropped calls that occur in the current dated system. This purchase is just for the system not the carrier service.
• Result: The Trustees unanimously approved the purchase of this new office system. The next step will to be to explore possibly changing the phone carrier service.

Construction Project:

• All branch projects remain on schedule, even after this week's rain. The roof is in progress at Commack and windows arrive on Friday for Nesconset.
• Nesconset branch (old storefront) will open Sept. 12 for Nesconset Day. Commack branch will open late Winter

Polling Locations:

• After ruling out alternative voting locations, it was decided that Commack voters will vote in a separate area and in separate voting booths at the Kings Park branch. Smithtown will remain open for voting. Trustees discussed if there would be congestion at Smithtown with the construction.
• Result: Off-site parking is being secured near the Smithtown branch to reduce congestion. Library patrons will be reminded that they can vote at any of the branches with a paper ballot. One trustee abstained from voting but the rest approved.

2011 Proposed Budget:

• Trustees reported that the two buildings being closed will result in tax decrease by half a percentage and that the budget was reworked to include $10,000 worth of additional programming in the new spaces.
• Result: All trustees unanimously approved.

Appraisal Contract:

• Trustees decided whether to  award a contract to appraise the value of the library's local history collection, which contains many valuable, first edition items. The last appraisal was done in 1957.
• Result: After discussing the impact this would have on insurance and storage options for the collection, all trustees unanimously approved.

Director's Report

• Director Robert Lusak discussed the July time capsule ceremony, the popularity of the summer concert series and the Battle of the Books competition, in addition to explaining a grant that the library is applying for to fund parts of the construction project.

Topics to Watch for: library grant application to the Suffolk Cooperative Library System, permission to house Smithtown Youth Football trailer on Nesconset grounds, construction progress