Members Present: Jennifer Doll, Jim Leonard, Heather McMullen, Holly Perry
Members Excused: Amy Wise
Also Present: Ann Hutchison, Director; Josh Brickner, Fiscal Officer; Melissa Futrell, Deputy Fiscal Officer; Sarah Massey, Technical Services Manager
President Doll called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m.
Hutchison reported that the Friends of the Library would hold their next book sale on the weekend of the Barberton Mum Festival, September 25-26, 2026.
President Doll called for the nomination of a Secretary to fill the vacancy left by Kenneth Cheatham’s resignation from the Board.
Moved by Leonard seconded by McMullen, to nominate Perry as Secretary and close the nominations. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Perry. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Resolution 16-2026 Moved by McMullen, seconded by Leonard, to appoint Perry as Secretary for the remainder of 2026. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Perry. Nays: None. adopted.
President Doll offered to serve as the Personnel Committee chair until a new member could be appointed to the committee. The appointment was accepted by the Board members present.
Moved by Perry, seconded by McMullen, to accept the minutes of the July 2026 meeting. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Perry. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Director’s Report
Circulation: Hutchison reviewed the July 2026 statistics.
Programs & Publicity: Hutchison distributed the publicity packet and highlighted several recent and upcoming programs.
Donations: John Anushock, Five Cat's Meow Village buildings; Larry Hazard, Lake, Park, and Lyric Theater ads, circa 1938; Pam Jacobs, Assorted Barberton memorabilia; In memory of Linda Moyers, $495.00; Elizabeth Murry, Jeep Davis memorabilia; Barberton Slovene Center, Slovene Center memorabilia; Anonymous (Notary customer), $5.00.
Moved by McMullen, seconded by Leonard, to accept the donations. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Perry. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Department Update: Massey shared an update from the Technical Services Department, highlighting departmental statistics, staffing, and special projects.
Massey left the meeting at 6:49 p.m.
Other: Hutchison shared updates about several collaborations with local agencies.
Fiscal Officer’s Report
The Public Library Fund tax distribution for July 2026 for the Barberton Public Library was $94,152.00.
Brickner provided information and updates about the Public Library Fund.
Brickner reviewed the financial reports, bank reconciliations, reappropriations, and bills paid for the month of July 2026.
Moved by Perry, seconded by Leonard, to accept the financial reports, bank reconciliations, reappropriations, and bills paid for the month of July 2026. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Perry. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Resolution 17-2026 Moved by McMullen, seconded by Perry, to accept the amounts and rates as determined by the Summit County Budget Commission for collection year 2027 and authorize the necessary tax levies and certify them to the Summit County Fiscal Officer. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Perry. Nays: None. Resolution adopted.
Resolution 18-2026 McMullen called for the adoption of a resolution authorizing and requesting the advancement of local taxes from the Summit County Fiscal Officer for the tax year 2026, payable in 2027, in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code (ORC), section 321.34, and declaring an emergency.
Whereas section 321.34 of the ORC states that all local governments must file a resolution with the county Fiscal Office each year to receive advance payment of local taxes, now therefore be it resolved by the Board of Trustees of the Barberton Public Library, County of Summit, and State of Ohio:
Section 1. That the Board of Trustees of the Barberton Public Library hereby authorizes the advance of local taxes by the County Fiscal Officer for the 2026 tax year, payable in 2027, to the extent appropriate and feasible.
Section 2. That it is found and determined that all formal actions of this Board concerning and relating to the adoption of this resolution were adopted in an open meeting of this Board and that all deliberations of this Board and of any of its committees that resulted in such formal action were in meetings open to the public, in compliance with all legal requirements.
Section 3. That the Fiscal Officer of the Library is authorized and directed to forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Fiscal Officer of Summit County, Ohio.
Section 4. That this Resolution is hereby declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the on-going operations of the public library because the Barberton Public Library is dependent on the advancement of tax funds to balance its budget in 2027, and this action shall take effect upon its adoption by the Trustees, otherwise at the earliest period allowed by law.
Leonard seconded the resolution. The vote for its adoption resulted as follows: Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Perry. Nays: None. Resolution adopted.
Committee Reports
Building and Equipment Committee: No meeting was held.
Finance and Audit Committee: No meeting was held.
Personnel Committee: Hutchison gave a report of the meeting held on August 18, 2026.
Summit County Trustees Council: No meeting was held.
Communications and Correspondence
OLC Legislative Update: None.
Community Correspondence: None.
Old Business
There was a discussion regarding the current Trustee vacancies.
New Business
Hutchison presented a draft of the Library’s 2027 Operating Calendar.
Resolution 18-2026 Moved by Perry, seconded by Leonard, to accept the Library’s 2027 Operating Calendar as presented. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Perry. Nays: None. Resolution adopted.
Hutchison presented the Board with several staffing updates and recommendations.
Resolution 19-2026 Moved by Leonard, seconded by McMullen, to hire full-time Children’s Services Librarian Abigail Geiser, effective August 31, 2026. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Perry. Nays: None. Resolution adopted.
Resolution 20-2026 Moved by Perry, seconded by McMullen, to approve the Technology Manager job description as presented. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Perry. Nays: None. Resolution adopted.
Resolution 21-2026 Moved by McMullen, seconded by Perry, to approve the updated starting salaries as presented. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Perry. Nays: None. Resolution adopted.
Moved by McMullen to adjourn the meeting at 7:28 p.m.