Manitowoc Public Library Board Meeting – June 22, 2026
Manitowoc Public Library Board Meeting – June 22, 2026
The Manitowoc Public Library Board met on Monday, June 22, 2026, at 5:03 p.m. in the Library Board Room and via Zoom. Only five of ten trustees were present (Peters, Doneff, Pauwels, Goetz, Able), lacking a quorum. No official votes were taken; all action items were postponed to the next meeting.
Public Comments
No members of the public addressed the board.
Discussion Items
Financial Reports: The board reviewed budget status reports for April and May 2026 (Funds 2810 and 2813). Treasurer Chris Able clarified an accounting notation where a negative figure indicated funds received (e.g., a $10,000 Library of Congress grant). Due to the lack of quorum, the reports were not approved and will be included on the next meeting's agenda.
Administrative Reports: Director reported on operations, thanking the Master Gardeners for landscaping work, June for homeown services, Max for IT support, and Betty for 20 years of service in youth services. The board noted the American Library Association conference occurring that week, with several staff attending. A one‑to‑one literacy training story was also highlighted.
New Business:
- Nominating Committee Update: The committee proposed the following slate for the 2026‑2027 board year: President – Pam Brick, Vice President – Darian Kaderabek, Treasurer – Chris Able (one more year). Voting will take place at the July meeting; nominations may also be made from the floor.
- Board Appointments: Re‑appointments were confirmed for Darian Kaderabek, Michelle Doneff, and Stephanie Peters (three‑year terms). Lynn Keehan was introduced as a new trustee, replacing Basil O’Connor; she was unable to attend but will join in July.
- Employee Policy Manual Update: The director presented a city‑wide policy manual update that does not affect library employees. The update includes a provision for potential future conflicts of interest but does not supersede the library board’s statutory authority over the library director.
Old Business – Facilities and Building Updates:
- First‑floor renovation: Work continues in the Manitowoc history area, with plans to complete a large section of fiction and nonfiction by end of summer.
- South‑side renovation: The project received no bids initially; it was re‑bid and opened again on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Bids close July 8. Meetings with Hammond Construction are ongoing.
- Family restrooms: Design quotes have been received; a formal bid process may follow.
- HVAC controls: New digital controls were recently installed, and training was completed. The system now allows easy temperature adjustments by zone, improving comfort and efficiency.
- Seagull mitigation: The library is using a depredation method (soaking eggs under DNR guidance) and is exploring a wire‑grid system from a Milwaukee company to deter nesting on the roof. Coordination with the city continues, as other downtown buildings face similar issues.
Key Outcomes
- No motions were passed due to the lack of a quorum.
- The April and May 2026 meeting minutes were presented without amendment and will be considered approved as posted.
- Financial reports for April and May 2026 will be re‑presented for approval at the July meeting.
- The nominating committee’s slate will be voted on in July.
- Board appointments were acknowledged; new trustee Lynn Keehan will begin in July.
- Facilities projects (south‑side renovation, family restrooms, HVAC training, seagull control) remain in progress.
Meeting Transcript
And we'll see one question. My phone apparently sticks. Okay, here we go. I know it's telling you. I know. It's good to start with a quote like that. It's just gonna be so great. All right. Thank you all for being here. We're going to start the library board meetings here by calling it to order. Uh second thing on the agenda our request amends. Anybody want to amend any part of the order so that they can get out of here for okay? That's great. So next we have public comment. And we will call public comment a third time. And hearing no one asking to do public comment, we will there with closed public comment. Moving on to noting the minutes. Seeing none, we will move on. Do I include them absolutely? You don't need to include them next month because technically, per Robert's rules, you are not required to have approval of the minutes. You simply have the minutes presented so that people have a chance to amend them. Okay. So now we can post them. So we can post them. They go through. You do not require an approval. Merely Nextend is longer long. Yep. Okay. Thank you. Next we have the financial reports, which we will not be approving for lack of a quorum. However, we will happily take questions and concerns. I had a question, and this is probably just on how to read it. But on page one, at the very bottom, you need to tell me which one you're looking at. Oh, sorry, the one that says on 2810 or 2813, and is it April or May? Can I look at it? It's the one it looks like. Yeah. 2810, and this is April, the fourth period. Yes. So it's 28, 10, 40. Yes. All right. Um on the first page, it says we have here to date a moment, $10,000. Yep. Then it says next we have minus $10,000 because that's a variation, I guess, from last year. Is that how I read that? Well, from the period before. Okay. Okay.
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