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Minutes 07-22-26MINUTES OF THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD ON JULY 22, 2026, AT 6:00 P.M. AT BOYNTON BEACH CITY HALL COMMISSION CHAMBERS, 100 E OCEAN AVENUE BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Stephanie Colaianni, Chair Christine Hunter Verna Henry Lisa Miller ABSENT: Dr. Ellen Jones Call to Order — Stephanie Colaianni, Chair Tiffany Pagan, Library Director In the absence of the Chair, Ms. Anepete volunteered to sit as Chair for the meeting. She called the meeting to order at 6:04 PM II. Approval of Minutes — April 22, 2026 Motion Ms. Hunter moved to approve the minutes. Ms. Miller seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. III. Correspondence and Communications None. IV. Public Audience (Individual Speakers Will Be Limited to 3 Minute Presentations) None. V. Chair's Report — Board Chair Ms. Anepete announced the Summer Kick Off event was great. She said it was good to see kids getting into reading. Ms. Pagan thanked her youth services staff and specifically Beatriz Barreca-Garcia, Senior Librarian of Youth Services, who oversaw all the programs for the night and the entire summer. Meeting Minutes Library Board Boynton Beach, Florida July 22, 2026 VI. Unfinished Business: Staffing update Ms. Pagan stated there are still three vacancies, which is the Library Manager, formerly known as the Assistant Director, a Teen Librarian, and a part time Librarian Assistant. She noted the City is on a hiring freeze and per the last budget workshop, going into the new fiscal year there is a six month hiring freeze and it may be extended up to 12 months. She said they had to cancel some programs and they are making due. She noted the sewing instructor, Timothy Bowman, held his last class so the sewing class is on hold. All the vacancies are on hold. Chair Anepete said she looked at the budget and there was some negatives having to do with personnel/reclassifications. Ms. Pagan said it is due to the freeze and some salary changes from last year to this year. She noted the biggest reason for the negative number is representing the hiring freeze. She said as to operating budget, it has stayed flat. She said she did not have to cut any databases or anything operationally and the cancelled programs are due to lack of staffing. She said she hoped when the freeze is over, the Library will return to its prior staffing levels. Chair Anepete inquired if this is the city working to balance the general fund or the property tax proposal. Ms. Pagan said it is the city working to balance the general fund. As for property tax, nothing has been said and they won't know until the election if the bill passes. If passed it could mean closures, reductions in Library services and hours. Chair Anepete asked how the Board can help and if there was a metric the City uses to make cuts. Ms. Pagan said the next budget hearing is on September 8th at 6 P.M, and they can speak at Public Audience. She said this is for the overall city budget and she did not know if there were any formulas used to make cuts. She said asking for cuts on a smaller budget means it has more of an impact. She said this budget is set in stone from October 1St to September 30th. She said Fiscal Year 20272028 is when the hard decisions will be made if the property tax passes. Ms. Hunter said she had heard the Library will close if it passes. Ms. Pagan said that is possible and she explained the Library is considered leisure services. She noted Parks and Recreation, Events, Arts and Cultural Services, and the Library, together has a $10.2M budget, and if there is a $16M deficit, the City could wipe away all those departments and still be in the negative. She said she is hopeful she can 2 Meeting Minutes Library Board Boynton Beach, Florida July 22, 2026 work with the administration to not completely close and she would fight for a reduction in services and hours. She commented they have to wait to see. VII. New Business Proposed FY 26-27 Library budget Ms. Pagan said at the last meeting she advised that staff applied for two LSTA grants and now they applied for two more. She advised she wrote one for $46K to replace laptops, refurbish their laptop kiosk and have more classes for Al and workforce skills, and that Brian Reagh, the Makers Space Librarian, wrote a grant for $35K to upgrade current equipment and add some new machines for the Creative Edge studio. She said if awarded, the grants start October 1St, and she assumed the State would grade the grants next month. She added that as soon as she hears, she will apprise the Board. Discuss dates for August & September Board Meetings Ms. Pagan stated that in the past, the Board has taken off a month for summer break. She was aware the Board did not meet in June and she asked if they wanted to meet in August. There was agreement to meet on August 26th and September 23rd and see how the budget did. VIII. Library Director's Report/Statistics May 2026 & June 2026 Monthly Report Ms. Pagan said this information is included in the meeting agenda packet. She said she is proud of staff, especially with the uncertainty ahead as they are all showing up, committed to serving the community and she was grateful to staff. IX. Announcements End of Summer Foam Party — Friday, July 31, 2026, 11 am -1 pm Location: Centennial Park Ms. Pagan announced the above event on July 31St at 11 a.m. at Centennial Park. Veronica did not know if she could make it but wished Tif a great time. Next Library Board Meeting — August 26, 2026 The Minutes Specialist announced her retirement and that this is her last meeting of this Board. She praised the members and extolled the amenities and services the Library provides, noting it is a wonderful community resource. 3 Meeting Minutes Library Board Boynton Beach, Florida July 22, 2026 X. Adjournment Motion There being no further business before the Board, Ms. Henry moved to adjourn. Ms. Miller seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 6:22 p.m. d I Catherine Cherry Minutes Specialist 4