The Regular Meeting of the Eisenhower Public Library District Board of Trustees April 17, 2025.
CALL TO ORDER
President Braun called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Magnelli, Magnuson, Ringelstein, Braun, Ross, Parent, Krebs.
Absent:
Also Present: Wittmann, Bacarella, Furfori, V. Bitters, Lewis, McPhillips, Sciaccotta, Stam.
Also Present Electronically: Clark
RECOGNITION OF VISITORS
There were no visitors present.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no comments from the public.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Trustee Parent moved, seconded by Trustee Krebs, THAT THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING HELD MARCH 20, 2025 BE APPROVED. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Director Wittmann reported that we are on target or under. We have received a lot of tax money. Robbins Schwartz advised that due to the reassessment that they are going to have more appeals.
APPROVAL OF CURRENT BILLS
Trustee Magnelli moved, seconded by Trustee Ross, THAT REGULAR PARKWAY CHECKS 31741 THROUGH 31797 TOTALING $123,207.95 FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL; MANUAL PAYMENTS TOTALING $21,150.10 FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH; CHECKS VOIDED 31705 31719 31736; MARCH NET WAGES TOTALING $155,369.58; MARCH PAYROLL TAXES IN THE AMOUNT OF $64,211.08; AND MARCH IMRF GOV ONE DEBIT IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,362.13. A Roll Call Vote on the Motion was taken and the results were as follows: AYES Magnuson, Magnelli, Ringelstein, Parent, Braun, Krebs, Ross. NAYS None. ABSENT None. The motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Island Within a City Committee Meeting—
The committee met to discuss the book.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Community Kindness Day—
Trustee Ringelstein advised that it is rolling along. She reported that the Village of Harwood Heights told her that someone made a sandwich donation and Jennifer Adams had donated free classes. She said that they need to finalize their schedule and then they will publish it.
April 1, 2025 Consolidated Election—
We are still waiting to receive notice from the Cook County Clerk notifying us the official canvas results; however, they posted the preliminary results. Trustee Ringelstein 52.12% with 872 of the votes for the 6-year term and Trustee Parent 47.88% with 801 of the votes for a 6-year term. Trustee Ringelstein will be sworn in at the May Board Reorganization meeting; Ellen Bacarella and Director Wittmann will confer with the attorney regarding when we can swear in Trustee Parent, since he will be absent at the May meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Landscaping Proposal-Earth Elements, JDM Flores Landscape LLC—
Director Wittmann recommended that the Board vote to approve the proposal from Earth Elements. We have been pleased with their lawn care in previous years. Trustee Magnuson moved, seconded by Trustee Parent, TO APPROVE THE LANDSCAPING CONTRACT FROM EARTH ELEMENTS. A Roll Call Vote on the Motion was taken and the results were as follows: AYES Magnuson, Magnelli, Ringelstein, Parent, Braun, Krebs, Ross. NAYS None. ABSENT None. The motion carried.
Compressor Replacement on Chiller Proposals—Hill Mechanical, Hayes Mechanical—
The trustees were presented with an updated proposal from Hill Mechanical. Tony advised that he called Hill Mechanical to negotiate a better price than their first bid. Their initial bid was higher than Hayes. Tony is happy with Hill Mechanical and with the new proposal but it does not include the contactor. He feels good with Hill Mechanical and comfortable with them but he does not like that they did not give us their most competitive bid the first time. Tony called three companies for bids. Tony advised that he will install the contactor. He changed the five before. Trustee Parent thinks Hill Mechanical is taking a bit of advantage of us. The board conducted a straw poll vote for the two proposals: Trustee Braun, Trustee Krebs, Trustee Ross, Trustee Magnuson, Trustee Ringelstein, Trustee Magnelli would like to contract with Hill Mechanical and Trustee Parent would like to contract with Hayes Mechanical. There was further discussion regarding the option to go with Hill Mechanical, but then reevaluate our maintenance contract with them when it comes up for renewal, and invite Hayes to submit a proposal as well. Everyone felt comfortable with that option. Trustee Magnelli moved, seconded by Trustee Ross, TO APPROVE THE COMPRESSOR CHILLER PROPOSAL FROM HILL MECHANICAL. A Roll Call Vote on the Motion was taken and the results were as follows: AYES Magnuson, Magnelli, Ringelstein, Parent, Braun, Krebs, Ross. NAYS None. ABSENT None. The motion carried.
Editor Proposal-Jennifer Storelli—
Director Wittmann is going to talk to Jennifer about a few items on the proposal and they will revisit this next month.
Disposal of Library Surplus Property—
Trustee Krebs moved, seconded by Trustee Parent, TO APPROVE THE DISPOSAL OF LIBRARY SURPLUS PROPERTY. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.
Annual Raise—Celeste Emanuel—
Trustee Parent moved, seconded by Trustee Magnuson, THAT CELESTE EMANUEL’S ANNUAL RATE BE INCREASED FROM $79,500 TO $81,487.50 EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2025. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.
Six Month Raise—Carrie Dean, Zerdali Jones—
Trustee Ross moved, seconded by Trustee Ringelstein, THAT CARRIE DEAN’S ANNUAL RATE BE INCREASED FROM $52,000 TO $53.040 AND THAT ZERDALI JONES HOURLY RATE BE INCREASED FROM $18.00 PER HOUR TO $18.54 EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2025. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.
Personnel Changes—
There were no personal changes.
Any Other Business—
No report.
LIBRARY DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Director Wittmann’s Librarian report was discussed as items occurred on the agenda. She reported that a patron will be getting a warning letter for inappropriate behavior. She reported on Annamarie Magnelli’s award from Reaching Forward. It was well deserved and wonderful to be recognized by your peers and colleagues. She discussed the geese problem on the 2nd floor deck. The geese can be very aggressive. She advised that the library has a lot of things planned for Kindness Day. The Social Services team has planned a clean-up program. A bunch of High School kids have signed up. There will be a table set up in the Library to conduct the mental health survey. She advised that next month the Board should review the Bylaws. The grants were all suspended due to the shut down of IMLS. The library is promoting the importance of literacy. The interns last day will in May. The Social Services team reached out to 28 organizations for the Health fair that will take place on Saturday, May 10. There were a few 911 calls made this past month.
COMMUNICATIONS
We received a thank you letter from the Illinois Literacy Foundation.
We received a thank you letter from the Art Institute of Chicago.
Copy of an email Annamarie Magnelli received from Reaching Forward awarding her the 2025 Robert P. Doyle Award.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Statement of Economic interest has to be filed by May 1, 2025. We will receive a $15.00 fine per each filer who does not meet the deadline.
ADJOURNMENT
Trustee Ross moved, seconded by Trustee Parent, THAT THE MEETING BE ADJOURNED. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:16 P.M.
