1993-12-09 Board of Library Trustees Minutes

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-/GZ t Board of Library Trustees Minutes of Meeting - December 9, 1993 Conference Room - Reading Public Library - 6:00 p.m. Present: Mrs. Elia Marnik, chair; Mrs. Carol Beckwith; Mr. William" Diamond; Ms. Cherrie Dubois; Mr. Robert Fields; Dr. Christine Redford. Also attending: Tom Stohlman. The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. Minutes: Mr. Fields moved that the minutes of November 22 be accepted. Mrs. Marnik asked that the wording reporting the Director's evaluation be changed from "above average" to "outstanding." The minutes were accepted ..as amended. Financial report: The state aid money.has been received. Statistical report: Sundays are now counted as half a day in the "Days Open" statistic. Director's report: The reference desk will be installed on Friday night, December 10. The security system is now active. Liaison reports: Ms. Dubois reported that the Friends newsletter was sent out about four weeks ago. Mr. Fields requested a "no exit" sign for the parking lot entrance. T' 'finished business: 1) The deadline for completion of the pay and class ly is now January 4. The Town Manager has given the Director 1.,z:liminary numbers for library salaries; she disagreed with some parts of the proposal. Extensive discussion ensued among the Board members about how to rectify the proposed salaries. Options discussed included use of state aid and furloughs on the part of administrative staff. If neither of these alternatives is taken, there will be a serious morale problem, said Ms. Hanley. In discussion, Mrs. Marnik said that the Town should pay for salary increases, and that in principle she feels bad about using state aid. Mr. Diamond said that state aid is intended to provide good service, and that good service depends upon personnel. Ms. Hanley said that~'she is aware- that paying salaries out of state aid may be a bad precedent; it is very important that the Town should pay for the total salaries in years to come. The Board agreed that salary equity is crucial to the Library. Mr. Diamond moved that every effort be extended to get the Town Manager to change his mind or to challenge him to find the money from another source, and that, failing that, the Board extract it from the state aid money when it comes in. The motion passed. 2) The FY95 budget request does not include any of the proposed new salary figures. The personnel account includes a 4.5 percent increase, as directed by the Town Manager. The only other increase is for NOBLE. The Board approved of the priorities for additions as assigned by the Director. Members of the Board expressed regret over the continued splitting of the Assistant Director's position. Mr. Diamond moved to approve a budget of no less than $521,160. The motion passed. 1