Portage Lake District Library Board President Sylvia Matthews leads the discussion about the Hancock Library’s upcoming budget. 

HOUGHTON — The Portage Lake District Library Board of Directors met Wednesday evening to discuss the recent $30,000 Hancock Public Schools budgeted Monday for Hancock. The PLDL board also adopted a budget for next fiscal year.

Board President Sylvia Matthews attended Hancock’s School Board meeting and said she’ll work to get a short-term contract with Hancock Public Schools to keep its’ library open. She said the board cannot vote on a budget for the Hancock Library until Librarian Boni Ashburn, who has been closely working with PLDL on her library’s budget, meets with the board and gives her input. “We cannot vote on a budget until Boni sees it,” she said. “We don’t have very much time.”

The board called a special public meeting for Monday, where it will vote on a finalized budget for the Hancock Library, which will include the $30,000 coming from Hancock Public Schools and other supplementary funds.

In other business the PLDL board adopted a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. One current staff member, Andra Ziemnick, and one outgoing staff member, Paula McCambridge vocalized their disapproval saying the budget did not include adequate raises for staff. McCambridge in particular said wage compression was an issue along with reduced hours for regular staff. “Pay us what we are worth,” Ziemnick said.

Board Vice President Jennifer Donovan told fellow board members she was concerned about pay issues. Board Secretary Laura Repp said raises for staff could be amended later on. Trustee Will Cantrell said the budget is already balanced but could be amended soon to reflect staff needs. “Amendments to the budget become the budget,” he said.

Board Treasurer Tim Scarlett said he wants to wait until a new director is hired for wage increases to be amended into the budget. Trustee Joanna Chopp earlier in the meeting said PLDL is looking at five candidates for the position and will be interviewing them soon.

“We are very aware of the salary compensation problems for staff,” Scarlett said. “But our pie is of a certain size.”

Co-Interim Director and Business Manager Fawn Lucero said the budget presented did not show a deficit for PLDL.

Following discussion, the board unanimously passed the budget for next fiscal year.

That special meeting will take place at 7 p.m.. Monday at the library.