HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-04-06 Board of Library Trustees MinutesBoard of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting - April 6, 1998
Present: Mrs. Maria Silvaggi, chair; Mr. Stephen Conner; Ms. Cherrie Dubois; Mr. Richard
Ogden; Dr. Christine Redford.
Mrs. Silvaggi called the meeting to order at 7:00.
Minutes: The minutes of March 16 were accepted.
Meeting with neighbors: Peter Hechenbleikner and Joe Delaney, Town Engineer, were on hand
to present to interested neighbors the proposal for increasing parking at the library. The plan
includes curbing on Middlesex Avenue, curbing and sidewalk on Deering Street, low lighted
posts on the existing walkway from School Street and on two new walkways from Middlesex
Avenue, repaving of the parking lot, and replacement of the rear fence. The estimated cost is
$70,000, but only $55,000 is available, so some items will be dropped. The parking lot will be
closed down during the day for ten days or so. Street parking will be restricted while curbs are
installed. The whole project will take one to two months to complete.
In response to a question about drainage, Mr. Delaney said that the Town will try to grade the
parking lot to keep run-off on site, installing gutters and catch basins. A neighbor expressed
concern about accidents and suggested that stop signs be installed on Middlesex Avenue at
Deering Street, but the Town Manager responded that the state would not allow stop signs there.
Another neighbor suggested a more visible pedestrian crosswalk at that intersection.
Shrubs will be moved from one side of the chiller to the other as the driveway is widened. Mr.
Hechenbleikner will talk to the tree warden about replacement of some dying trees.
The project will go out to bid in July. Expected start for construction is right after Labor Day. If
the project has to be reduced, the Deering Street curbing and sidewalk is probably the least
critical from an engineering standpoint. After the bid has been awarded, neighbors will receive a
letter detailing what will be done, with an estimated start date.
Other comments: neighbors were pleased with the look of the library grounds; however, trash
collects around the dumpster.
Financial report: This month's billroll is a small one. Expenditures are right on target. A trust
fund report was included.
Statistical report: Not yet available.
Report from the Chairman: Mr. Fields passed away on March 30. It was suggested that
donations in his memory be applied to a named fund in the Foundation. The Board supported this
suggestion.
Mrs. Silvaggi and Mr. Conner met with the Town Manager and Selectmen Camille Anthony and
Bruce MacDonald prior to this meeting concerning the $13,000 difference between the Board's
salary request for FY99 and the Selectmen's recent vote on priorities. Mr. Hechenbleikner has
re-analyzed the Town's casualty insurance; he will recommend to the Board of Selectmen
tomorrow night that $5200 from that account be moved to library salaries.
The other $8000 will come from the increase requested and approved for library materials. Mrs.
Silvaggi is not happy that we're giving up that money-it is not a good thing to do, but there are
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other avenues for materials money and no other avenues for salary money. Mr. Hechenbleikner
will ask the Selectmen to move the materials money to salaries. FinComm will consider the same
` - at their meeting on Wednesday night. If FinComm approves it, the change will be incorporated
in the budget motion that goes before Town Meeting.
Mrs. Silvaggi read the report she will be giving to Town Meeting.
She received a complaint about the Library's microfilm reader not working. It is awaiting repair.
These machines are very finicky. A new one costs about $10,000. Staff have been researching
the issue, but it seems that the technology is still bad.
Director's report: The Library passed its test of air quality. The new HVAC system either heats
or cools, depending on how the system is set for the season. It cannot go back and forth between
heating and cooling from day to day.
There was an incident in the Library last Tuesday in which a man asked a girl to remove her
sneakers. The girl went home and told her mother, who called the police. The police questioned
the man. A similar incident happened at a North Reading playground. The man was not charged
and he has not been banned from the Library. Ms. Hanley understands the high anxiety level of
parents. The man's photo is on display in a staff area. She has asked the Town Manager for staff
training to clarify the rights of staff and patrons in incidents such as this one.
Ms. Hanley will ask the Town Clerk to post the Board vacancy in a couple of weeks. It needs to
be posted; then the Trustees meet with the Selectmen to interview the candidates and to vote.
The person chosen holds the office by appointment until the next election, when the town votes
on a candidate to finish out the term.
Liaisons: Assignments need to be redone. For instance, Ms. Dubois is no longer on the
Foundation Board.
Unfinished business: The long-range planning committee consists of Ms. Hanley, Mrs.
Silvaggi, Dr. Redford, Mr. Ogden, Kimberly Lynn, Bruce MacDonald, and Vicky Yablonsky. It
has not met yet.
At the May meeting, the Board will review the Library's policies, establish liaisons, and prepare
for the Foundation meeting (to let the Foundation Board know what the trustees see as solid
needs).
A party for Mr. Diamond will be held on May 8.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Diane J. Yo g
Assistant Director
Board of Library Trustees
Minutes of Meeting -March 19, 1998
Present: Mrs. Maria Silvaggi, chair; Mr. Stephen Conner; Ms. Cherrie Dubois; Dr.
Christine Redford. Also present: Mr. Richard Ogden.
Absent: Mr. William Diamond; Mr. Robert Fields.
The Board met at 7:40 p.m. at the Senior Center, in conjunction with the Board of
Selectmen, the Finance Committee, and the School Committee (Budget Council).
The Finance Committee presented their recommendation for the bottom line of school
and municipal budgets. Peat Marwick presented a summary of their report on custodial
and maintenance operations. Discussion on their report was deferred by the FinComm
chair.
Richard Foley presented updated revenue estimates. Finance Committee recommends no
new programs in FY00.
In response to FinComm's recommendation to further reduce the school's proposed
budget by $800,000, Dr. Harutunian gave statistics on increasing enrollment. Mrs.
Silvaggi spoke on the impact of increasing school-age population on the Library.
After breaking up to caucus, the three Budget Council groups set their next meeting dates
for Monday, March 23. The Library Director and Trustee Vice-Chair will attend.
Diane J. Young
Assistant Director
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