1998-04-06 Board of Library Trustees Minutes

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Board of Library Trustees Minutes of Meeting - April 6, 1998 Present: Mrs. Maria Silvaggi, chair; Mr. Stephen Conner; Ms. Cherrie Dubois; Mr. Richard Ogden; Dr. Christine Redford. Mrs. Silvaggi called the meeting to order at 7:00. Minutes: The minutes of March 16 were accepted. Meeting with neighbors: Peter Hechenbleikner and Joe Delaney, Town Engineer, were on hand to present to interested neighbors the proposal for increasing parking at the library. The plan includes curbing on Middlesex Avenue, curbing and sidewalk on Deering Street, low lighted posts on the existing walkway from School Street and on two new walkways from Middlesex Avenue, repaving of the parking lot, and replacement of the rear fence. The estimated cost is $70,000, but only $55,000 is available, so some items will be dropped. The parking lot will be closed down during the day for ten days or so. Street parking will be restricted while curbs are installed. The whole project will take one to two months to complete. In response to a question about drainage, Mr. Delaney said that the Town will try to grade the parking lot to keep run-off on site, installing gutters and catch basins. A neighbor expressed concern about accidents and suggested that stop signs be installed on Middlesex Avenue at Deering Street, but the Town Manager responded that the state would not allow stop signs there. Another neighbor suggested a more visible pedestrian crosswalk at that intersection. Shrubs will be moved from one side of the chiller to the other as the driveway is widened. Mr. Hechenbleikner will talk to the tree warden about replacement of some dying trees. The project will go out to bid in July. Expected start for construction is right after Labor Day. If the project has to be reduced, the Deering Street curbing and sidewalk is probably the least critical from an engineering standpoint. After the bid has been awarded, neighbors will receive a letter detailing what will be done, with an estimated start date. Other comments: neighbors were pleased with the look of the library grounds; however, trash collects around the dumpster. Financial report: This month's billroll is a small one. Expenditures are right on target. A trust fund report was included. Statistical report: Not yet available. Report from the Chairman: Mr. Fields passed away on March 30. It was suggested that donations in his memory be applied to a named fund in the Foundation. The Board supported this suggestion. Mrs. Silvaggi and Mr. Conner met with the Town Manager and Selectmen Camille Anthony and Bruce MacDonald prior to this meeting concerning the $13,000 difference between the Board's salary request for FY99 and the Selectmen's recent vote on priorities. Mr. Hechenbleikner has re-analyzed the Town's casualty insurance; he will recommend to the Board of Selectmen tomorrow night that $5200 from that account be moved to library salaries. The other $8000 will come from the increase requested and approved for library materials. Mrs. Silvaggi is not happy that we're giving up that money-it is not a good thing to do, but there are J