HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-10-15 Board of Library Trustees MinutesE;ECEIVED
Minutes of the Board of Library Trustees Meeting j `, i C L E R K
Monday, October 15, 2012 t�E }, G . r1 r� SS.
Present: 1I I I NOV 21 P 1, 214
David Hutchinson, Chair; Richard Curtis, Vice Chair; Alice Collins, Secretary; Cherrie Dubois;
Andrew Grimes; Vicki Yablonsky; Ruth Urell, Library Director; Karen Herrick, Finance
Committee Liaison.
Meeting called to order: 7:04 p.m.
September 17, 2011 Minutes approved unanimously C. Dubois /R. Curtis
Financial Report (R. Urell)
No comments or questions.
Trustee Liaison's Reports
Foundation (R. Curtis)
No word yet, but expects the annual drive to be held sometime after Thanksgiving.
Friends (C. Dubois)
A wine tasting event is being hosted at The Wine Shop of Reading on Thursday evening,
November 8. Mini golf event is being planned for next spring. The annual newsletter is
at the printer.
FY2014 Budget (R. Urell)
R. Urell and trustees C. Dubois, R. Curtis, V. Yablonsky and A. Grimes attended the
Financial Forum held at the Senior Center on October 10th. Much of the discussion was
about cash reserves, a 2% budget increase is expected for operating expenses.
Town Manager and Library Director gave a brief report at the Financial Forum about the
Library Building Project, noting receipt of $5.1 million state construction grant and
requirements for local approval of Town share of $7 million.
Building Program Update:
David Hutchinson discussed plans for November town meeting. The library or
Selectmen will ask Town Meeting members to indefinitely postpone the library
construction warrant article asking for Town funding of $7 million. Then the Selectmen
may call for a Special town Meeting in January or February to consider the library
question. This is necessary because the Commonwealth requires a ballot question to fall
within 90 days of Town Meeting and it is less costly to hold a special town meeting than
to run a special election. The Town's general election is already scheduled for April 2, so
the library construction debt - exclusion question will be on the April ballot, if/after it is
approved for that action by Town Meeting.
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners will hold a mandatory workshop on
October 25 for recipients of Library Construction grants, which Trustee Vicki Yablonsky,
Facilities Director Joseph Huggins, Finance Director /Assistant Town Manager Robert
LeLacheur, and Library Director Ruth Urell will attend.
A kickoff meeting is being planned involving key members of the Foundation and
Friends and Trustees to go over preliminary plans for public relations of the building
project, possibly at the next trustees meeting on Tuesday, November 20.
A. Grimes talked about anticipated question at town meeting, what if we just fixed the
building? The estimated cost would be millions without the state grant funding — no vote,
we lose the grant. K. Herrick suggested the benefits of the new building are critical, not
nice to have, that no matter what money will have to be spent.
Director's Report
Submitted State Aid Financial Report in October. FYI Municipal Appropriation
Requirement is on track as the FYI Budget is sufficiently funded to meet the
requirements and the library will not have to apply for another waiver.
The trustees are invited to join as members of the Massachusetts Library Trustees
Association.
Reading Library @ Highland School: A weeklong celebration and activities will be held
March 10 -March 16, culminating in an Open House /Highland School Day on Saturday
March 16, with activities for all ages. Please SAVE THE DATE! March 16, 2013.
William Fowler, Ph. D., Professor of History at Northeastern University, Author, and
Reading resident, has agreed to consult as project scholar.
Friends Spring Mini Golf Fundraiser planning on Saturday, April 6. Last year, the event
was held on a Sunday. A motion was made by D. Hutchinson that the trustees would
endorse the mini golf event but reference that it be designed with as little disruption as
possible. C. Dubois and A. Grimes seconded the motion.
The Massachusetts Author Series sponsored by Foundation & Friends kicked off with a
big crowd on Friday, September 28 as Margot Livesey discussed her work and signed
books. The series continues with a book discussion on November 28 led by Ann Murphy
and a visit from author Roland Merullo on November 30 to launch his latest book, Lunch
with Buddha.
Trustee Items:
Alice Collins, as secretary, will sign up as a member of the Mass. Library Trustee
Association.
Action Item:
D. Hutchinson will arrange a preliminary budget discussion meeting on a Tuesday
evening at Town Hall.
Adjourn
The motion to adjourn was made at 8:38 pm. (V. Yablonsky /R. Curtis)
R. Urell and two trustees met directly after the meeting regarding the Assistant Director search.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathryn lesciuc,
Administrative Assistant,
Reading Public Library