Record of Proceedings
Ritter Public Library Board of Trustees
Regular Session
Meeting Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2025
The Board of Trustees of Ritter Public Library convened in regular session at 7:00 PM in the Ritter Public Library Meeting Rooms A&B. Warden called the meeting to order with the following members and visitors present:
Lois Arnold: Present
Doug Brown: Present
Eileen Bulan: Absent
Chad Coolidge: Present
Pam Reese: Present
Marie Warden: Present
Employees:
C. Grizzell, C. Springer, A. Folley
Visitors:
Certification of Notification:
Springer certified that a notice of the meeting had been published in the December 4, 2025, edition of the Vermilion Photojournal, in addition to the Ritter Public Library social media outlets and Library Website.
Approval of Minutes:
Arnold moved that the November 2025 Regular Board Meeting minutes be approved as presented, and Reese seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Correspondence:
Grizzell read a review that was left through our email. It complimented the Library and the staff (attached).
Director’s Report:
Grizzell reviewed the Director’s report (attached).
Grizzell reviewed the total donations to the Community Pet Food Pantry to date. We have had 3,870lbs of kibble, 2,018 cans of food, 804 bags of treats, and 809 pounds of cat litter donated to the Pet Food Pantry.
Everyone commented on how well the coat and mitten tree is doing. A lot of donations coming in and a lot of people are using the donated items.
Commented that the Christmas Concert was very nice and it was a very big success.
Warden commented that it is nice to see that there is a weekly staff newsletter implemented. It helps with communication with the whole staff.
Financial Report:
Springer reviewed the Fiscal Officer’s report (attached).
Reese moved to accept the financials as presented, and Brown seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Committee Reports:
Friends
Reese presented the Friends report (attached).
Endowment Fund
Grizzell reported for Endowment. They committed an additional $8,000.00 for the Creative Space renovation. Dave Bern and Tom Zeck are stepping down, and they will be looking for new Board members. They will meet again in April 2026.
Public Comment:
Old Business:
Grizzell gave an update on Union Negotiations. We have given them some potential dates for meetings, but we have not heard back yet. We are just waiting for their “ready.”
New Business:
Springer reviewed the Temporary Appropriations and assumptions.
Resolution for Temporary Appropriations
Warden moved the adoption of the following resolution for Temporary Appropriations: Be it resolved by the Board of Library Trustees of the Ritter Public Library, Erie County, Ohio, that to provide for the current expenses and other expenditures of said Board of Library Trustees, during the year ending in December 31, 2026, the following sums be and the same are hereby set aside and permanently appropriated for the several purposes for which expenditures are to be made for and during said fiscal year (appropriations attached). Reese seconded the motion. The roll call vote resulted as follows:
Arnold – Aye; Brown – Aye; Coolidge – Aye; Reese – Aye; Warden – Aye.
Springer reviewed the proposed Management & Administration wages for 2026, assuming a 3% increase.
Chloe Brown: $45,504.66
Ruby Dalton: $46,350.00
Jessica Dufner: $61,800.00
Paul Lima: $59,655.71
Steve Williamson: $31.19/hr
Cheryl Grizzell: $92,700.00
Caroline Springer: $68,845.61
Warden moved to approve the Management and Administration wages for 2026, and Brown seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Resolution 7-2025
Warden moved the adoption of the following resolution: Be it resolved by the Board of Trustees of the Ritter Public Library to close the Library on December 24, 2025 (Christmas Eve) and December 31, 2025 (New Year’s Eve). Those employees that would normally be scheduled for those days will receive pay for their regularly scheduled hours at their normal rate of pay. Seconded the motion. The roll call vote resulted as follows:
Arnold – Aye; Brown – Aye; Coolidge – Aye; Reese – Aye; Warden – Aye.
Executive Session
Warden moved the Board into Executive Session to discuss the compensation and benefits of a public employee. No decisions will be made as a result of Executive Session. Reese seconded the motion. The roll call vote resulted as follows:
Arnold – Aye; Brown – Aye; Coolidge – Aye; Reese – Aye; Warden – Aye.
Board moved into executive session at 7:34 PM
Board moved out of executive session at 7:54 PM
Warden moved the Board into Executive Session to discuss the evaluation of two public employees. No decisions will be made as a result of Executive Session.
The roll call vote resulted as follows:
Arnold – Aye; Brown – Aye; Coolidge – Aye; Reese – Aye; Warden – Aye.
Board moved into executive session at 7:55 PM
Board moved out of executive session at 8:15PM
Move to Adjourn:
Warden moved to adjourn at 8:15pm, and Reese seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned until Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the Ritter Public Library.