Mon – Thur: 9AM to 9PM | Fri – Sat: 9AM to 5PM | Sun: 1PM to 5PM
4613 N Oketo Ave, Harwood Heights, IL 60706 | 708-867-7828
Mon – Thur: 9AM to 9PM
Fri – Sat: 9AM to 5PM
Sun: 1PM to 5PM
4613 N Oketo Ave
Harwood Heights, IL 60706
708-867-7828

4613 N Oketo Ave, Harwood Heights, IL 60706 708-867-7828

Mon – Thur: 9AM to 9PM | Fri – Sat: 9AM to 5PM | Sun: 1PM to 5PM

May 21, 2026 Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes

The Regular Meeting of the Eisenhower Public Library District Board of Trustees May 21, 2026.

CALL TO ORDER

President Magnelli called the meeting to order at 7:39 P.M.

ROLL CALL

Present:  Magnelli, Ross, Ringelstein, Magnuson, Parent, Krebs, Zaporowicz-Short. 
Absent:   
Also Present: Wittmann, Bacarella, Furfori, V. Bitters, Blubaugh, Clark, Lewis, Sciaccotta, Stam, Dan Pohrte, Alex Krug, Justin Pathmann.
Absent: 

RECOGNITION OF VISITORS

Dan Pohrte and Alex Krug, with Product Architects and Justin Pathmann with Rethink Projects were recognized.

PUBLIC COMMENT

There were no comments from the public.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Trustee Parent moved, seconded by Trustee Zaporowicz-Short, THAT THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING HELD APRIL 16, 2026 BE APPROVED. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.

FINANCIAL REPORT

Director Wittmann advised that expenditures remain in good standing and that the Library’s finances are still on track for this point in the fiscal year. She noted that legal expenses have exceeded projections, which was anticipated.

APPROVAL OF CURRENT BILLS & GENERAL OBLIGATION LIMITED TAX DEBT CERTIFICATE PAYMENTS

Trustee Krebs, moved, seconded by Trustee Magnuson, THAT REGULAR PARKWAY CHECKS 32475 THROUGH 32532 TOTALING $774,896.70 FOR THE MONTH OF MAY; MANUAL PAYMENTS TOTALING $28,302.54 FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL; APRIL NET WAGES TOTALING $241,097.92; APRIL PAYROLL TAXES IN THE AMOUNT OF $98,911.16; AND APRIL IMRF GOV ONE DEBIT IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,171.12; AND GENERAL OBLIGATION SERIES 2016 IN THE AMOUNT OF $656,050.00. A Roll Call vote on the motion was taken and the results were as follows: AYES Magnelli, Magnuson, Ross, Ringelstein, Krebs, Parent, Zaporowicz-Short. NAYS None. ABSENT None. The motion carried.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Island Withing A City—
The committee met earlier in the evening to discuss how to move forward with the book. Julie reported the top five title choices.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS 

Remodel Project Pricing and Specs—
Alex Krug and Dan Pohrte of Product Architects presented the project specifications to the Board, reviewing the overall plans and scope for the remodel. They shared renderings of the Workshop, lobby, and first-floor restrooms, and outlined planned improvements to acoustics in Reference and the study rooms. They also noted that light fixtures in Reference and Kids World will be replaced with felt fixtures that are easy to maintain and can be dusted.

Additional project updates include converting a study room into a Social Work office, renovating the Kids World restrooms, and adding a nursing room with new lighting. All lighting throughout the building will be upgraded to LED. The Library Services/Kids World staff workroom will be reorganized to accommodate expanded staffing by adding workstations.

The presenters provided samples and images of proposed materials and finishes, including lighting fixtures, bathroom tile, ceiling tile, acoustic felt, Corian surfaces, carpeting, Makerspace furniture, a movable security desk, and the nursing room design.

Trustee Magnelli asked whether the library’s logo could be incorporated into Circulation Services signage. Director Wittmann responded that she will review options for updated signage and explore the possibility of adding a library logo installation.

Justin Pathmann of Rethink Projects reviewed the schematic design budget for the remodeling project. The revised estimated project cost was $2,643,395, which included renovations to the second-floor bathrooms. In an effort to reduce costs, the second-floor bathroom renovations were removed from the project scope, along with the additional stall in the first-floor men’s restroom and the drive-up window. Following these revisions, the estimated total project cost was reduced to $2,517,955, while the contingency amount remains unchanged at $250,000.

Justin noted that the pricing reflects current market conditions. The project is expected to be completed in two to three phases, and there may be an opportunity to temporarily close the library during portions of the work. He explained that closing the library could potentially reduce project costs, as the current estimate assumes the library will remain open throughout construction. Justin will further investigate whether a temporary closure would result in meaningful savings. He also advised that the majority of construction activity will occur beginning at 6:00 a.m., prior to the library opening. Trustee Parent suggested that opening later in the day could also be considered.

Justin stated that the phasing plan will be developed shortly after the meeting and that construction is anticipated to take approximately seven to eight months. He also confirmed that none of the proposed changes would impact the Library’s LEED certification.

Justin reported that the LED retrofit fixtures will be bid separately, potentially as early as July. He explained that this approach could help secure a contractor experienced in maximizing available ComEd energy credits and rebates, which could provide benefits to the overall project budget. He also noted that the retrofit is expected to generate additional long-term savings through future rebate opportunities.

Director Wittmann advised that she spoke with Jamie Rachlin regarding the potential debt certificate payment if additional funds were borrowed to include the second-floor bathroom renovations in the construction project. She noted that completing the bathroom remodel at the same time as the larger project would provide better overall value.

Alex, Dan, and Justin left the meeting at 8:45 P.M.

Bylaws Review—
The Board decided to table the Bylaws. Trustee Parent moved, seconded by Trustee Ross TO APPROVE TO TABLE THE BYLAWS REVIEW. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.

Community Kindness Day—
Trustee Ringelstein reported that it was great. Julie advised that everyone loved the craft swap. District 80 had a phenomenal turn out.

NEW BUSINESS

Schedule of Board Meeting Dates—
The proposed FY 2026–27 schedule places meetings on the third Thursday of each month, with the August meeting scheduled for the second Thursday to accommodate our Tentative Budget and Appropriation posting requirements. Trustee Zaporowicz-Short moved, seconded by Trustee Parent TO APPROVE THE SCHEDULE OF BOARD MEETING DATES FOR THE 2026-27 FISCAL YEAR. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.

Island Within a City Book Title—
The Board will discuss at the June meeting.

Open the Library at 1:00 PM on September 17, 2026, to Support Law Enforcement in Conducting Operation Safe Return in Coordination with Local Schools—
Julie Stam reported that Norridge and Harwood Heights PD, in conjunction with the school districts, Schiller Park PD, Norwood Park FD, and other local organizations, will be conducting a community-wide active threat exercise taking place on the morning of Thursday, September 17th. The full title of the exercise is “Operation Safe Return – Where Preparedness Meets Bravery”. They will be running tabletop exercises here at the library in early June in our meeting room. And on the day of the exercise, they would like to use our parking lot as the staging area for the emergency vehicles. They have indicated that the parking lot would be clear of all vehicles by 11:00 a.m. Director Wittmann asked the Board to vote to close the Library on Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 9 am to 1 pm to accommodate this request. Trustee Magnuson, seconded by Trustee Ringelstein, TO APPROVE OPENING THE LIBRARY AT 1 P.M. ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2026, TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN CONDUCTING OPERATION SAFE RETURN IN COORDINATION WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.

Co-Managed IT Proposals—Framework IT, Outsource IT Solutions Group, WEBIT Services Inc.—
Director Wittmann recommended the Board vote to approve the proposal from Outsource IT Solutions Group. They submitted the lowest-cost proposal and they are the best fit for our needs. Trustee Ross moved, seconded by Trustee Zaporowicz-Short, TO APPROVE THE CO-MANAGED IT PROPOSAL FROM OUTSOURCE IT SOLUTIONS GROUP. A Roll Call vote on the motion was taken and the results were as follows: AYES Magnelli, Magnuson, Ross, Ringelstein, Krebs, Parent, Zaporowicz-Short. NAYS None. ABSENT None. The motion carried. Trustee Parent requested to review the contract to ensure it includes appropriate provisions for network security access, confirmation of the vendor’s qualifications, and clear standards for maintaining system controls. The contract/proposal will be distributed to the Board for review.

Website Proposals- Communico, Library Market, Springshare
Chris Clark reported that we will need to bring our website up to ADA compliance. Initially, that deadline for library districts was set for spring of 2027, but it recently was pushed back to 2028. However, we have been looking to redesign the site with an eye to ADA compliance for a couple of years now, and we would like to move forward with the project. Dan and Chris reached out to the top three library-focused web design solutions in the market, Communico, Library Market, and Springshare. Chris advised that Library Market will build a whole new website. There will be a $2,000 charge per year for the website.
Director Wittmann asked the Board to vote to approve the proposal from Library Market. It has the highest up-front cost, but they build the site for us to our specifications, have a higher level of ADA compliance, and the annual fee is the lowest of the three options. Trustee Magnuson moved, seconded by Trustee Zaporowicz-Short, TO APPROVE THE WEBSITE PROPOSAL FROM LIBRARY MARKET. A Roll Call vote on the motion was taken and the results were as follows: AYES Magnelli, Magnuson, Ross, Ringelstein, Krebs, Parent, Zaporowicz-Short. NAYS None. ABSENT None. The motion carried.

Jennifer Furfori left the meeting at 9:15 P.M.

Landscaping Proposals for West Side of Parking Lot-Anne Roberts Gardens, Earth Elements Landscape—
Director Wittmann reported that we have a few different landscaping proposals for the west side of the parking lot. There are three progressive proposals from Earth Elements. One is to remove the bushes and pavers. The second is to remove the bushes and pavers and put down sod. The third includes adding mulch in all areas of the property. She advised that the proposal from Anne Roberts for that side of the lot is to remove existing bushes and pavers and install native plants, similar to what we have on the north side of the lot. She asked to Board to decide what they would like to see on that side of the lot.  

Regarding the Earth Elements proposal that includes mulch, we are also waiting on a proposal from Anne Roberts just to install mulch on all areas of the property. We have one for 20 cy, but not for 50 cy, which is the amount included in the Earth Elements proposal. Director Wittmann asked whether the preference was for grass or flowers. Trustee Zaporowicz-Short noted that grass would be easier to maintain, and the Board reached a consensus in favor of grass. If the Board approves the Earth Elements proposal, Tony advised that he would monitor the installation of the mulch.

Trustee Ross moved, seconded by Trustee Krebs, TO APPROVE THE PROPOSAL FROM EARTH ELEMENTS FOR MULCH, PULLING BUSHES, AND LAYING SOD IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,800. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried. A Roll Call vote on the motion was taken and the results were as follows: AYES Magnelli, Magnuson, Ross, Ringelstein, Krebs, Parent, Zaporowicz-Short. NAYS None. ABSENT None. The motion carried.

Illinois NFP Audit & Tax LLP Proposal for Audit Services—
Director Wittmann recommended the Board approve the proposal from Illinois NFP Audit & Tax LLP for three years of audit services. She reported that they do a great job and we would like to stay with them. Trustee Parent moved, seconded by Trustee Zaporowicz-Short, TO APPROVE THE PROPOSAL FROM ILLINOIS NFP AUDIT & TAX LLP FOR AUDIT SERVICES. A Roll Call vote on the motion was taken and the results were as follows: AYES Magnelli, Magnuson, Ross, Ringelstein, Krebs, Parent, Zaporowicz-Short. NAYS None. ABSENT None. The motion carried.

ILLINET/OCLC Services Renewal Agreement—
ILLINET/OCLC Services provides group pricing for cataloging and resource sharing for all Illinois libraries as negotiated with OCLC by the Illinois State Library. This service allows the library to add our holdings to the ILLINET/OCLC database which makes them discoverable to Libraries throughout the country, to request items for Interlibrary Loan from Libraries outside of SWAN, and to draw from the information contained in the database for our own records. This member renewal agreement is for FY2027. Trustee Zaporowicz-Short moved, seconded by Trustee Magnuson, TO AUTHORIZE DIRECTOR WITTMANN TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH THE ILLINOIS STATE LIBRARY RENEWING THE ILLINET/OCLC SERVICES PROGRAM AGREEMENT FOR FY2027. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.

Disposal of Surplus Library Personal Property—
Trustee Krebs, seconded by Trustee Parent, TO APPROVE THE DISPOSAL OF SURPLUS LIBRARY PERSONAL PROPERTY. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.

Annual Raise-Aseel Hussein—
Trustee Krebs, seconded by Trustee Ross, THAT ASEEL HUSSEIN’S HOURLY RATE BE INCREASED FROM $15.45 TO $15.91, EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2026. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.

Six-Month Raises-Eileen Clarke, Elisabeth Fisher—
Trustee Parent, seconded by Trustee Zaporowicz-Short, THAT EILEEN CLARKE’S HOURLY RATE BE INCREASED FROM $18.54 TO $19.00, RETROACTIVE TO APRIL 1, 2026 AND ELISABETH FISHER’S ANNUAL RATE BE INCREASED FROM $50,500 TO $52.015 EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2026. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.

Personnel Changes—
Maria Gonzalez was hired as Children’s Librarian. Her first day was Monday, May 18, 2026.
Social Work Intern Savannah Derrig’s last day was Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Social Work Intern Lazerric Hartzog’s last day was May 10, 2026.

Any Other Business—
There was no other business.

LIBRARY DIRECTOR’S REPORT  

Director Wittmann’s Librarian report was discussed as items occurred on the agenda. She wants to give Jennifer Storelli a shout out in the IWAC book and the Board agreed.

COMMUNICATIONS

Thank you note from Social Work Intern Savannah Derrig.

Copy of email sent from Jenette Gonzalez at Ridgewood High School to Seniors regarding the services we supply

ANNOUNCEMENTS

There were no announcements.

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 9:30 P.M.

Categories: Board Documents.

May 21, 2026 Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes

The Regular Meeting of the Eisenhower Public Library District Board of Trustees May 21, 2026.

CALL TO ORDER

President Magnelli called the meeting to order at 7:39 P.M.

ROLL CALL

Present:  Magnelli, Ross, Ringelstein, Magnuson, Parent, Krebs, Zaporowicz-Short. 
Absent:   
Also Present: Wittmann, Bacarella, Furfori, V. Bitters, Blubaugh, Clark, Lewis, Sciaccotta, Stam, Dan Pohrte, Alex Krug, Justin Pathmann.
Absent: 

RECOGNITION OF VISITORS

Dan Pohrte and Alex Krug, with Product Architects and Justin Pathmann with Rethink Projects were recognized.

PUBLIC COMMENT

There were no comments from the public.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Trustee Parent moved, seconded by Trustee Zaporowicz-Short, THAT THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING HELD APRIL 16, 2026 BE APPROVED. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.

FINANCIAL REPORT

Director Wittmann advised that expenditures remain in good standing and that the Library’s finances are still on track for this point in the fiscal year. She noted that legal expenses have exceeded projections, which was anticipated.

APPROVAL OF CURRENT BILLS & GENERAL OBLIGATION LIMITED TAX DEBT CERTIFICATE PAYMENTS

Trustee Krebs, moved, seconded by Trustee Magnuson, THAT REGULAR PARKWAY CHECKS 32475 THROUGH 32532 TOTALING $774,896.70 FOR THE MONTH OF MAY; MANUAL PAYMENTS TOTALING $28,302.54 FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL; APRIL NET WAGES TOTALING $241,097.92; APRIL PAYROLL TAXES IN THE AMOUNT OF $98,911.16; AND APRIL IMRF GOV ONE DEBIT IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,171.12; AND GENERAL OBLIGATION SERIES 2016 IN THE AMOUNT OF $656,050.00. A Roll Call vote on the motion was taken and the results were as follows: AYES Magnelli, Magnuson, Ross, Ringelstein, Krebs, Parent, Zaporowicz-Short. NAYS None. ABSENT None. The motion carried.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Island Withing A City—
The committee met earlier in the evening to discuss how to move forward with the book. Julie reported the top five title choices.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS 

Remodel Project Pricing and Specs—
Alex Krug and Dan Pohrte of Product Architects presented the project specifications to the Board, reviewing the overall plans and scope for the remodel. They shared renderings of the Workshop, lobby, and first-floor restrooms, and outlined planned improvements to acoustics in Reference and the study rooms. They also noted that light fixtures in Reference and Kids World will be replaced with felt fixtures that are easy to maintain and can be dusted.

Additional project updates include converting a study room into a Social Work office, renovating the Kids World restrooms, and adding a nursing room with new lighting. All lighting throughout the building will be upgraded to LED. The Library Services/Kids World staff workroom will be reorganized to accommodate expanded staffing by adding workstations.

The presenters provided samples and images of proposed materials and finishes, including lighting fixtures, bathroom tile, ceiling tile, acoustic felt, Corian surfaces, carpeting, Makerspace furniture, a movable security desk, and the nursing room design.

Trustee Magnelli asked whether the library’s logo could be incorporated into Circulation Services signage. Director Wittmann responded that she will review options for updated signage and explore the possibility of adding a library logo installation.

Justin Pathmann of Rethink Projects reviewed the schematic design budget for the remodeling project. The revised estimated project cost was $2,643,395, which included renovations to the second-floor bathrooms. In an effort to reduce costs, the second-floor bathroom renovations were removed from the project scope, along with the additional stall in the first-floor men’s restroom and the drive-up window. Following these revisions, the estimated total project cost was reduced to $2,517,955, while the contingency amount remains unchanged at $250,000.

Justin noted that the pricing reflects current market conditions. The project is expected to be completed in two to three phases, and there may be an opportunity to temporarily close the library during portions of the work. He explained that closing the library could potentially reduce project costs, as the current estimate assumes the library will remain open throughout construction. Justin will further investigate whether a temporary closure would result in meaningful savings. He also advised that the majority of construction activity will occur beginning at 6:00 a.m., prior to the library opening. Trustee Parent suggested that opening later in the day could also be considered.

Justin stated that the phasing plan will be developed shortly after the meeting and that construction is anticipated to take approximately seven to eight months. He also confirmed that none of the proposed changes would impact the Library’s LEED certification.

Justin reported that the LED retrofit fixtures will be bid separately, potentially as early as July. He explained that this approach could help secure a contractor experienced in maximizing available ComEd energy credits and rebates, which could provide benefits to the overall project budget. He also noted that the retrofit is expected to generate additional long-term savings through future rebate opportunities.

Director Wittmann advised that she spoke with Jamie Rachlin regarding the potential debt certificate payment if additional funds were borrowed to include the second-floor bathroom renovations in the construction project. She noted that completing the bathroom remodel at the same time as the larger project would provide better overall value.

Alex, Dan, and Justin left the meeting at 8:45 P.M.

Bylaws Review—
The Board decided to table the Bylaws. Trustee Parent moved, seconded by Trustee Ross TO APPROVE TO TABLE THE BYLAWS REVIEW. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.

Community Kindness Day—
Trustee Ringelstein reported that it was great. Julie advised that everyone loved the craft swap. District 80 had a phenomenal turn out.

NEW BUSINESS

Schedule of Board Meeting Dates—
The proposed FY 2026–27 schedule places meetings on the third Thursday of each month, with the August meeting scheduled for the second Thursday to accommodate our Tentative Budget and Appropriation posting requirements. Trustee Zaporowicz-Short moved, seconded by Trustee Parent TO APPROVE THE SCHEDULE OF BOARD MEETING DATES FOR THE 2026-27 FISCAL YEAR. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.

Island Within a City Book Title—
The Board will discuss at the June meeting.

Open the Library at 1:00 PM on September 17, 2026, to Support Law Enforcement in Conducting Operation Safe Return in Coordination with Local Schools—
Julie Stam reported that Norridge and Harwood Heights PD, in conjunction with the school districts, Schiller Park PD, Norwood Park FD, and other local organizations, will be conducting a community-wide active threat exercise taking place on the morning of Thursday, September 17th. The full title of the exercise is “Operation Safe Return – Where Preparedness Meets Bravery”. They will be running tabletop exercises here at the library in early June in our meeting room. And on the day of the exercise, they would like to use our parking lot as the staging area for the emergency vehicles. They have indicated that the parking lot would be clear of all vehicles by 11:00 a.m. Director Wittmann asked the Board to vote to close the Library on Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 9 am to 1 pm to accommodate this request. Trustee Magnuson, seconded by Trustee Ringelstein, TO APPROVE OPENING THE LIBRARY AT 1 P.M. ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2026, TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN CONDUCTING OPERATION SAFE RETURN IN COORDINATION WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.

Co-Managed IT Proposals—Framework IT, Outsource IT Solutions Group, WEBIT Services Inc.—
Director Wittmann recommended the Board vote to approve the proposal from Outsource IT Solutions Group. They submitted the lowest-cost proposal and they are the best fit for our needs. Trustee Ross moved, seconded by Trustee Zaporowicz-Short, TO APPROVE THE CO-MANAGED IT PROPOSAL FROM OUTSOURCE IT SOLUTIONS GROUP. A Roll Call vote on the motion was taken and the results were as follows: AYES Magnelli, Magnuson, Ross, Ringelstein, Krebs, Parent, Zaporowicz-Short. NAYS None. ABSENT None. The motion carried. Trustee Parent requested to review the contract to ensure it includes appropriate provisions for network security access, confirmation of the vendor’s qualifications, and clear standards for maintaining system controls. The contract/proposal will be distributed to the Board for review.

Website Proposals- Communico, Library Market, Springshare
Chris Clark reported that we will need to bring our website up to ADA compliance. Initially, that deadline for library districts was set for spring of 2027, but it recently was pushed back to 2028. However, we have been looking to redesign the site with an eye to ADA compliance for a couple of years now, and we would like to move forward with the project. Dan and Chris reached out to the top three library-focused web design solutions in the market, Communico, Library Market, and Springshare. Chris advised that Library Market will build a whole new website. There will be a $2,000 charge per year for the website.
Director Wittmann asked the Board to vote to approve the proposal from Library Market. It has the highest up-front cost, but they build the site for us to our specifications, have a higher level of ADA compliance, and the annual fee is the lowest of the three options. Trustee Magnuson moved, seconded by Trustee Zaporowicz-Short, TO APPROVE THE WEBSITE PROPOSAL FROM LIBRARY MARKET. A Roll Call vote on the motion was taken and the results were as follows: AYES Magnelli, Magnuson, Ross, Ringelstein, Krebs, Parent, Zaporowicz-Short. NAYS None. ABSENT None. The motion carried.

Jennifer Furfori left the meeting at 9:15 P.M.

Landscaping Proposals for West Side of Parking Lot-Anne Roberts Gardens, Earth Elements Landscape—
Director Wittmann reported that we have a few different landscaping proposals for the west side of the parking lot. There are three progressive proposals from Earth Elements. One is to remove the bushes and pavers. The second is to remove the bushes and pavers and put down sod. The third includes adding mulch in all areas of the property. She advised that the proposal from Anne Roberts for that side of the lot is to remove existing bushes and pavers and install native plants, similar to what we have on the north side of the lot. She asked to Board to decide what they would like to see on that side of the lot.  

Regarding the Earth Elements proposal that includes mulch, we are also waiting on a proposal from Anne Roberts just to install mulch on all areas of the property. We have one for 20 cy, but not for 50 cy, which is the amount included in the Earth Elements proposal. Director Wittmann asked whether the preference was for grass or flowers. Trustee Zaporowicz-Short noted that grass would be easier to maintain, and the Board reached a consensus in favor of grass. If the Board approves the Earth Elements proposal, Tony advised that he would monitor the installation of the mulch.

Trustee Ross moved, seconded by Trustee Krebs, TO APPROVE THE PROPOSAL FROM EARTH ELEMENTS FOR MULCH, PULLING BUSHES, AND LAYING SOD IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,800. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried. A Roll Call vote on the motion was taken and the results were as follows: AYES Magnelli, Magnuson, Ross, Ringelstein, Krebs, Parent, Zaporowicz-Short. NAYS None. ABSENT None. The motion carried.

Illinois NFP Audit & Tax LLP Proposal for Audit Services—
Director Wittmann recommended the Board approve the proposal from Illinois NFP Audit & Tax LLP for three years of audit services. She reported that they do a great job and we would like to stay with them. Trustee Parent moved, seconded by Trustee Zaporowicz-Short, TO APPROVE THE PROPOSAL FROM ILLINOIS NFP AUDIT & TAX LLP FOR AUDIT SERVICES. A Roll Call vote on the motion was taken and the results were as follows: AYES Magnelli, Magnuson, Ross, Ringelstein, Krebs, Parent, Zaporowicz-Short. NAYS None. ABSENT None. The motion carried.

ILLINET/OCLC Services Renewal Agreement—
ILLINET/OCLC Services provides group pricing for cataloging and resource sharing for all Illinois libraries as negotiated with OCLC by the Illinois State Library. This service allows the library to add our holdings to the ILLINET/OCLC database which makes them discoverable to Libraries throughout the country, to request items for Interlibrary Loan from Libraries outside of SWAN, and to draw from the information contained in the database for our own records. This member renewal agreement is for FY2027. Trustee Zaporowicz-Short moved, seconded by Trustee Magnuson, TO AUTHORIZE DIRECTOR WITTMANN TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH THE ILLINOIS STATE LIBRARY RENEWING THE ILLINET/OCLC SERVICES PROGRAM AGREEMENT FOR FY2027. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.

Disposal of Surplus Library Personal Property—
Trustee Krebs, seconded by Trustee Parent, TO APPROVE THE DISPOSAL OF SURPLUS LIBRARY PERSONAL PROPERTY. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.

Annual Raise-Aseel Hussein—
Trustee Krebs, seconded by Trustee Ross, THAT ASEEL HUSSEIN’S HOURLY RATE BE INCREASED FROM $15.45 TO $15.91, EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2026. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.

Six-Month Raises-Eileen Clarke, Elisabeth Fisher—
Trustee Parent, seconded by Trustee Zaporowicz-Short, THAT EILEEN CLARKE’S HOURLY RATE BE INCREASED FROM $18.54 TO $19.00, RETROACTIVE TO APRIL 1, 2026 AND ELISABETH FISHER’S ANNUAL RATE BE INCREASED FROM $50,500 TO $52.015 EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2026. A voice vote was taken and the motion carried.

Personnel Changes—
Maria Gonzalez was hired as Children’s Librarian. Her first day was Monday, May 18, 2026.
Social Work Intern Savannah Derrig’s last day was Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Social Work Intern Lazerric Hartzog’s last day was May 10, 2026.

Any Other Business—
There was no other business.

LIBRARY DIRECTOR’S REPORT  

Director Wittmann’s Librarian report was discussed as items occurred on the agenda. She wants to give Jennifer Storelli a shout out in the IWAC book and the Board agreed.

COMMUNICATIONS

Thank you note from Social Work Intern Savannah Derrig.

Copy of email sent from Jenette Gonzalez at Ridgewood High School to Seniors regarding the services we supply

ANNOUNCEMENTS

There were no announcements.

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 9:30 P.M.

Categories: Board Documents.