HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-10-20 Board of Library Trustees MinutesOrR 0
Town of Reading
e Meeting Minutes
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[OWN CLERK
.,°,DING, MASS.
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Board of Library Trustees
Date: 2014 -10 -20
Building: Reading Public Library
Address: 64 Middlesex Avenue
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
2014 NOV 20 P 3t 21
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Conference Room
Session: General Session
Vicki Yablonsky, Chair; John Brzezenski, Vice Chair; Alice Collins, Secretary;
Cherrie Dubois; Andrew Grimes, David Hutchinson
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Ruth Urell, Director; Amy Lannon, Assistant Director
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Alice Collins, Secretary
Topics of Discussion:
I. Call to Order 7:04 p.m.
II. Approval of minutes September 15, 2014
Motion to approve minutes as amended (David Hutchinson / Alice Collins)
Vote: Unanimous
III. Building Report
a. Update: Mr. Hutchinson reported that the bid due dates were extended by one week.
The sub -bids have been opened and reviewed, the results were very positive. There
are still a number of General Contractors interested in the project. The General
Contractor bids are due October 29, 2014 and there will be a Library Building
Committee meeting on October 30. If all goes as expected, the project will have a
General Contractor selected and under contract in early November. Ms. Urell briefly
reviewed a sampling of the 15 categories for the sub -bids and gave a general
overview of the bidding process. Ms. Urell will speak to Mr. LeLacheur about adding
a building report to the November Town Meeting.
IV. Pay and Class Study (R. Urell I V. Yablonsky)
a. Ms. Yablonsky reported that she, Ms. Collins and Ms. Urell met with Judi Perkins,
Human Resources Director, and Don Tyler from the Human Resources Partners to
discuss the pay and class study. Ms. Urell will follow up with Mr. Tyler to schedule a
meeting with the staff. Ms. Yablonsky, Ms. Collins and Ms. Urell also met with the
Retirement Board to discuss retirement benefits for part-time staff. Ms. Collins
requested the Retirement Board investigate alternatives to the savings plan currently
in place for part-time staff.
V. Liaison Reports
a. Friends of RPL (C. Dubois)
The Wine Tasting was a very successful event. Ms. Urell attended the last two
Friends meetings and reported that the group is working on some new fundraising
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ideas, and was generous in supplying refreshments for the last two days that the
library was open to the public.
b. Foundation (J. Brzezenski)
Mr. Brzezenski reported that the Foundation continues to work with the Friends,
analyzing revenues, databases and other assets as part of a continuing discussion
on collaboration and possible changes to organizational structures. The Foundation
is also getting ready for their annual appeal which goes out just after Thanksgiving.
Ms. Yablonsky reported that she and Ms. Urell had attended a Foundation meeting to
discuss possible fundraising for the Library Building Project. The discussion focused
on providing opportunities for people to donate to extras and special features rather
than developing a general capital campaign. There will be an additional Trustee
meeting on Monday, December 8 which will focus on the fundraising framework
issue. Ms. Urell will let the Trustees know the location once a room is reserved.
VI. Director's Report
a. Future Trustee Meetings: Ms. Urell reviewed the upcoming meeting dates and
locations for Board of Library Trustees.
b. LSTA Grant— Customer Experience in the 21a` Century: Grant is officially closed out
and report has been filed.
c. State Aid: The State Aid application is completed, signed and submitted. The
population Town of Reading is now 25,107 which places the library into a different
category.
d. Temporary Space & Moving: Ms. Urell reported that the library continues to work with
Facilities and the DPW to coordinate moving of various equipment and furniture. Ms.
Urell raised concerns about the doors at 80 General Way which currently do not have
automated handicap doors. Additionally, there is a delay in accessing the 5,000 at
storage due to the need for a rooftop HVAC for that area. Mr. Joe Huggins is the
point person for the HVAC project. Also the town building inspector is requiring
drawings for the perimeter shelving. Mr. Evan Warner is the point person for the
perimeter shelving issue and securing the occupancy permit from the town building
inspector. The piano has been moved and is in storage. Ms. Urell praised the staff
for their professional and coordinated work done organizing, selecting and managing
the collection for the move. Suzy Axelson has recorded and photographed all the
plaques in the current building. Ms. Urell asked for a Trustee to work with Ms.
Axelson to create a booklet or other published piece that would memorialize these
past donations and gifts. The grandfather clock has been appraised, and Ms. Urell
reviewed the cost estimates to repair, store and move the clock. Mr. Hutchinson
recommended that the movers bring the clock to 80 General Way and hold off on
repairs until the move back into 64 Middlesex Ave.
e. Outreach Activities: The outreach thus far has been quite successful. During
October, there have been only adult programs, but planning and scheduling of
children's programs have been going well.
f. Ms. Urell will meet with CBT to discuss furniture and circulation area. This meeting
will be after the General Contract bids have been submitted.
VII. Adjournment
Motion to adjoum at 8:45 p.m. (Cherrfe Dubois /Alice Collins)
Vote: Unanimous
(Respectfully submitteA _
Secretary
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