Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Ad Hoc Committee on the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center
August 2, 2015

Minutes

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission’s Ad Hoc Committee on the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center met on Sunday, August 2, 2015, in the Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building, Austin, Texas.

Committee Members Present:

Larry G. Holt, committee chair

Martha Doty Freeman

Sandra J. Pickett

Michael C. Waters, commission chair, ex officio

 
Committee Members Present:

Larry G. Holt, committee chair

 

Staff Present:

Mark Smith, director and librarian

Edward Seidenberg, assistant state librarian

Donna Osborne, director, Administrative Services

Jelain Chubb, director, Archives and Information Services

Alana Inman, manager, Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center

Pamela Rodriguez, purchaser

Tracy Kuhn Lash, executive assistant

 
Guests:

Joe Thrash, Office of the Attorney General

 

Commissioner Holt called the meeting to order at 2:02 p.m.

  1. Approve minutes of July 18, 2014 meeting.

    Commissioner Freeman moved approval of the July 18, 2014 committee meeting minutes. Commissioner Pickett seconded. Motion passed.
     
  2. Report on and discussion of the current status of the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center.

    Jelain Chubb updated the committee on the ongoing work at the Center and provided a status report of current projects and responded to questions from the committee. She reported that the agency had expended or encumbered a total of $968,088 of the $1 million appropriated by the 83rd Legislature for security and safety upgrades and improvements at the Center. The remaining $31,000 will be used for additional tree removal and improving environmental conditions and energy efficiency in the Center.
     
  3. Report on and discussion of the future plans for renovation and repair work at the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center.

    Jelain Chubb presented a list of recommended priority projects for the committee’s consideration to be funded by the commission’s 2016-2017 biennial budget allocation of $1 million. After discussion, the committee approved the following priorities and amounts:
     

    Project

    Amount

    Expand fire suppression into museum

    $40,000

    Renovate Center’s museum space

    $575,000

    Critical structural repairs to the Center

    $42,000

    Secure Center’s property against trespassing

    $8,500

    Preservation planning and repairs to historical buildings

    $90,000

    Gillard-Duncan house repairs

    $110,000

    Condition Assessment and Maintenance Plan for Center’s Historic Buildings

    $75,000

    Critical repairs and upgrades to Center’s HVAC system

    $59,500

    Total

    $1,000,000

    Unexpended funds to be applied to an emergency generator and property survey

     

Commissioner Freeman moved to approve the list. Commissioner Pickett seconded. Commissioner Holt noted that during discussion the committee recognized the need to examine the Atascosito Historical Society’s agreement and relationship with the commission to make it more consistent with current circumstances and asked that this be included in the minutes. Motion passed.

Commission Chairman Waters thanked Commissioner Carr for attending the meeting. Commissioner Freeman thanked staff for the time and thought put into the recommendations and prioritizing them for the committee. Commissioner Holt thanked all for attending the meeting.

There being no further business before the committee, Commissioner Holt adjourned the meeting at 5:43 p.m.

Page last modified: September 21, 2016