Members Present: Jennifer Doll, James Leonard, Heather McMullen, Amy Wise

Members Excused: Kenneth Cheatham, C. Racyne Leskanic, Holly Perry

Also Present: Ann Hutchison, Director; Josh Brickner, Fiscal Officer; Melissa Futrell, Deputy Fiscal Officer; Glennis Siegfried, Reference Services Libarian 

President Doll called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 

Hutchison reported that the Friends of the Library rescheduled their January 2025 meeting and will hold a book sale on Saturday, February 28. 

President Doll called for the nomination of officers.

Moved by McMullen, seconded by Wise, to nominate Doll as President, Leonard as Vice President, and Cheatham as Secretary. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Wise. Nays: None. Motion carried.               

Moved by McMullen, seconded by Leonard, to close the nominations. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Wise. Motion carried.

Resolution 1-2026 Moved by McMullen, seconded by Wise, to accept the slate of officers as follows: Doll as President, Leonard as Vice President, and Cheatham as Secretary. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Wise. Nays: None. Resolution adopted.

Doll appointed the following committees for 2026: 

Building and Equipment – Leonard (Chair), Leskanic, and Perry

Finance and Audit – McMullen (CH), Leskanic, and Wise

Personnel – Cheatham (CH), Perry, and Wise

Summit County Trustees Council – Wise (delegate) and Doll (alternate)

Moved by Leonard, seconded by McMullen, to schedule all regular Board meetings for 2026 on the following dates: January 22, February 26, March 26, April 23, May 28, June 25, July 23, August 27, September 24, October 22, November 19, and December 17. All meetings will start at 6:30 p.m. The Public Records Commission will meet prior to the June meeting. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Wise. Nays: None. Motion carried.

Brickner informed the Board that he would be unable to attend the March 26 meeting, as he will be in Columbus to attend the Ohio Library Council’s 2026 CPIM Public Library Fiscal Officer Conference. 

Moved by Wise, seconded by Leonard, to accept the minutes of the December 2025 Board meeting. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Wise. Nays: None. Motion carried. 

­Director’s Report

Circulation: Hutchison reviewed the December 2025 statistics, noting that 2025 circulation was up 2.39% over 2024. 

Futrell left the meeting at 6:40 p.m.

Programs & Publicity: Hutchison distributed the December 2025 publicity packet and highlighted several recent and upcoming programs. 

Futrell reentered the meeting at 6:47 p.m.

Donations: Gifts were received from the following individuals in December 2025: Doug & Carla McBain, $250.00, to be used for Children's and Teen services; Anonymous, $20.00.

Moved by McMullen, seconded by Leonard, to accept the donations. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Wise. Nays: None. Motion carried. 

Mission Moment: Hutchison presented the Board with the 2025 year-end review and highlighted the Library’s impact within the community over the past year.

Other: Hutchison shared information on the Library’s annual Staff Development Day, to be held on Monday, February 16, 2026. 

Fiscal Officer’s Report

The Public Library Fund tax distribution for December 2025 for the Barberton Public Library was $94,163.68. 

Brickner reviewed the financial reports, bank reconciliations, reappropriations, and bills paid for the month of December 2025.

Moved by Wise, seconded by Leonard, to accept the financial reports, bank reconciliations, reappropriations, and bills paid for the month of December 2025. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Wise. Nays: None. Motion carried.

Brickner reviewed the final audit report for the 2023-24 audit, noting that BPL had been awarded its first Outstanding Achievement in Open and Transparent Government by the Auditor of State.

Committee Reports

Building and Equipment Committee: No meeting was held. 

Finance and Audit Committee: No meeting was held.

Personnel Committee: No meeting was held. 

Marketing Committee: No meeting was held.

Summit County Library Trustees Council: No meeting was held.  

Communications and Correspondence 

OLC Legislative Update: Hutchison informed the Board that the Ohio Library Council’s annual trustee workshop is Saturday, March 7, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and encouraged all Board members to consider attending the event virtually from the Library as an informal Board retreat. 

Community Correspondence: None.

Old Business

Brickner informed the Board that the IRS standard mileage reimbursement rate for 2026 was 72.5¢ per mile. 

Resolution 2-2026 Moved by McMullen, seconded by Leonard, to allow mileage reimbursement of Library-approved use of a private vehicle in 2026 at the rate of 72.5¢ per business mile driven, as adopted by the Internal Revenue Service, effective January 1, 2026. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Wise. Nays: None. Resolution adopted. 

There was a discussion regarding the vacant Facility Services Assistant position. 

New Business 

Moved by McMullen, seconded by Wise, to accept the resignation of Customer Services Page Sydney Greenlees, effective January 24, 2026.  Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Wise. Nays: None. Motion carried. 

Moved by McMullen, seconded by Leonard, to accept the resignation of Facility Services Manager Timothy Thrasher, effective February 6, 2026. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Wise. Nays: None. Motion carried. 

Resolution 3-2026 Moved by McMullen, seconded by Wise to appoint Josh Brickner full-time Fiscal Officer and Melissa Futrell full-time Deputy Fiscal Officer at their current compensation. Both appointments are to be for one year, and the Fiscal Officer is to be bonded for $75,000. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Wise. Nays: None. Resolution adopted.

Hutchison left the meeting at 7:15 p.m. and reentered the meeting with Siegfried at 7:19 p.m.

Siegfried administered the oath of office to Brickner and Futrell.

"Do you solemnly affirm that you will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Ohio and impartially discharge your duties as Fiscal Officer and Deputy Fiscal Officer of the Barberton Public Library, to the best of your ability, and in accordance with the laws now in effect and hereinafter to be enacted, during your continuance in said office, and until your successor is selected and qualified?” Their reply was "I do."

Siegfried left the meeting at 7:21 p.m.

A personnel committee meeting was scheduled for February 26, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. 

Moved by McMullen to adjourn the meeting at 7:25 p.m. Ayes: Doll, Leonard, McMullen, and Wise. Nays: None. Motion carried.