Library Director gets excellent evaluation, plus 2.5% raise

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
Deb Green, Director of the Belleville Area District Library, received an excellent evaluation and a 2.5% raise after an evaluation session by the library board on Sept. 9.
The evaluation had been scheduled for closed-door session, as allowed by the Open Meetings Act, but Green asked for an open session and the agenda was amended.
Green had rejected an offered 2.5% raise after the last two annual evaluations, but this year she accepted the raise.
Her salary was $80,000 before her raise.
Michael Boelter, chairman of the Personnel committee, said the evaluations filled out by board members came out with an average score for Green’s work of 5.3 out of 6.0 on all categories. Last year her evaluation was 5.28 out of 6.0.
Boelter said he met with Green in closed session after the evaluation process and discussed: the need to set goals for the library for 2015; the need to focus more time on operation of the existing library and less on planning a new library (since the seven-member board can do that now; more research on eBooks; and promoting the library.
In other business at the Sept. 9 meeting, the board:
• Authorized the levy of the 0.7 mill Library Operating Millage on the December 2014 tax bill as approved by voters Nov. 2, 2010 to run through Jan. 1, 2022;
• Discussed an eight-page draft survey of library patrons as compiled by board secretary Joy Cichewicz. After discussion, Cichewicz said she would sit down and hone it down to make it shorter. There was discussion on how to disseminate it and it probably will be mailed out. The survey may be discussed at a future meeting;
• Set October forum dates for anyone who has questions or comments on services for a new library or libraries and any other concerns. Tentative dates for the informal sessions were set for: Monday, Oct. 6, 10 a.m.; Friday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m.; Thursday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 17, 1 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m., and Friday, Oct. 24, at 3:30 p.m.; and there may be more. The sessions will be in the library program room or the tutoring room;
• Accepted the auditor’s letter of engagement at the same fee as last year. Alan C. Young & Associates of Detroit will conduct the audit of the district library for the year ended June 30, 2014 at a gross fee not to exceed $6,165; and
• Discussed two proposed policies that will be placed on a future agenda for a vote. One is not allowing petitioning, solicitation, or distribution of literature in the library; and the other concerns a policy that attendance at library events constitutes consent to be photographed for use in print and/or electronic publicity for the library.