RUPERT J.
SMITH LAW LIBRARY OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY, INC.
Meeting
Minutes - June 1, 2007 at 11:00 a.m.
Honorable
Trustees Attending: Honorable Burton C. Conner, and James T. Walker,
Esquire, Jim Wilder, Anthony Guettler
and Paula A. Lewis,
Trustees
Absent: Anthony
Guettler
Others
Attending: Lynn
T. Atkinson, Secretary
Others
Absent: Nora
Everlove, Librarian
I. Previous Minutes:
Mr.
Walker moved approval of the minutes as presented, Mr. Wilder seconded the
motion and it was carried unanimously.
II. Financial Statements:
The financial statements for the
months of March and April 2007 (see copies attached here and made a part
hereof) distributed to all via e-mail by St. Lucie County Finance prior to the
meeting. Mr. Wilder stated that
everything looked normal. Judge Conner
asked about the WestLaw Online billing.
Ms. Everlove sent a memo (see Exhibit “A”) a copy attached to and made a
part of the minutes) to the Trustees to inform them of the fact that the
WestLaw online account had not been paid to date due to a dispute in the amount
of the billing. Judge Conner voiced a
concern about the outstanding bills. Mr.
Walker advised that this had been an ongoing matter over the years. Further discussion was had on the matter and
it was agreed that the matter would be left up to Ms. Everlove to resolve in a
timely fashion and to keep the Trustees informed. Mr. Walker moved to approve the financial
statements as presented. Mr. Wilder
seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.
III. Space Needs:
Judge Conner informed the Trustees
that the only information he had concerning the renovation of the old clerk’s
building is that he received a copy of the 90 per cent completion plans. He advised that he doesn’t see any changes as
far as the shelving in the space and that hopefully Ms. Everlove was able to
get in contact with Paul Drittenbas concerning the shelving plans. Judge Conner further advised from what he understands,
nothing has changed as far as the time line and what the plans are as far as
space.
Mr. Walker asked if there was any
last minute effort to surreptitiously
sneak the hallway back in that was taken out. Judge Conner said, no. In fact, the hallway, toward the back,
conceptually at this point, will be, if a judge chooses to use it, it will be
an access for the office on that end of the building. There is going to be an elevator that can be
accessed by the judges from the basement
to go up to the fourth floor.
So, rather than having a judge
come in on the west side of the addition and walk all the way through the
complex to get to the fourth floor on the opposite end, there is a way that
they can come through the door at the law library in the back end, which will
be a keycard door, and then go up the elevator in the basement to the fourth
floor.
Judge Conner further advised that
Court Security is contending that because there is a public entrance at the law
library on the basement, there will be a Wackenhut Officer and a metal detector
there for security reasons.
(Commissioner Lewis arrived at this point in the meeting). Ms. Lewis advised that as far as the budget
is concerned, what is there, is there, they are not taking anything away from
what has already been committed to.
Judge Conner’s question is who is responsible for the cost of the
security. Mr. Walker advised that he
felt that since it is required by the Sheriff’s Office for courthouse security,
then this would be a Sheriff’s expense.
Judge Conner advised that he would speak with the Sheriff to confirm who is paying for the security.
IV. Judicial Portrait:
Judge Conner advised that there are
only two judges who missed the photo session, Judge Bryan and Judge
Hershey. Judge Bryan has already had his
makeup photo taken. Judge Hershey has
been contacted several times concerning having his photo taken. Judge Conner has agreed to send an e-mail to
Judge Hershey concerning this. Ms.
Atkinson presented a copy of the proof(s) that she had picked up from
Hightower/Staten Photography, advising that the proof(s) had not been touched
up in any way. The picture was only to
find out who had not been present at the original photo session.
V. St. Lucie West Computer:
Mr. Walker advised that Ms. Everlove
received e-mail correspondence from John Kevin Griffin, Esquire, outgoing
president of the St. Lucie County Bar Association, concerning the computer at
the St. Lucie West branch. Mr. Walker
read the e-mail into the minutes (see Exhibit “B”). Judge Conner expressed a concern that this
may be a problem in the main library as well.
Judge Conner stated that he would be happy to address this issue at the
St. Lucie County Bar Luncheon and to let them know that the matter is being
addressed.
Mr. Walker stated that this is one of the
reasons we wanted to have a Port St. Lucie Bar Association representative as a
member of the Board of Trustees so that we could get diligent feedback on the
state of the St. Lucie West facility and appropriate concern and pressure to
make sure that the Bar is well served there.
Judge Conner suggested that Ms.
Atkinson send an e-mail to Ms. Everlove to look at the problem in St. Lucie
West and to make sure that there is no problem in the main Law Library.
Mr. Walker made a motion to
authorize an expenditure of up to $1,000.00 to bring the St. Lucie West
Computer and Printer are current and operating properly, this expenditure may
include, but is not limited to software licensing and necessary software programs. Mr. Wilder seconded the motion and it was
carried unanimously.
VI. Law Library Reception:
Mr. Walker stated that the Law
Library Reception went well. The
Hometown News had a very nice feature article on the reception and the Bar News
would contain an article as well in it’s next issue. Mr. Walker thanked Commissioner Lewis and
Judge Conner for their participation and assistance. Mr. Wilder apologized for his absence as he
was attending the State Literacy Conference during that time.
VII. Council of Social Agencies:
Mr. Wilder advised that we are
scheduled to give a fifteen minute presentation on July 18, 2007 at 8:15 a.m.
at the Health Department. There are
generally between 36 and 40 people from various social agencies around the
county that attend the monthly meeting.
Ms. Everlove is not available and Judge Conner will be on vacation at
that time, so it was decided that Mr. Walker would try give the
presentation. If Mr. Walker is unable,
then perhaps Merrilyn from the Law Library could be prevailed upon to give the
presentation. Mr. Wilder’s expected
outcome of the presentation would be for the social agencies to have a better
understanding of what is available through the Law Library so that they can pass
this information along to their clients and to the general public.
VIII. Book Shelves:
Mr. Walker stated that at the March
meeting the Trustees had discussed asking the County for financial assistance with the cost of
moving the Law Library to the adjoining annex when that time comes. Judge Conner stated that his understanding
was that the Sheriff’s Department was going to be asked for the use of their
trustees to move the shelves. In
addition, someone from Central Services may be needed to supervise the
move. Commissioner Lewis suggested that
Judge Conner speak directly to Roger Shinn about someone to supervise the
move.
Discussion was had about asking the County to help with the cost of
moving and refitting the existing shelves for the new space. Ms. Atkinson volunteered to contact Ms.
Everlove for a breakdown of these costs.
As no further discussion was to be
had, the meeting was adjourned.
Dated: June _____________________, 2007
________________________________________
________________________________________
James T. Walker, Member
________________________________________
Jim Wilder, Member
________________________________________
Paula A. Lewis
________________________________________
Anthony P. Guettler, Member