Members Present: Jennifer Doll, James Leonard, C. Racyne Leskanic, Heather McMullen, Holly Perry, Amy Wise
Members Excused: Kenneth Cheatham
Also Present: Ann Hutchison, Director; Josh Brickner, Fiscal Officer; Melissa Futrell, Deputy Fiscal Officer
President Doll called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Hutchison reported that the Friends of the Library earned $1,035.00 at their May 2026 book sale and donated $356.00 to the Library’s levy committee.
Moved by Leskanic, seconded by Perry, to accept the minutes of the April 2026 Board meeting. Ayes: Leonard, Leskanic, McMullen, Perry, and Wise. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Director’s Report
Circulation: Hutchison reviewed the April 2026 statistics.
Programs & Publicity: Hutchison distributed the April 2026 publicity packet and highlighted several recent and upcoming programs of note.
Donations: Gifts were received from the following individuals in April 2026: Elysia DeLaurentis, Lincoln School classroom photos, c. 1920's; Patricia Shultz, $123.00, in honor of BPL's 123rd anniversary; Joseph Vernacotola, Assorted Barberton City School District records and memorabilia. Additionally, Summer Reading Challenge prizes were donated by the following community partners: Akron Children's Museum, Akron Fossils and Science Center, Akron RubberDucks, Applebee's, Durbin Magic Freeze, East of Chicago Pizza, Kave, Lake 8 Movies, McDonald's, Ramseyer Farms, and Skoops Ice Cream.
Moved by Leskanic, seconded by McMullen, to accept the donations. Ayes: Leonard, Leskanic, McMullen, Perry, and Wise. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Mission Moment: Hutchison highlighted programming and outreach efforts from the Children’s Department, and shared feedback about Children’s Services Manager Alison Huey’s impact within the community.
Other: Hutchison informed the Board that the Children’s Department would be hosting a practicum student over the summer, security service hours would be rearranged to provide coverage at BPL on Friday afternoons, and that she was working with Palitto Consulting to plan a replacement schedule for BPL’s public and staff computer workstations.
Fiscal Officer’s Report
The Public Library Fund tax distribution for April 2026 for the Barberton Public Library was $94,545.36.
Brickner reviewed the financial reports, bank reconciliations, reappropriations, and bills paid for the month of April 2026.
Moved by Leonard, seconded by Wise, to accept the financial reports, bank reconciliations, reappropriations, and bills paid for the month of April 2026. Ayes: Leonard, Leskanic, McMullen, Perry, and Wise. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Brickner presented the 2027 tax budget.
Resolution 9-2026: Moved by Perry, seconded by Leonard, to approve the 2027 tax budget as presented. Ayes: Leonard, Leskanic, McMullen, Perry, and Wise. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Futrell presented the Board with a request to reallocate and increase the Library’s petty cash on hand.
Resolution 10-2026: Moved by McMullen, seconded by Wise, to increase and reallocate the Library’s petty cash as presented. Ayes: Leonard, Leskanic, McMullen, Perry, and Wise. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Committee Reports
Building and Equipment Committee: No meeting was held.
Finance and Audit Committee: No meeting was held.
Personnel Committee: No meeting was held.
Summit County Trustees Council: No meeting was held.
Communications and Correspondence
OLC Legislative Update: None.
Community Correspondence: None.
Old Business
None.
New Business
Resolution 11-2026: Moved by Wise, seconded by McMullen, to hire part-time Customer Services Library Assistant Dakota Noland, effective May 18, 2026. Ayes: Leonard, Leskanic, McMullen, Perry, and Wise. Nays: None. Resolution adopted.
Moved by McMullen, seconded by Perry, to accept the resignation of Children’s Services Libarian Marcus Nicholson, effective May 29, 2026. Ayes: Leonard, Leskanic, McMullen, Perry, and Wise. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Moved by Wise, seconded by Leonard, to move to executive session to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of an employee or official at 7:02 p.m. Roll call: Doll, aye; Leonard, aye; Leskanic, aye; McMullen, aye; Perry, aye; Wise, aye. The meeting returned to regular session at 7:09 p.m.
There was a discussion regarding the Trustee term expiring on June 30, 2026. Leskanic stated that she did not wish to be reappointed to a new term.
Moved by McMullen to adjourn the meeting at 7:10 p.m.