Minutes from November 6, 2013
The Board Meeting for the Trustees of Brown Memorial Library was called to order at 6:03 p.m.
Attendance: Mary-Chris Duncan, Nola Jordan, Robert Toppi, Patty Furness, Garry Kalajian, Meg Fearnley, Bea Howe, Connie Scheffy
- Erica has officially been appointed by the Board of Selectmen to serve as Trustee until the March elections.
- Bob Toppi was seated as a voting member in Erica’s absence.
3. The secretary’s report was accepted as presented.
- A motion was made and passed to accept donations to Brown Memorial Library in October in the amount of $342.50. $190.00 was given in memory of Rod Jones, $124.50 came from our on-going book sale, and $28.00 from general donations. In response to a question at the last meeting, Bea explained that the overage in our expenses for supplies is due to things such as ink cartridges (which are quite expensive) and new checks (which last more than one calendar year). The Treasurer’s Report was accepted as presented.
- Meg reported that while more than 200 children and parents showed up on Hallowe’en, things are generally quiet. Fewer children are attending story hour, but that may be due to a bug that seems to making the rounds.
- Under Old Business, Patty reported that Dick Cushing has given her a verbal estimate of $12,000 for painting the interior of the library – ceiling and walls, but not behind the bookcases. Paul Gross does have an estimate for the roof, but Patty has yet to make contact with him. These are the estimates that we need for our CIP application.
- The trustees agreed that as December 27 is the only date which may still be available for a Skywatch program in the near future, it would be better to wait for a date around a new moon in the spring. We have received permission from the property owner on Pleasant View Road. The town office will provide him with a certificate of insurance before the event takes place.
- Bea pointed out that the memorial plaque has been installed on Rod’s clock.
- We are grateful to Paul Gross for donating the Tyvek needed to hold in place the insulation which had come down from the ceiling in the store room. The labor was provided by a young man doing community service.
- Under New Business, Bea reported that the Selectmen are insisting on a zero increase budget. She explained that we felt the budget was already bare bones. However, after considerable discussion the trustees passed a motion authorizing Bea to rework the budget by dropping salary increases to 2%, postponing those increases until April, and trimming a couple of line items. She will do so and send copies to both the Selectmen and to the budget committee along with an explanatory letter.
- Meg reported that thanks to The Friends, Santa will again visit the library on Saturday, December 14, at 4:00 p.m. Meg will read a couple stories and then Laurie Buchar will light the tree and lead carols. The Town Hall Restoration Committee is planning a fund-raising event that afternoon and will include Santa’s visit and the tree-lighting in their advertising.
- The library will be closed Monday, November 11, for Veterans’ Day.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 4, at 6:00 p.m.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Nola Jordan, Secretary