Board Meeting Minutes – 11/19/21

Meeting was called to order at 10:05a.m. Pledge was said. Present were John Shewalter, Dave Ochenreider, Kameron Mitchell, Dee Mounts and Shanna Gibbons. Brian Shoemake was an excused absence due to illness. Guests present were Alysha Wogee, Barbara Wieder, and various members of the public.

Trustee/Director Comments: None

Approval of Agenda/Consent of agenda: Dave Ochenreider made a motion to amend the agenda by striking agenda item 7 (Emergency Items), and Kameron Mitchell seconded the motion and the motion carried. 

Public Comment: Jane Goodrow raised a concern about the director position and the board wanting to get rid of the Master of Library Science degree requirement. A director will have to have a Master’s degree once the population hits 50,000 people. She also handed a paper on the Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records to the board, and a typed statement she read during the meeting (see attached). 
CJ Stevens asked if there is public comment on possible action items? The answer was yes. 

Emergency Items: Item was stricken.

Approval of Minutes from October 20, 2021 meeting: Kameron Mitchell made a motion to accept the minutes of the previous meeting; Dee Mounts seconded and the motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report: (attached) Shanna Gibbons reviewed.

Discussion and Deliberation to approve vouchers: Dave Ochenreider made a motion to approve the vouchers, and Dee Mounts seconded the motion and it carried. Vouchers were signed by board members.

Librarian’s report: Shanna Gibbons discussed the Librarian’s Report (attached). 

Discussion and Deliberation to 1) approve or amend and approve or reject the Pahrump Community Library Personnel Policy Director Qualifications (page 37) to read, “Graduate of a College or University with a degree related to Library Science, Social Science, Business, Public Administration or commensurate experience. Three years of professional Library experience, including at least one year as a Librarian in charge of a small Library or in charge of a major division of a large Library” and 2) amend or remove the Special Requirements section of the Pahrump Community Library Personnel Policy Director Qualifications: Dave Ochenreider made a motion to accept, Dee Mounts seconded the motion and it carried. The board opened the floor for public comment.

CJ Stevens is familiar with what it means to be a director and that the board cannot expect the staff to fulfill everything. It has been 8 months since last director left. She urges the board to hire a person who has a Masters in Library Science. She also handed in a copy of her statement (see attached).

The board got into a discussion about the Master of Library Science degree requirement. Kameron Mitchell and Dee Mounts were nays against the motion of removing the requirement. Whereas John Shewalter and Dave Ochenreider were yay’s for the motion. Since the motion was 50/50, it failed. 

Discussion and Deliberation to repost the Library Director Job listing: Dave Ochenreider made a motion to table the action and Dee Mounts seconded it. The motion was tabled.

General public comment: CJ Stevens- She thanked the board for keeping the Master of Library Science degree requirement. She also stated that there was a motion to hire Manda Smith-Collins at the June 18th, 2021 meeting. She was concerned for she could find no record on when the board decided not to hire her. She included a typed statement of her speech and the board meeting minutes from June 18th, 2021. 
Diane Brooks- Asked the board about having a time limit on when a new director will be hired. She also thanked the board for keeping the Master in Library Science degree requirement.

Trustee/Directors/Liaison Comments: Shanna Gibbons stated that the library is having a homeless patron’s issue. She is looking up possible solutions to fix the problem. 

Adjournment: Kameron Mitchell made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Dee Mounts made a second and the meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m. 

ARCHIVED MINUTES