Pahrump Community Library
Minutes of the August 12, 2024 Meeting
1. Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 10:04 am.
2. Members Roll Call
In Attendance: Secretary Kelly Green, Trustee Matthew Morris, Trustee Dee Mounts, Vice Chair Michael Runion, Chair Shewalter, Acting Director Shanna Gibbons, Commissioner Frank Carbone, Senior Deputy District Attorney Michelle Nelson, Department Heads Barb and Kim
3. Pledge of Allegiance
Trustee Morris led the Pledge of Allegiance prior to the Call to Order.
4. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT: (*Action will NOT be taken on matters considered during this period until specifically included on an agenda as an action item.)
Ann Underdahl says she is concerned about the library credit card being paid for with petty cash and whether there is a policy in place for that.
Robin Niedecker says it is inconvenient for the bathrooms to be locked and to need to ask for security to open them.
Lora Stewart asks about the radio program and background checks for people working with children.
5. Trustee/Director/Liaison Comments – This item is limited to announcements, brief discussions of public comments, correction of factual inaccuracies, direction to staff, or topics proposed for future board meetings. (Lengthy deliberation of topics not on the agenda is prohibited by the Nevada Open Meeting Law.)
Secretary Green says community members who used Zoom to attend the last meeting told her they had trouble hearing because people were not speaking into the microphone.
Trustee Mounts says Tales with Pebbles will hopefully be up and running within 2-4 weeks.
Chair Shewalter says there was not previously a policy in place for petty cash but it is being taken care of now. There will be background checks for anyone working with children.
Commissioner Carbone says he is happy to see everyone and needs to leave at around 11:00 for another meeting.
With no further comment, item 5 is closed.
6. Approval of August 12, 2024 Agenda (Non-action item)
Chair Shewalter moves to strike item number 7 as there are no emergency items.
Without objection, the August 12, 2024 agenda is approved.
7. For Possible Action: Emergency Items
Item 7 is struck as there are no emergency items.
8. For Possible Action: Discussion and deliberation to approve or amend and approve the meeting minutes for July 8, 2024.
Chair Shewalter makes a motion to approve the meeting minutes for July 8, 2024. Secretary Green seconds the motion.
There is no public comment.
Chair Shewalter thanks Kim for her efforts with the minutes.
Chair Shewalter calls the question to approve the meeting minutes for July 8, 2024. The measure passes 5-0.
9. Presentation: Treasurer’s Report by Shanna Gibbons for discussion of monthly expenditures and revenue for July 2024.
Acting Director Shanna Gibbons reads from her report beginning on page 14 of the backup.
Chair Shewalter asks how often the cash gets taken to the bank. Acting Director Gibbons says about every two weeks.
With no further comment, item 9 is closed.
10. For Possible Action: Discussion and deliberation to approve or amend and approve payment vouchers for July 2024 through August 2024.
Acting Director Gibbons reads from the payment vouchers, petty cash voucher, and credit card breakdown as found beginning on page 16 of the backup.
Trustee Mounts recuses herself because she is on the petty cash reimbursement list.
Chair Shewalter makes a motion to approve the payment vouchers for July 2024 through August 2024. Trustee Morris seconds.
Chair Shewalter calls the question.
The measure passes 4-0 with one recusal.
11. Presentation: Librarian’s Report by Shanna Gibbons and Alysha Wogee for discussion on library activity for July 2024. Report activities include patron traffic, books checked out, books returned, fees collected, online story time, STEAM, internet use, website usage and materials added.
Acting Director Gibbons reads the report beginning on page 19 of the backup.
Chair Shewalter thanks her for her report.
With no further comment, item 11 is closed.
12. For Possible Action: Discussion and deliberation to determine the employee Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA) rate for the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year.
Chair Shewalter says when the COLA raises were applied from last year they were not consistent when they should be and ranged from 4-10%.
Chair Shewalter makes a motion to determine the employee Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA) rate for the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year. Trustee Mounts seconds.
Public comment:
Ann Underdahl says if there is going to be a cost of living adjustment we should make it the same as what seniors get on their Social Security check.
Ginny Okawa agrees.
Robin Niedecker also agrees.
D.M. Franke says she also agrees with the other commenters.
There is no comment from anyone attending via Zoom.
Secretary Green says she is curious what percentage the seniors got for their COLA raises.
Trustee Morris says he is curious isn’t there a standard COLA percentage.
Trustee Mounts says she has the same concern.
Vice Chair Runion says the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and seniors get less than the CPI. He thinks we should tie the COLA to the CPI and cap it at 5% with the floor at 0%.
Chair Shewalter says he appreciates the comments about Social Security. Chair Shewalter amends his motion to use the CPI as the guide with the rate cap from 0-5%. Trustee Mounts seconds.
Chair Shewalter calls the question to use the CPI as the guide with the rate cap from 0-5%.
The amended motion passes 4-1 with one nay from Secretary Green.
13. For Possible Action: Discussion and deliberation to compile information and quotes for a new Point of Sale (POS) system to be presented to the Board for future consideration.
Secretary Green asks about the current POS system.
Chair Shewalter says he thinks a new POS is a great investment.
Chair Shewalter makes a motion to compile information and quotes for a new Point of Sale (POS) system to be presented to the Board for future consideration. Secretary Green seconds.
Public comment:
Tim Bohamon says it is good for the CPA firm to be able to see all the transactions.
Commissioner Carbone says it would be nice for the staff to know when you want to bring it back to the board.
Chair Shewalter consults with Acting Director Gibbons on the timeline and amends his motion to provide 60 days for the staff to compile information and quotes for a new Point of Sale (POS) system to be presented to the Board for future consideration at the October 14th board meeting.
Chair Shewalter calls the question. The measure passes 5-0.
14. For Possible Action: Discussion and deliberation to 1) approve a Scope of Work (SOW) for the painting of the interior of the Library, and 2) Selection of contractor for SOW to be coordinated by Trustee Shewalter and Trustee Runion.
Secretary Green asks about the timeline and whether the library will close for paint and carpet installation.
Vice Chair Runion says the library will need to close for the paint and flooring and staff who are able to work from home can do so.
Secretary Green says she had to pack up a library for carpet and painting and it was a lot of work. Vice Chair Runion says a professional company will wrap and move the shelves.
Chair Shewalter makes a motion to approve a Scope of Work (SOW) for the painting of the interior of the Library, and 2) Selection of contractor for SOW to be coordinated by Trustee Shewalter and Trustee Runion. Trustee Mounts seconds.
Chair Shewalter calls the question. The measure passes 5-0.
15. For Possible Action: Closure of meeting, pursuant to NRS 241.030 for purposes of interviewing applicant Julia Walth for the position of Library Director, including considering the applicant’s character and professional competence.
Chair Shewalter makes a motion to close the meeting pursuant to NRS 241.030 for purposes of interviewing applicant Julia Walth for the position of Library Director, including considering the applicant’s character and professional competence. Trustee Mounts seconds.
Chair Shewalter calls the question to close the meeting. The measure passes 5-0.
16. Closed meeting: pursuant to NRS 241.030 for purposes of conferring and interviewing applicant Julia Walth for the position of Library Director, including considering the applicant’s character and professional competence.
The meeting moves into closed session.
17. For Possible Action: Closure of meeting, pursuant to NRS 241.030 for purposes of interviewing applicant Andrew Karneges for the position of Library Director, including considering the applicant’s character and professional competence.
Chair Shewalter calls the meeting back to order at 11:36 am.
Chair Shewalter makes a motion to close the meeting pursuant to NRS 241.030 for purposes of interviewing applicant Andrew Karneges for the position of Library Director, including considering the applicant’s character and professional competence. Trustee Morris seconds.
Chair Shewalter calls the question to close the meeting. The measure passes 5-0.
18. Closed meeting: pursuant to NRS 241.030 for purposes of conferring and interviewing applicant Andrew Karneges for the position of Library Director, including considering the applicant’s character and professional competence.
The meeting moves into closed session.
19. 11:00 am – For Possible Action: Discussion and deliberation on (1) the interviewing of applicants Julia Walth and Andrew Karneges for the position of Library Director as presented in closed meeting, including considering their character and professional competence, (2) appointment of Library Director from the list of applicants Julia Walth and Andrew Karneges, or (3) direct staff to readvertise for the position of Library Director.
Chair Shewalter calls the meeting back to order at 12:31 pm. He calls a 15 minute recess.
Chair Shewalter calls the meeting back to order at 12:51 pm.
Secretary Green expresses concern about Ms. Walth’s lack of library experience and says Mr. Karneges interviewed well, but says she’d have liked to see more than two candidates.
Trustee Morris says he concurs that two candidates are limiting and that he liked Mr. Karneges’ interview.
Trustee Mounts says she also preferred Mr. Karneges’ interview.
Trustee Runion says that Ms. Walth doesn’t have much library or leadership experience and he would like to see more experience. Mr. Karneges has ties to the community and over twenty years of library experience. He says would also have liked to see more than two candidates but does not see much changing if we readvertise.
Chair Shewalter says Mr. Karneges answered the questions well, whereas he had concerns with Ms. Walth’s interview and current employment in an unrelated field.
Chair Shewalter says Mr. Karneges has obligations to his landlord and current employer that he intends to fulfill before he can start. Chair Shewalter makes a motion to appoint Andrew Karneges as Pahrump Library District’s next Library Director. Vice Chair Runion seconds the motion.
There is no public comment. There is no one on Zoom trying to comment.
Secretary Green says we paid to fly this primarily on Indeed and we didn’t fly it on the ALA job site. It would have cost at the cheapest $324 for a 30 day ad and given us access to resumes of current library job hunters. She hopes for future job searches that we can use that site.
Trustee Morris says we should readvertise the position to have more applicants.
Trustee Mounts says she agrees with picking Mr. Karneges.
Chair Shewalter says we selected the previous director after a year of taking applications. We could have advertised in ALA but there was no petty cash to spend on advertising due to how the petty cash was handled previously.
Chair Shewalter calls the question to appoint Andrew Karneges as Library Director.
The measure passes 4-1 with one nay from Trustee Morris.
20. For Possible Action: Discussion and deliberation regarding (1) start date for the applicant selected for the position of Library Director, (2) the starting salary for the applicant selected for the position of Library Director, and (3) whether to provide for relocation reimbursement to the applicant selected for the position of Library Director in an amount to be determined by the Board, not to exceed $5,000.00.
Secretary Green asks what the last director’s salary was. Chair Shewalter says two years ago it was $70,000 and with the last two years of COLAs $75,000-76,000 is where it would be. Secretary Green says she would agree to a starting salary of the same amount.
Trustee Morris says he does not want to provide relocation reimbursement.
Trustee Mounts says 90 days was what Mr. Karneges proposed for a start date. She thinks relocation and a salary around $70,000 to start is fair.
Vice Chair Runion says the start date should be as soon as possible, and the starting salary should be $76,000 for a highly qualified professional with a master’s degree. We should offer some incentive for relocation not to exceed $5,000.
Chair Shewalter moves to set the start date for December 1, 2024 at a salary of $76,000 annually with relocation reimbursement not to exceed $5,000.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Michelle Nelson says the relocation reimbursement needs to be a set amount.
Chair Shewalter moves to set the start date for December 1, 2024 at a salary of $76,000 annually with relocation reimbursement of $5,000. Trustee Mounts seconds the motion.
Public comment:
Ginny Okawa asks if the relocation costs less than $5,000, does Mr. Karneges get $5,000 or only what his actual expenses are.
Ann Underdahl says relocation funds will be considered income and taxable.
There is no further public comment.
Secretary Green thinks $76,000 is too high and the salary should start at $70,000.
Trustee Morris says we should re-advertise.
Trustee Mounts asks to clarify about the $5,000, and that receipts are required for reimbursement. Chair Shewalter says this is correct.
Trustee Morris says first and last months’ rent is part of the relocation and that alone could be $5,000.
Chair Shewalter says 2 years ago we hired our former director and very shortly afterward her salary was set at $70,000. If you add the last couple of years of COLA raises it would have been $75,000-76,000 and that was why his motion was for $76,000. We provided relocation to our former director as well.
Chair Shewalter calls the question to set the start date for December 1, 2024 at a salary of $76,000 annually with relocation reimbursement of $5,000.
The measure passes 3-2 with nays from Secretary Green and Trustee Morris.
21. For Possible Action: Discussion and deliberation to (1) reassign Shanna Gibbons to the position of Assistant Director and (2) set the date that the reassignment of Shanna Gibbons is to become effective.
Vice Chair Runion says he hates having to reassign Acting Director Gibbons back to Assistant Director.
Chair Shewalter says he must echo Mr. Runion’s comments.
Chair Shewalter makes a motion to (1) reassign Shanna Gibbons to the position of Assistant Director and (2) set the date of that reassignment to be effective December 1, 2024.
Public comment:
Ann Underdahl says she is confused and wants to clarify that Ms. Gibbons was already the Assistant Director before becoming Acting Director.
Ginny Okawa says she wants to thank Shanna for the great job she is doing.
D.M. Franke says we all agree and thanks Shanna.
There is no further public comment.
Trustee Morris says everyone agrees Shanna is a wonderful Director and Assistant Director. Trustee Mounts agrees.
Chair Shewalter says he would give Shanna consideration as director, but the employee manual stipulates that the director must hold a Master of Library Science degree. We could change that, but hired a director without a Master of Library Science degree, we would lose access to the grants we have access to.
Chair Shewalter calls the question to reassign Shanna Gibbons to the Assistant Director position on December 1, 2024.
The measure passes 5-0.
22. Trustee/Director/Liaison Comments: - This item is limited to announcements, brief discussions of public comments, correction of factual inaccuracies, direction to staff, or topics proposed for future board meetings. (Lengthy deliberation of topics not on the agenda is prohibited by the Nevada Open Meeting Law.)
Acting Director Gibbons says thanks to everyone for the kind words.
Secretary Green says to watch the petty cash charges for next month.
Trustee Morris has no comment.
Trustee Mounts thanks everyone for coming.
Vice Chair Runion has no comment.
Chair Shewalter says locking the restrooms is not a decision that was taken lightly.
23. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 1:32 pm.