RUPERT J.
SMITH LAW LIBRARY OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY, INC.
Meeting
Minutes - January 4, 2008
Honorable
Attendees: Honorable
Absentees: Paul J. Fanning, Trustee and
Nora Everlove, Librarian
I. Previous Minutes:
Mr.
Wilder made motion to approve the minutes, Ms. Lewis seconded the motions and
it was carried unanimously.
II: Financial Statements:
Ms. Atkinson reported since there
was no December Meeting, both the October and November 2007 Minutes needed to
be approved. Mr. Walker had a question
about the Profit and Loss Statement for November 2007 versus the Operating Case
Report for November 2007. Discussion
was had concerning this matter. Mr.
Walker made a motion that this matter
should be tabled until the next Trustees
Meeting so that the statements could be addressed with Ms. Everlove. Ms. Lewis seconded the motion and it was
carried unanimously.
III: Insurance:
Judge Conner advised the Trustees
that Ms. Atkinson had received notice that the Law Library’s existing carrier
would not be renewing coverage to the Law Library. Ms. Atkinson reported that she contacted
National Insurance and they are working on new coverage. Discussion was had on this matter. Mr. Walker made a motion to request Ms.
Everlove to immediately handle this
matter, with the understanding that Mr. Walker will help her with any aspects
that she feels necessary. Ms. Atkinson
stated that she would e-mail Ms. Everlove all the information immediately
following the meeting. Mr. Wilder
seconded the motion and it was carried unanimously.
IV: Renovations/Moving:
Judge Conner advised that he is out
of the loop on the renovations and the move, although it is his understanding
that the renovations as currently funded are still on track and that nothing
has
changed. Ms. Lewis reported that it is her
understanding that the renovations as previously presented are still good to
go.
V: Revenues:
Mr. Walker inquired as to whether or
not Judge Conner had gotten with Tom Genung, the Court Administrator to obtain
information concerning the drop in revenues.
Judge Conner advised that he had, but that Mr. Genung had not been in
contact with the Clerk, Ed Fry. Judge
Conner advised that at the previous meeting there was discussion that Ms.
Everlove was concerned that we saw a drop for a month or two and wanted to know
if this trend was going to be ongoing or is it just a blip on the radar. And, the discussion was, why don’t we check
with Tom Genung to see if Court Administration was monitoring this as well and
that they might have their finger on the pulse trying to figure what’s going
on. Judge Conner stated that he would
talk directly with Mr. Fry since Mr. Genung had not gotten back with him on
this matter.
VI: Shelving:
Mr. Walker inquired about the status
of the purchase of shelving. Judge
Conner stated that he would take on the responsibility of contacting Roger
Shinn to see when the bid is finalized for the first phase of the renovations,
then Ms. Everlove can be advised to go ahead and order the shelving.
VII: Portrait:
Ms.
Atkinson advised that she would stay in touch with Mr. Staten to go forward
with the portrait. The Trustees also
inquired about mounting, framing and a
label plaque for the portrait. Ms. Atkinson said that she would check with
Mr. Staten about this as well.
VIII: Phone Listing:
Mr.
Walker asked about the listing for the Law Library in the phone book. Ms. Atkinson advised that she would remind
Ms. Everlove about this matter.
IX: Budget:
Mr.
Walker inquired about the approval of the new budget and ten year plan. Mr. Walker moved approval of the budget and
ten year plan, the motion was seconded and it was carried unanimously.
X: People’s Law School:
Mr. Walker reported on the People’s
Law School, sponsored by the Friend’s of the Rupert J. Smith Law Library of St.
Lucie which will involve a four-hour research course, broken up into two
nights, January 22 and 29. The charge
will be $35.00 for nonstudents and $25.00 for students and that will include a
treatise. The Friend’s are very excited
about the class. Mr. Walker stated that
the loose end is to be taught by a lawyer or judge. Mr. Walker stated that he had sent a letter
to the Judge to see about judicial interest in providing volunteer faculty
assistant with respect to the class.
Barring judicial interest, then they will fall back on lawyers.
XI: Evening Hours:
Mr. Wilder stated that he had been
looking over the numbers for the evening hours and while they are still low,
what he is seeing from the number is that
pro se people are using the Law Library in the evenings, which is
serving the function that the Trustees were hoping to see it serve. He did reiterate that we need to get the word
out to the public about the extended evening hours. Mr. Wilder says that he realizes that the
evening hours may become a budgetary issue, ut we don need to be aware that the
additional hours are serving their purpose.
Judge
Conner stated that despite this he has a real concern about the Sheriff being
able to absorb the additional hours required for security in his budget.
There being nothing further, the
meeting was adjourned.
Dated: February ________, 2008.
________________________________________
Burton C. Conner, Chairman
________________________________________
James T. Walker, Member
________________________________________
Jim Wilder, Member
________________________________________
Paula A. Lewis
_____________________________________
Paul Fanning, Member