HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-02-24 Board of Library Trustees Minutes7w-rj )f
Board of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting -February 24, 2003
E1VED
h1 CLERK
Present: Dick Ogden, chair; Steve Connor, Roberta McRae, Maria Silvaggi, Vicki,-.Alijq}s SS.
W. Ogden called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
NO MAR. i ~ A : 51
Mr. Ogden commended Library Director, Kimberly Lynn, for the excellent job she did of
keeping him informed while he was in Florida.
Budget Update
Ms. Lynn reported that the Department Heads met and drew up a list of cuts for each department.
Although department heads originally devised a budget that incorporated three categories of cuts,
this was later revised and the final decision was to divide cuts into two categories. Category 1
cuts are those that a department can "live with, given the current financial situation". Category 2
cuts are those that " are extremely detrimental to the department and will cause drastic reduction
in service to the community". All of the library items were characterized as "Category 2". The
Town Manager will recommend to the Board of Selectmen that items in Category 2 for all
departments be presented to the voters to determine whether they will pay for these services
through increased taxes or whether they will live with the cuts.
Ms. Lynn emphasized that the cuts were made as fairly as possible and that the department heads
had worked together as a team to come up with appropriate recommendations. She stated that
the department heads agreed that it was important for employee morale that cuts be made equally
across the board.
Mr. Ogden spoke in favor of the need for town departments to be co-operative and the necessity
for the Library Director to have good working relationships with other town department heads.
Mr. Connor agreed, but offered the opinion that this way of thinking unfortunately pits the need
to co-operate with town government against the best interest of the library's clientele.
There followed a discussion concerning the number of overrides that would be proposed, and the
structure and wording of the proposals. After a lengthy discussion, Mr. Connor proposed the
following motion:
" The Board of Trustees votes to support the Selectmen and the Town Manager in their
recommendation, as far as the Library is concerned, for the amount of funds needed to insure
certification by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners in FY 04". The motion was
seconded and approved unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned by Mr. Ogden at 7:15 so that trustees and library staff could attend
the Board of Selectmen meeting which immediately followed.
The next meeting will be held on March 17, 2003, at 7:00 p.m.
Elizabeth S. Dickinson
Assistant Director
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