2024 January minutes

Flemington Free Public Library

Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes

ANNUAL MEETING

January 19, 2024

The Flemington Free Public Library (FFPL) Board of Trustees Annual meeting was called to order at 9:37 am by Board President Jane DeHaven. Library Director Shawn Armington, Steve Rogow, and council liaison Adrienne Fusaro were present.

OPMA STATEMENT  

This meeting was called in accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act. Notice was sent to the newspapers of record, The Courier News and The Hunterdon Democrat, and posted on the library’s website and bulletin board.

Lacking a quorum, the board took no official action.  However, the annual meeting schedule was discussed and proposed.

The Board will have its regular meetings for 2024 at 9:30 a.m. on the following dates:

February 16
March 15
April 12
May 17
(June 21 if necessary)
September 20
October 18
December 13
January 17, 2025

— Shawn Armington

Flemington Free Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes

January 19, 2024

The Flemington Free Public Library (FFPL) Board of Trustees meeting was called to order at 9:45 am by Board President Jane DeHaven This was a remote meeting via Zoom. Jane DeHaven, Steve Rogow, Council Liaison Adrienne Fusaro and Library Director Shawn Armington were present.   Liz Fisher joined shortly after the meeting began.

OPMA STATEMENT  

This meeting was called in accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act. Notice was sent to the newspapers of record, The Courier News and The Hunterdon Democrat, and posted on the library’s website and bulletin board.

Those present welcomed Adrienne Fusaro, the new council liaison for 2024.

The December 2023 secretary’s report and financial reports were approved.

The board discussed the borough’s funding, in light of the receipt of a check for $58,209.36, representing the balance of funding for 2023.  This potentially brings the library’s operating assets to the threshold which would warrant a return of funds to the borough.   Shawn will discuss with the borough’s CFO, Bill Hance.

Charles Mann General Contracting has been awarded the contract for the basement remediation.

Shawn revisited the recent security concerns at the library.  Following a discussion with Chief Rotella, the Flemington Police Department has been very responsive to these concerns, visiting the library on most late evenings.  We have added a third staff person for some shifts.   Shawn installed a DIY camera system (with “blink” cameras).   The staff has found this reassuring but there is a consensus with the library board that it would be more stable and effective to procure a professionally installed system.   Shawn met initially with a representative from Vector Security, but this representative left the company abruptly, necessitating further discussion.  Shawn will meet with another representative as soon as possible.   The will of the board seems to favor a more maximal approach, with cameras focused on the library’s exterior as well as multiple interior locations.

The meeting adjourned at 10:20 am.

— Shawn Armington