September 2026 | Board Agenda

Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Agenda: September 24, 2026

in the Library Board Room

Attendance

  • Trustee Roger Bartley
  • Trustee Casey Milano
  • Trustee Rebecca Miller
  • Trustee Sarah Repella
  • Trustee Richard Rutledge
  • Trustee Brad Sayre
  • Fiscal Officer Heather Husted
  • Director Jason Bumbico

Call to Order, Agenda Adjustments, and Public Participation

Call to Order

Adjustments to the Agenda

  • Added discussion item
  • Corrected resolution numbers

Public Participation

Minutes

Motion: To approve the minutes of the August 27, 2026 Regular Board of Trustees meeting.

Discussion

To Inform and Update the Board on Case No. 2026CV01879

  • Complaint received by certified mail on Monday, September 21, 2026.
  • Plaintiffs: Jennifer L. Bates and Brian M. Ames.
  • The Library Board of Trustees has been named as a defendant.
  • Plaintiffs allege that open meetings laws (R.C. 121.22) were violated.
    • Plaintiffs allege that, due to these violations, wrongful termination occurred.
  • Plaintiffs are seeking damages, back wages, and reinstatement of employment.
  • Copies of Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3358:17-1-04.2 and Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22 are attached to the Board packet for reference.
  • The Stark County Prosecutor's Office (John Lysenko) has been contacted.
    • The case will be assigned to an attorney in the office.
    • After the case is assigned, information will be gathered.
    • Options and recommendations will be presented to the Board.
  • Currently, all questions should be directed to Roger Bartley.
    • All Board members will be notified of the unified response shortly.

Fiscal Officer's Report: August 2026

Motion: To accept the monthly financial reports for August 2026 and the Fiscal Officer's Monthly Report.

Current Revenue

Public Library Fund (PLF) distribution: The August 2026 PLF distribution is $67,826.01, which is about 2.04% more than the $66,471.59 received in August 2025. As of August 31, 2026, PLF funding is 6.8% behind projections for the year to date.

July 2026 General Revenue Net Operating Position

For the month:

  • July revenue: $69,893.91
  • July expenses: $52,635.19
  • Difference: $17,258.72

For the year to date:

  • Total annual revenue: $561,939.29
  • Total annual expenses: $578,618.17
  • Difference: negative $16,678.88

Operating Fund Expenses as a Percentage of Appropriation, July 31, 2026

  • 2026 appropriation: $1,257,363.04
  • Current 2026 expenses: $578,618.17
  • Expenses as a percentage of appropriation: 46.017%

New Business

Resolution 26-9-01: To eliminate the petty cash fund maintained in the Fiscal Officer's office, to discontinue the practice of keeping a petty cash fund going forward, and to deposit the remaining balance of the fund, in the amount of $60.00, into the Library's checking account.

Resolution 26-9-02: To move $600.00 from Contingency (1000-930-930-0000) to Office Supplies (1000-230-451-0007).

Resolution 26-9-03: To add the Juneteenth holiday (June 19) to the Library's official Holiday, Closure, and Leave list, with staff eligible for holiday pay under the current policy.

Director's Report

Motion: To accept the monthly report from the Director included in the Board packet.

August 2026 Library Statistics

  • Circulation: 15,327, about 17.83% above the August 2025 total of 13,008.
  • Door count: 4,357, up 7.6% from the August 2025 total of 4,047.

Accept Financial Gifts: August 2026

Unrestricted individual contributions to the General Fund:

  • Book sale and miscellaneous: $32.25
  • Virginia Birks: $1,000.00
  • Total financial gifts: $1,032.25

In-Kind Gifts for July 2026

  • J. Scott Miller: book donation, 34 hardback and 11 softcover.

Adjournment

Motion: To adjourn.

The next regular Board meeting will be in the Board Room.