Fitchburg Library Board Meeting Summary – September 16, 2026

The Fitchburg Library Board met on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, to approve routine reports, review the 2027 budget, hear the library director's update, and enter closed session for the director's evaluation. All votes were voice votes; no vote totals were recorded in the transcript.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the August meeting minutes after correcting the record to show that a member listed as participating via Zoom had actually been absent.
• Approved the June 26 financial register and overview. The finance report noted summer performer expenses, outside printing through Sprint Print because of copier overage fees, and a return to normal spending in account 387 after the spring system outage prevented ordering.

Discussion Items

• 2027 budget review: The library director reported that the mayor's proposed budget increases the library levy amount by $33,890 to offset salary increases, insurance increases for benefits and building coverage, and a steep increase in IT capital. Net new construction was reported at 2.4, and the budget carries a 4% increase. The utility account for MGE power is set at $90,000, up from $70,000, and building repairs are restored to $10,000 from $5,000. A prior $3 overage was corrected, leaving $2 in the budget.
• Future budget concern: The director said the library will likely need another increase next year for a new position required to meet standards.
• Administrative services: The proposed administrative services line is up about 6%, attributed mainly to city departments adding staff and cost-of-living increases. The fee is based on FTE counts; the library is a separate fund and receives an FTE equivalency. The board discussed inviting Finance Director Misty Dodge and IT Manager Nick Joseph to explain the costs more fully.
• Draft budget correction: A zero amount listed for custodial supplies was identified as an error; the correct amount remains $4,000, and the director said she would fix it.
• Agenda amendment: The board voted to move items 9D and 9E before item 9C so Wendy, the library director, could leave after those items and not return for the closed session.
• Budget schedule: The mayor's proposed budget will be published Friday, September 18; referred to the Common Council on September 22; department presentations to the finance committee are September 29 and 30; the public hearing is October 13; amendments are due October 14; and final budget approval is November 10. The library exemption resolution has been delayed but is due by the end of October, so the director said there is no timing issue.

Library Director Report

• Holds numbers are still unavailable in the new library system, and checkout and renewal totals appear to be 1,000 to 2,000 lower per month than June through August of last year. This may be a system issue or a real usage decline; other libraries in the system report similar concerns.
• Summer reading and program numbers were strong.
• Facilities: no report. Personnel: the library is fully staffed. Strategic planning: no report yet, but work will restart during the fall in-service.
• Outreach Librarian Minda Maurer won South Central's Patron Advocate Award; the director nominated her for the award in recognition of her community outreach work.

Closed Session

• The board voted to enter closed session under Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(c) to discuss a personnel issue, specifically the evaluation of the library director. Tim and Wendy were excused for the closed-session portion.
• The board reconvened in open session at 6:52 p.m.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the August meeting minutes and the June 26 financial register and overview by voice vote.
• Approved the 2027 budget for transmittal through the city budget process by voice vote.
• Amended the meeting agenda to reorder items 9D and 9E before 9C by voice vote.
• Held a closed session to evaluate the library director and reconvened in open session.
• Next regular meeting: October 21 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m.