HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-09-29 Board of Library Trustees MinutesBoard of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - September 29, 1998
Present: Ms. Maria Silvaggi, chair; Mr. Stephen Conner; Ms. Cherrie Dubois; Ms ' Donna
InDelicato; Mr. Richard Ogden; Dr. Christine Redford.
Ms. Silvaggi called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Minutes: The minutes of September 21 were accepted. The Husariks will not be leaving their
volunteer positions after all.
Trustees are invited to attend one of three public meetings on school-public library cooperation,
sponsored by the Board of Library Commissioners.
Budget: The Board discussed the proposed FY00 budget as presented by the Director. New
programs include: early hiring of a circulation division head to allow for overlap before the
retirement of the incumbent; additional librarian hours focussed on improved customer service
and technology training; an increase in the materials budget. The inclusion of professional
development and travel reimbursement is new; these were formerly in the Town Manager's
budget. The supplies budget is not sufficient, but no increase was requested. The $200 that has
been in a Postage line in previous budgets has been combined into Other. Any job
reclassifications will be presented in the General Services budget.
Priorities as determined by the division heads were: materials, circulation head overlap, reference
' staffing, Children's Room staffing. The consensus of the Board is that materials are the first
priority for a budget increase. The Board discussed the importance of presenting decision-
makers with all of the existing needs, even if they cannot all be funded in FY00. Trustees
aproved a three-month overlap for the new Circulation head, and twenty-five hours of librarian,
with desk coverage to be distributed as needed.
Dr. Redford pointed out that the need for more librarians is not something that will lessen over
time; the role of the librarian is changing, becoming more of an instructor. Putting off the request
for professional hours will not serve any purpose, since the trend will continue.
Ms. Silvaggi said that the Library is beginning to operate at a deficit in terms of staff. Past
increases in FTEs have been accompanied by increases in hours open. Mr. Conner noted that this
is the first request post-Internet for staffing that does not add hours of service.
Capital requests include items already in the Town's capital plan, and new ones. Costs for
existing projects were increased by the index recommended by the Town Manager. They are:
computers, a self-checkout system, new security system, renovated circulation desk. New
projects include an upgrade of the phone system and expansion of the building. The Director also
developed a list of maintenance projects in conjunction with Mike deBrigard, such as replacing
windows, exterior painting, new gutters. Maintenance items that were not included because of
the proposed expansion will be listed under the expansion as expenses to be incurred if that is
delayed for a substantial amount of time.
The warrant for the November town meeting had closed before the Board could ask the
Selectmen to put an article on it requesting money for Phase II of the HVAC project ($160,000).
The latest air quality report shows that the air in the basement is not as good as it should be. Mr,
Ogden asked the Director to let the Town Manager know that if a special warrant is opened, the
Board would like the HVAC money on it. Ms. Hanley will add Phase II as a capital request for
FY00. The idea of an instructional motion at fall town meeting was rejected.
Ms. Dubois moved to submit the proposed budget with the changes that were made by the Board.
.,The motion passed.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Diane I Young
Assistant Director