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Board of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - November 26, 2001
CLERK
--I i "G , MASS.
Present: Stephen Conner, chair-, Donna InDelicato; Roberta McRae; Eugene Nigro; Richard
Ogden. Also present: Camille Anthony, Selectman liaison. Combined meetQWfi6 tht P 1: 51
Historical Commission, 8-9:15 p.m. Also present: Peter Hechenbleikner, Betsy Ware, George
Hines.
Mr. Conner called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
Minutes: The minutes of October 15 were accepted.
FY03 budget: The Director presented the Board with some options for the FYO3 proposed
budget. The Town Manager has requested level-funded budgets as a starting point for
discussion. For the Library, level funding means losing state aid. Although the Reference On
Call regional contract is not contingent on certification, lack of certification would likely
create a perception that Reading's ability to provide quality service is diminishing. Therefore,
the contract would likely not be renewed after its first three years. The Reference On Call
service also seems to be moving in another direction, regardless.
The minimum required for state certification is $816,665. Board members indicated that they
would not be taking their obligation seriously if they approved a budget that decertified the
Library. A motion to instruct the Director not to submit a budget for less than $816,665
passed unanimously.
Financial report: The business mini-grant has been completely expended.
Statistical report: Although the Library was open fewer days, circulation was up by over
1000 items. Patrons' ability to place holds from home has had an impact. The Director has
determined that not enough hours were taken from the Library's weekly schedule this year to
correlate with budget cuts--the staff is stretched too thin. In preparation for next year, staff
will be reassessing whether the right hours (time of day, day of week, etc.) were cut this year
Cell phone antennas: Betsy Ware of Nextel presented that company's interest in the Library's
chimneys as a site for cell phone antennas. The Town already has 6 antenna installations for
other companies, at the water towers, Addison Wesley, and Summit Towers. There are
advantages to the Town for providing municipally owned property as opposed to companies
negotiating with private owners: financial benefit and more control.
Nextel needs coverage in the center of Reading. A test of the Library's suitability as a site
would include putting a truck in the parking lot for half a day, with an antenna mounted on a
crane that is raised to chimney height. A crew would then drive around to test the extent of the
coverage. The test could be done outside of open hours, and is covered by Nextel's insurance.
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- e c ffimneys would-be structurally tested.
If the results were good, and the Town decided to enter into a contract with Nextel, Nextel
would attach 4'x6"x6"panels to one face of three chimneys. A band around the chimney
would hold the panels in place, or they could be directly drilled into the brick. Both the band
and the panels would be covered with a faux brick material. Nextel would also need space
inside or outside the building for electronics equipment. An outside space would entail an
11'/2'x20'x10' high building, with air conditioning that operates at 45 decibels. A coaxial cable