HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-12-09 Board of Library Trustees Minutes-/GZ
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Board of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - December 9, 1993
Conference Room - Reading Public Library - 6:00 p.m.
Present: Mrs. Elia Marnik, chair; Mrs. Carol Beckwith; Mr. William"
Diamond; Ms. Cherrie Dubois; Mr. Robert Fields; Dr. Christine Redford.
Also attending: Tom Stohlman.
The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m.
Minutes: Mr. Fields moved that the minutes of November 22 be accepted.
Mrs. Marnik asked that the wording reporting the Director's evaluation be
changed from "above average" to "outstanding." The minutes were accepted
..as amended.
Financial report: The state aid money.has been received.
Statistical report: Sundays are now counted as half a day in the "Days
Open" statistic.
Director's report: The reference desk will be installed on Friday night,
December 10. The security system is now active.
Liaison reports: Ms. Dubois reported that the Friends newsletter was sent
out about four weeks ago. Mr. Fields requested a "no exit" sign for the
parking lot entrance.
T' 'finished business: 1) The deadline for completion of the pay and class
ly is now January 4. The Town Manager has given the Director
1.,z:liminary numbers for library salaries; she disagreed with some parts of
the proposal. Extensive discussion ensued among the Board members about
how to rectify the proposed salaries. Options discussed included use of
state aid and furloughs on the part of administrative staff. If neither of
these alternatives is taken, there will be a serious morale problem, said
Ms. Hanley.
In discussion, Mrs. Marnik said that the Town should pay for salary
increases, and that in principle she feels bad about using state aid. Mr.
Diamond said that state aid is intended to provide good service, and that
good service depends upon personnel. Ms. Hanley said that~'she is aware-
that paying salaries out of state aid may be a bad precedent; it is very
important that the Town should pay for the total salaries in years to come.
The Board agreed that salary equity is crucial to the Library.
Mr. Diamond moved that every effort be extended to get the Town Manager to
change his mind or to challenge him to find the money from another source,
and that, failing that, the Board extract it from the state aid money when
it comes in. The motion passed.
2) The FY95 budget request does not include any of the proposed new salary
figures. The personnel account includes a 4.5 percent increase, as
directed by the Town Manager. The only other increase is for NOBLE. The
Board approved of the priorities for additions as assigned by the Director.
Members of the Board expressed regret over the continued splitting of the
Assistant Director's position. Mr. Diamond moved to approve a budget of no
less than $521,160. The motion passed.
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New business: ,1) Ms. Hanley requested the use of trust funds to pay for
staff members to attend the Public Library Association conference, in
anta, at an estimated cost of $1200. Mr. Fields made a motion to do so.
Dubois asked that the staff members incur no out-of-pocket expenses.
Ms. Hanley will report on the cost after the airfare is known.
2) This year, the Library will receive a new disbursement of state aid to
reimburse non-resident lending. The Director stated that in no way does
the Library discriminate against people because they're from out of town,
except in requests to purchase books. The Board approved the suggestion
that requests made by nonresidents be given the same consideration by book
selectors as all others.
3) Ms. Hanley reminded the Board of the staff appreciation party.
In the future, December Board meetings will be held earlier in the month
than the other monthly meetings, due to the calendar of the budget process.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
~Q--
Diane J. oung
Assistant Director
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