 |
Gleason Public Library
Minutes of the Trustees' Meeting
Date: Friday, September 7, 2007
Present: Phil Conti, Angela Mollet, Dale Ryder and Priscilla Stevens
The meeting convened at 9:40 a.m.
The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as corrected.
Housekeeping business:
- Middlesex Bank needed a signature authority change form signed so that all current trustees are on the account. This was done.
- The Trustees unanimously passed a motion to reverse its prior action and accept term of 13 months, instead of 24 months, on its CD to take advantage of a 5.1% APY interest rate.
- The year-end Fidelity statements are filed in the Fidelity account folder.
- We received a letter from the IRS stating that if our revenue and contributions do not exceed $25,000 we do not have to file Form 990 except in certain new situations. We file this form anyway. The letter is in our tax file.
New business:
- There has been a draft of a policy on rules for behavior in the library after school. Angela reported that the children's advisory council liked the draft. Dale noted that there is a rule at the school that states that if you leave the campus at 2:20 p.m., you may not return. This may have an impact on the library. Angela reported that there has been a god start to the year, and that things have been quiet. She will meet with Police Chief Sullivan to review the policy and expectations. The Trustees will sweep through the building on September 18, the first early release day, from noon to 3 p.m.
- The Trustees discussed and approved the user agreement, expectation, and use of computers policy.
- The Trustees agreed that the Endowment would be the agent to fund a grant for software, furniture, and programs.
- The October meeting will be on October 11 at 9 a.m. Our financial advisor, David Witherbee, will be invited.
- The semi-annual Endowment meeting will be on October 25, time to be determined.
Director's Report:
Building:
- Shelving has been in stalled and will be funded from state aid.
- The Department of Public Works has painted new parking lines and has done some cleaning in the attic.
- Fall landscaping: there will be cutbacks in this area to accommodate the personnel budget. John Bakewell will be called in to do a tree assessment. The Trustees unanimously approved funding for this action from the Endowment.
At 10:30 a.m., Town Administrator Madonna McKenzie joined the meeting to discuss contract negotiations and personnel policies. At the present time, Town Bylaw 15.3.2.3, third paragraph, states that the personnel Board shall classify contracts with Selectmen's approval. The problem is the proposed two-year, as opposed to the current one-year contract for the Library Director. The Trustees cannot change the classification of this contract. The Trustees can negotiate merit increases with the approval of the Selectmen. Madonna recommends taking this case to Town Meeting to get Trustee authority to negotiate the library Director's contract. The Trustees agreed to examine the history of this policy and get the information needed to start the process of getting this authority. This issue will be placed on the agenda for the
October meeting.
Upon Madonna McKenzie's departure, discussion continued on the following items:
- Budget discussion continues on the problem of getting through the process without being involved in an override.
- The Trustees send congratulations to the staff for their efforts to come up with and establish a new logo for all library communications.
- The Trustees need to draft a letter to the Personnel Board urging them to reassess the wage/classification scale. At the moment, the library funds parts of some salaries through grants, which are not permanent.
- Angela will help plan and attend a Leadership Institute.
- At the next meeting, there will be more discussion of a memorial book, to record memorial gifts made to the library.
- There will be filming at the library on September 26.
The meeting was adjourned shortly after 11:30 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Priscilla S. Stevens, Secretary
| |
