2026.01.27 Regular Meeting Minutes
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING OF THE ZION-BENTON PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
January 27, 2026
| I. CALL TO ORDER Board president M. Jaworek called the regular board meeting to order at 6:31 PM. |
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| II. ROLL CALL Present: T. Adams, M. Martin, T. Montgomery, K. Pickenpaugh, S. Singhal, & M. JaworekAbsent: A. Onan** (**entered meeting at 6:46 PM**) Staff: R. Smith, S. Torrez |
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| III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE All present recited the Pledge of Allegiance. |
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| IV. ADENDA TO THE AGENDA | ||||
| a. | Approve remote attendance by trustees under (5 ILCS 120/7) Motion not required. |
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| b.
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Adopt Agenda. Trustee M. Jaworek proposed adding new business item c: a letter board and director MOTION: T. Adams moved to approve the agenda as amended, adding item C under section New Business. SECOND: K. Pickenpaugh ROLL CALL: All in favor. Motion carried. |
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| V. PUBLIC COMMENTS | ||||
| None. | ||||
| VI. CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION: S. Singhal moved to approve items a through s under Consent Agenda as presented. SECOND: T. Adams ROLL CALL: All in Favor. Motion carried. |
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| MINUTES | ||||
| a. | Approve Minutes from November 25, 2025 Regular Meeting/ Recommended Action: Approve, post online, file for informational purposes | |||
| b. | Approve Minutes from January 13, 2026 Committee of the Whole Board Meeting Meeting/ Recommended Action: Approve, post online, file for informational purposes | |||
| TREASURERS AND INVESTMENT REPORT AND BILLS | ||||
| c. | Treasurer’s Report for November 2025 / Recommended Action: Approve, file for informational purposes | |||
| d. | Cash Disbursements November 2025 / Recommended Action: Approve, file for informational purposes | |||
| e. | Treasurer’s Report for December 2025 / Recommended Action: Approve, file for informational purposes | |||
| f. | Cash Disbursements December 2025 / Recommended Action: Approve, file for informational purposes | |||
| DIRECTOR’S REPORT | ||||
| g. | Narrative Reports for November 2025 / Recommended Action: Approve, file for informational purposes | |||
| h. | Statistical Report for November 2025 / Recommended Action: Approve, file for informational purposes | |||
| i. | Narrative Reports for December 2025 / Recommended Action: Approve, file for informational purposes | |||
| j. | Statistical Report for December 2025 / Recommended Action: Approve, file for informational purposes | |||
| APPROVE POLICIES AS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE | ||||
| k. | Approve Corporate Credit Card Policy | |||
| l. | Approve Fixed Assets Policy | |||
| m. | Approve Fund Balance Policy | |||
| n. | Approve Investment Policy & Attachments | |||
| o. | Approve Outstanding Check Policy | |||
| p. | Approve Purchasing Procedure | |||
| q. | Approve Reimbursement Policy | |||
| r. | Approve Trustee MultiUse Request Reimbursement form | |||
| s. | Approve Tuition and Certification Reimbursement Policies | |||
| REGULAR AGENDA | ||||
| VII. COMMUNITY OUTREACH REPORT & COMMUNICATIONS | ||||
| a. | COMMUNITY 365: (Trustee A. Onan entered meeting at 6:46 pm)
Trustee S. Singhal announced the May 16, 2026 native plant sale at CLC in Grayslake, possible time 8-2 PM. All are invited. |
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| b. | ZBCHC: They will be meeting on Friday, January 30 at 7:30 am. | |||
| c. | TIF: At the 12/3 meeting, they approved $880,000 for Whitmore Towing for new HVAC unit and other misc. repairs to the recently purchased building, this new shop will bring in three new jobs. | |||
| d. | Other: The Library architect meeting will be held on 2/3 at 10 am. All trustees are invited to attend. Representative Joyce Mason is hosting a meeting on Thursday in Grayslake. Directors and Trustees from other libraries will be there as well. K. Pickenpaugh will attend. Art classes taught by trustee S. Singhal continue. Registration required. The FRIENDS of the Library held a meeting on 1/28 friends of the library at 6 pm, good attendance. Possible board resident selected. Next Friends Recruitment meeting will be on Sunday, 2/15. Trustee A. Onan invited all to attend the Beach Park School District Foundation fundraising kickoff on Thursday 4-9 pm at the Shanty. 15% of the proceeds will go to the Foundation. Foundation compared to friends strictly fundraising for students in the beach park school district. | |||
| VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS | ||||
| a. | Review Tentative Fiscal Year Board Calendar for 2025.2026 6:58pm
The Board reviewed the Tentative Fiscal Year Board Calendar for 2025.2026. |
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| IX. NEW BUSINESS | ||||
| a. | Approve Tax Abatement Ordinance 25.26.O.5
MOTION: S. Singhal moved to approve the Tax Abatement Ordinance 25.26.O.5 as presented. SECOND: M. Martin Roll Call: Aye: T. Adams, M. Martin, T. Montgomery, K. Pickenpaugh, S. Onan, S. Singhal, & M. Jaworek Nay: -0- Abstain: -0- Motion carried. |
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| b. | Set date and agenda for next committee of the whole meeting The next committee of the whole will meet on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 10 am. Items to be discussed include the addition of a mobile services vehicle, and possible consulting firm. |
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| c. | NEW ITEM: Board President Official Resignation to come.
Board president M. Jaworek anticipates that he will resign as president at the next board meeting. This is due to an imminent move out of district. It is his desire to remain on the board as a trustee until that time. |
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| X. EXECUTIVE SESSION | ||||
| a. | 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1 or 2 or 3) if necessary
Motion not needed. |
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| XI. ADJOURNMENT | ||||
| a. | Action taken pursuant to discussion during Executive Session
Motion Not Needed. |
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| b. | Move to adjourn.
President M. Jaworek adjourned the regular board meeting at 7:27 PM. |
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| APPROVED: | 2/24/2026 |
| DATE |
| SIGNED | /s/ Mike Jaworek |
| PRESIDENT |
| ATTESTED: | /s/ Sanjay Singhal |
| SECRETARY |
| RECORDING SECRETARY: | S. TORREZ |
| ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT |