2012-09-17 Board of Library Trustees Minutes

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...RECEIVED Minutes of the Board of Library Trustees Meeting TOWN CLERK Monday, September 17, 2012 READING, MASS. Present: 312 OCT 23 P t: 2S � David Hutchinson, Chair; Richard Curtis, Vice Chair; Alice Collins, Secretary; Cherrie Dubois; Andrew Grimes; Vicki Yablonsky; Ruth Urell, Library Director. Meeting called to order: 7:08 p.m. Report: Corinne Fisher — Science is Everywhere LSTA Grant July 16, 2011 Minutes approved unanimously C. Dubois /A. Grimes Financial Report (R. Urell) Request for November Town Meeting Warrant to amend budget asking for sick leave buyback $9,943.73 to be transferred back to the library department. Trustee Liaison's Reports Foundation (R. Urell attended last meeting) The endowment fund has recovered from downturn of economy. Ruth also met with the events subcommittee to discuss planning a signature annual event and donor reception. Friends (C. Dubois) A Wine tasting event is being planned hosted at The Wine Shop of Reading. R. Urell attended the last meeting and noted the friends have a new president and new members. The Friends have a busy year ahead with planning many events. Building Program Update — Town Meeting Warrant: Reading is first in line to received funding from the MBLC for the building project, but the money has not yet been released by the state. The Board of Selectmen and our local legislators are asking the state to release $20m to allow Reading and some other libraries on the waitlist to get their funding so they can move ahead with their projects. The state could be releasing the funding amount in a few weeks. Timeline: The MBLC will notify Reading when state funding is released. The town has six months to get local funding vote. A presentation may be made to Finance Committee on October 10th to support placing an article on the November 13 Town Meeting warrant noting the $5.1 million funding from the state and to unanimously recommend a $7.2 million debt exclusion to town meeting members to go to town vote. Once town funding vote has been passed, the state needs 6 -8 weeks to turnaround a contract for approval of granting FY 13 state money. An April town election may be too late for the state's FYI approval so a special election in January or February may be necessary.