January 2025 Board Meeting - Minutes

January 23, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
City Centre Branch, Room 120

Present:  Trustees Stanley Chang, Dulce Cuenca, Balbir Gurm (Chair), John Gillies, Kulvinder Kular, Jocelyne Leszczynski, Patria Pascal, Alisa-Thao Pham, Tanveer Sohal, Rachel Smith, Lisa Werring.

Regrets: Councillor Pardeep Kooner, Trustee Saman Kaluarachchi.

Staff: 

  • Surinder Bhogal, Chief Librarian 
  • Michael Ho, Director, Administrative Services 
  • Julie Balenzano, Director, Public Services
  • Seline Kutan, Director, Communications and Advancement
  • Nav Gill, Administrative Coordinator  

Guests: Veronica Griffin, CUPE 402-02

1. Call To Order & Land Acknowledgement

Trustee Gurm called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and expressed appreciation working on the traditional territories of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen, Qayqayt, Musqueam and Tsawwassen First Nations.

2. Adoption Of The Agenda

Trustee Smith moved and Trustee Sohal seconded – CARRIED   

3. Roundtable Introductions

4.Inaugural Meeting Business

  1. Nominee Statements for Election of Chair and Vice-Chair
    • Chair: Balbir Gurm declared elected by acclamation.
    • Vice Chair: Tanveer Sohal declared elected by acclamation.
  2. Expressions of interest for InterLINK Board representative and Executive Committee
    • InterLINK: Trustee Gillies with Trustee Kular as an alternative
    • Executive Committee: Trustees Kular, Smith, Werring

5. Adoption Of The Consent Agenda

  1. November 28, 2024, minutes of Regular Meeting of the Surrey Public Library Board
  2. Financial Statement for the period ending November 30, 2024

Trustee Gillies moved and Trustee Smith seconded – CARRIED  

6. Staff Presentation

Chief Librarian presented an overview of the strategic plan and facility master plan.

7. New Business/Discussion

  1. 2025 Draft Board objectives
    Edits were suggested for actions numbered 4, 5, and 11. A revised version will be presented for approval at the next meeting. 
  2. 2025 Surrey Libraries Workplan
    MOTION: “To approve the 2025 library workplan.” 
    Trustee Smith moved and Trustee Sohal seconded – CARRIED   

8. Information Items

  1. Reports
    1. Board Development Session: Advocacy Training
    2. 2025 Board Meetings Calendar
    3. Voice of the Customer Report: July-December 2024
    4. InterLINK Strategic Plan 2024-2029
    5. InterLINK 2025 Provisional budget
  2. Verbal Updates
    1. Board Chair: 
      1. Attending and speaking at the Surrey Libraries Expo on January 25, 2025.
      2. Had meetings with several MLA’s to gather support for Surrey Libraries
    2. InterLINK: Trustee Gillies reported the first InterLINK meeting is scheduled for February.
    3. Chief Librarian:
      1. Federal funding to InterLINK for the New to BC program is no longer available. The AAG is assessing how to sustain the Library Champions program for interested members beyond the end of the funding. Member libraries will need to absorb some costs.
      2. Writer-in-Residence, Anthony Nerada, has started a one-year term.
      3. Hired a new Manager of Security Services, Ali Mojdehi.
      4. Encouraged trustees to celebrate and promote Family Literacy Week by attending Surrey Libraries Expo event on January 25.

9. Next Library Board Meeting

February 27, 7:30pm, City Centre Branch
Note board development session from 5:30-7:30pm

10. Motion For Moving In-Camera Meeting

Trustee Smith moved and Trustee Kular seconded – CARRIED   

11. Motion to Adjourn

Trustee Gillies moved and Trustee Pascal seconded – CARRIED

Meeting adjourned at 8:16 pm.