Live reporting by
Breone Dupree
Regular meeting of the Indianapolis Public Library Board of Trustees
Hi everyone, I’ll be live tweeting the Indianapolis Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting at 6:30pm for #IndyDocumenters. Media Partners: @indydocumenters @mirrorindy
05:27 PM Aug 26, 2024 CDT
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy We're hearing a report on the 1-year update of the opening of the Fort Ben Branch.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Fort Ben is the first branch in the system to be registered as a certified Autism Center.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Volunteers do a variety of jobs such as craft projects for kids and weeding out the DVD collection. With 7 volunteers on staff, it's a testament to the services and impact of the branch.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy If you're into the data, here are some of the statistics. There were over 21.9 million minutes logged.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Kan-Kan Cinema & restaurant, Nine Lives Cat Cafe, and Eagle Creek Park Foundation are some noted community supporters given thanks by Helling for their generously donated grand prizes.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Flannelley speaks on reasonable accommodations for applicants with special needs
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Meeting meetings from July 22nd & Aug 13th were unanimously approved by the board.
If you'd like to know about the Good Wage Initiative that Dr. White is speaking of you can learn more here: employindy.org/goodwages/
employindy.org/goodwages/
This is a discussion for Appropriations and Tax Rates. The motion carried 5-1.
The next order of business is Resolution 49-2024. It received a positive recommendation from committee and passed this board unanimously.
Biederman speaks briefly on the Diversity, Policy, and Human Resources Committee updates. Adams then introduced introduces the Facilities Committee resolutions.
Resolution 51-2024 provides modular study rooms at East 38th Branch. 52-2024 will be taken into consideration together. It's for the Haughville Branch furniture purchase.
The vendor is a quality vendor though not an X BE organization and there are no required XBE subcontractors for these resolutions.
Dr. Murtadha is concerned that we're following a great process, but that maybe we need to reconsider it to engage more XBE organizations instead of leaning on the fact that we already have hit 40% XBE participation overall instead of possibly increasing that percentage.
Dr. Palacio is concerned we may be creating a monopoly if we continue to lean into one approved vendor without consideration for allowing others to participate in the process. Dr. White warns that we also want to be budget-minded with our decisions and cost conscious.
Resolution 53-2024 explained. No public comment on this resolution. Resolution carries.
Murtadha brings up her concern with the lack of XBE vendors on another project. Adams couldn't tell her how we know it wouldn't be cost effective to use an XBE. The attorney on the board explained that they were already on site so it's cost effective and efficient.
Resolution 55-2024 does make use of an XBE for this project. Palacio thanks Adams for trying to save money. Motion carries unanimously.
Resolution 56-2024 1% of the work will be completed by an XBE. Motion carries.
Resolution 59-2024 is a phase project where business will continue and there will be dust and noise in response to Palacio's question. There will be abatement per Adams to protect guests. Motion carries.
Adams is actually Adam Parsons. My apologies. He has been presenting the resolutions and is the Chief Operational Services Officer for IndyPL.
Biederman presented the Library Foundation report and we see the CEO Report Resolution carry unanimously.
New Business: • Task force to support fair wage initiative as proposed by White. What models can be used to create equitable wage increases. Include all stakeholders effected by this major change including the fiscal team and legal.
The group goes into a deep conversation over how to handle the concerns around wages.
The motion to create a task force around the wage initiative passes unanimously and will be presented at the September meeting. A discussion on XBE participation is also being added to the agenda for the next meeting.