September 2026 | Board Minutes

Records Commission Meeting

Date and time: September 24, 2026, scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Present: Trustees Roger Bartley, Brad Sayre, Casey Milano, Sarah Repella, and Richard Rutledge.

Absent: Trustee Rebecca Miller.

Also present: Fiscal Officer Heather Husted and Director Jason Bumbico.

Records Disposal

The Fiscal Officer presented RC-3 certificates covering records held by the Director's Office and Fiscal Officer's Office under the Library's approved retention schedule. The discussion included which official should sign each certificate. The Fiscal Officer said she would check the signature designation. The forms list the records proposed for disposal; the filing with the State Archives and commercial shredding were described in the meeting materials.

Adjournment

Regular Board Meeting

Called to order: September 24, 2026, at 6:31 p.m.

Present: Trustees Roger Bartley, Brad Sayre, Casey Milano, Sarah Repella, and Richard Rutledge.

Absent: Trustee Rebecca Miller.

Also present: Fiscal Officer Heather Husted and Director Jason Bumbico.

Agenda and Prior Minutes

The agenda was adjusted to add a discussion item. Resolution numbers were corrected, and a resolution on public notice of special meetings was added. A further resolution concerning pay for the October 12 staff development day was introduced later in the meeting. No public participation was recorded.

Discussion of Pending Litigation

The Board was informed of Case No. 2026CV01879, a complaint received September 21 naming the Board as a defendant. Jennifer L. Bates and Brian M. Ames allege violations of Ohio open meetings law and wrongful termination and seek relief including damages, back wages, and reinstatement. These are allegations in the complaint, not findings by the Board. The Stark County Prosecutor's Office had been contacted and was expected to assign counsel to gather information and advise the Board. Questions about the matter were to be directed to Board President Roger Bartley while a unified response was developed. No action was taken on the case at this meeting.

Fiscal Officer Report

The Fiscal Officer reviewed the August financial reports. The August Public Library Fund distribution was $67,826.01, compared with $66,471.59 in August 2025. Public Library Fund receipts were reported as 6.8% below the year-to-date projection. The report showed overall revenue at 66.298% of budget and appropriations spent at 46.979% as of August 31. August interest receipts were $1,449.34 and year-to-date investment interest was $12,923.44.

Resolutions

Director Report

The Director reviewed staff development planned for October 12; adult and youth programs; work to convert the former book sale room into a Youth Sensory Room; August collection additions; and network and facility matters.

Following notice from the FBI of compromised credentials for the firewall management portal, the Library changed credentials, blocked the affected access point, reported the incident to OPLIN and the Ohio Cyber Integration Center, and consulted its IT vendor. The Director reported that no unauthorized configuration changes or evidence of data access had been found to date.

E-Rate funding approval had been received for the SEO network equipment installation. The Director also described bids and an insurance inquiry concerning lower-level water damage and continuing false fire alarm trouble alerts. No contracts were approved during this report.

Statistics, Gifts, and Other Business

August 2026 library statistics:

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

Financial gifts, August 2026:

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

The Director also reported an in-kind donation from J. Scott Miller of 34 hardback and 11 softcover books.

The Director announced a $2,690 award from the Minerva Community Fund toward the circulating local art project and said a call for artists would follow.

During later discussion, a trustee asked about compensation for the October 12 staff development day. The Board also discussed how its special meeting notice procedure relates to media outlets that request notice. No further action on that notice question was recorded.

Adjournment

Next Meeting

The next regular Board meeting is scheduled for October 22, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room.

Prepared from the meeting recordings, the Board packet, and the secretary's draft notes. Motion makers and seconders follow the secretary's notes. Review and approval by the Board remain pending.