PCPL Board approves new wage schedule

Thursday, July 29, 2021

Both full-time and part-time employees at the Putnam County Public Library will be getting raises soon. The greater motive is to better attract and retain them in the future.

The library’s board of trustees was enthusiastic with Director Matt McClelland presenting a new wage schedule for PCPL employees during its regular meeting Wednesday evening.

There will be an increase in the hourly wage of part-time staff (except for shelvers and substitutes) by a dollar-plus. There will also be a uniform increase of the yearly salaries of full-time employees by $2,000.

McClelland outlined that the increases were different from the “usual” practice, in which both full-time and part-time employees would get a 10-percent increase. However, he advocated that there was need at the bottom to keep up with inflation and provide a higher wage, and that a straight percentage increase would have benefited full-time employees more.

McClelland noted that the change would still come under PCPL’s wage budget for this year due to money being saved. He added that funds in its planned budget for 2022 would cover this increase, as well as possibly a cost-of-living increase. The budget is planned to be presented to the board next month.

“We won’t be able to fully compete (with other employers),” McClelland said, “but this brings everybody up a little bit.”

McClelland stated that the library’s department managers were aware of the changes, and that the board’s finance committee had given the new schedule its blessing.

With this considered, the board approved the new wage schedule. It will go into effect on Aug. 8, as this will begin a new pay period.

In other business:

• The board approved an updated internet use and safety policy. The update was required for PCPL to apply for a grant through the Federal Emergency Connectivity Fund, which provides funding for upgrades to internet services and devices for schools and libraries.

• The board approved a resolution to merge PCPL’s general gift fund with its Friends of the Library gift fund. It was found that the Friends gift fund was only used for book acquisitions and sales, and that the merge was needed to simplify both funds’ transactions.

• Mark Hammer of Hammer and Company reported that PCPL’s cash balance was “very healthy,” and that it still had more than 50 percent of its budget left for the year.

Board President Kayla Flegal, Board Secretary Shannon Green and board members Barbara Boese and Jamie Nees (who joined virtually) made up a quorum. Assistant Director Jane Hazelton and Marketing and Communications Director Kaitlin Tipsword were also in attendance.

The next regular meeting of the Library Board is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. in the Kiwanis Room at the library.

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