[music] [music] This is the January 9th, 2026 meeting of the Kushnet Public Library Board of Trustees. We are being audio taped and videotaped. And we do have a quorum. Our first item on the agenda today is the
secretar's report from December 11th. Does anyone have any clarifications or questions on the minutes? Okay, then we just need a motion. I make a motion to accept the minutes as presented
and second. >> Second. >> All right. [snorts] And all in favor? >> Thank you. Moving on to the budget. >> All right. >> I didn't see. Do you have
>> We didn't get the We didn't get that. >> That's okay. Um, so there's there's not much on it, but I will get this to you. I'll send it um or I'll make photo copies after the meeting. I apologize. No worries. >> Um, so, uh, for salaries, we're at 49.1%
spent, uh, which is exactly where we want to be for the fiscal year. Um, but in previous meetings, I mentioned that, um, we still need to do retro for the tech. So, I'm thinking somewhere down the line I will have to do a department transfer. But, um, there's no news, no
news, no new news to report regarding the salaries. Um, and regarding operating um, our energy, uh, I paid the November bill, which was $643, um, to Eversource. Um, and then there
wasn't any other big purchases. Um, I will like to say that there is a new addition into the public bathroom. We had a patron who had concern about their child not reaching the faucet, which I don't know why, you know, the 10 years
we've been here, the thought of a stool. >> So, um, I bought a step stool for the little ones. Um, and that was $19.97 now that I have, um, the ability to buy off of Amazon through the town. So, it was something that was very quick and
and in the bathroom now. Um, other than that, uh, our total, uh, expenses were at 51.6%. Um, and like I said, we just passed halfway of the fiscal year, so we're doing pretty well. >> Great.
>> That's it for the budget. >> Sounds good. All right. >> Anybody have any questions? >> Okay. And we just need a motion. Make a motion to accept the budget. >> Second. >> All in favor? Hi, thank you.
>> Old business building maintenance. >> All right, so I have three items on the um that have updates. The first one is being the dehumidifiers in the basement. Um so dry zone basement uh will be here Monday to
install the two new dehumidifiers. Um so they received the 30% deposit uh invoice. It was paid through the library gift fund. Um, and I received a call this week. Uh, they actually called me in this morning to confirm that they'll be here Monday between 9:00 and 11:00.
Um, so that will be hopefully up and running our next meeting. Um, and then the other item that was taken care of was our sign. So, we have a brand new our sign. Thanks to the friends for
purchasing um the they uh the vinyl through stuck on you uh designed designed the the new hour sign uh installed it and then Matt and crew um painted sanded and installed the sign back up.
>> So it looks really great. It does look great. >> It's bold. It stands out and uh hopefully be there for a long time coming. >> Don't change your hours. No, >> the good thing is I think with the vinyl it could be replaced a little, you know,
easier. Well, I don't have any plans or anything to do to change the hours. >> So, um, it was a it was a nice fix for a one a nice quality sign that was there. >> Um, the other update I have is regarding
the lights. So, our light um I'm going to call it our light project uh is now complete. So, we now have two new installed lights on our walkway. We also have two new LED lights where the
library the street sign is for the library. And while um Doug was here, uh I noticed that the norththeast light in the corner was really fading.
So, he put a new light there. And then I swear things just happened while he was here. The light in the hallway went out. >> I swear. >> Good thing. >> So he installed a new LED light. Uh it's the closest light to the door. So um our
building is well lit. Um it to me it's it's it was a safety hazard. Um so the new LED lights um they're energy efficient. Um and so far, you know, if you come by at night, you know, just
take a see see how different it looks. Um and that was completed um last month. So that's it for the building. >> Well, that's good. >> Yes. Yes. So, a lot of up a lot of updates and and um a lot of fixes that
happened this past month. So, [clears throat] >> excellent. Excellent. >> Yes. >> Anybody have any questions, thoughts? Good to see the new sign of >> definitely good. >> All right, then we'll move on to new
business which is the FY27 budget. >> All righty. So, as I do every year, I bring up a proposed uh FY uh FY budget. So, this what you have in front of you is the new FY
uh 27 um budget. Um I'm going to go through each section very quickly because not a lot of things are are changing. Um so under salaries um so the first two lines we have the director and
patient services supervisor. Our contract is expiring at the end of this year. Um so I don't know where we are uh in terms of negotiations or what's happening with that. So I just put us at
2%. Um because that seems to be the meaning in most of these things. Um but you know this is a proposed and between now and in the final one things will change. Um uh library technicians um
I have them at a 3.06% 06% increase um due to um the uh colas and um a little trying to get a little bit of wiggle room regarding you
know extra like the holidays if I need extra hours. Right now I'm in a situation where I can't provide um any additional hours to cover sicknesses or vacancies. Um like for example last week I worked over the my allowment of hours
so I had to take a day off this week um because I couldn't just have someone work because there's not much there's no money right now because of of of other factors. Um the longevity line um because we've lost the person who was
receiving longevity that line went down. Um so I'm only requesting $686. Um and then for expenses, um keeping energy the same, um the building and grounds line the
same, office equipment is the same, tech support is the same. So tech support and sales expenses, those are contractual. Um the education line is the same. Sales expenses
um went up and that was because of a they were we had a pro rate that expired so that's why it went up. Um office supplies is the same, children's supplies is the same and then for materials I increased it up $1,000.
Um that is due bec that is due to the cost of materials are now we're really feeling it. Um the discounts that we do receive are they're there but it's not as it was in the past and materials are
just more money. Even shipping items are are becoming more costly. Um [clears throat] in the grand scheme of things you know a thousand is is not that much. Um and then for travel remains the same. So in
total um the I will say so before I I break the total number um the the MAR for FY27 is 30973 and then I included um so I updated the the MAR sheet that I had done in the
past. Um, what I did this time is I included what I do, what we have to do to make sure we can re be um, eligible for state aid and what the town has to do that in order for us to receive state aid.
>> Um, so it's basically the same information as the previous sheets from previous years. Um, it's just now all on one sheet. So the MAR for FY27 is 309173 and then um in total the FY27 budget
request will be 314 2570. Um so in conclusion there's not much changing with the budget. I'm not there's no big ask. Um there's a lot of question marks regarding salaries. Um
because and that's out of my hands. Um but it's pretty much the same. Oh. Oh, and the other thing actually this is a big thing. Um there I removed the telephone line. So we no longer pay for uh the the telephone for faxing. Um so
that money was added to material line essentially. Um, but that won't I believe that won't be on the budget for um I I I actually I actually have to ask like do I have to do something to remove it from there or does it just disappear
because it's no longer we're not using it. Um so I'll repeat the the the proposed request for FY27 which is 314257.70. Any questions regarding proposed budget? >> I just have a comment.
>> Yes. [clears throat] >> All of the increases are contractual. >> Correct. >> With wages, >> correct? >> Plus the sales expense that went up almost 2,000. A little over 2,000. So between the
increase in the um wages, that's where the extra 89,000 is coming from. So there's nothing here in this budget that we could look at and [clears throat] try to cut or anything. So
>> did a good job. >> Thank you. And like I said, like the big question marks with the salary, it could be higher, you know. I I don't I don't know. you know, it's still early, but at least we have an idea of of what we're,
you know, should ask >> especially with the MAR, you know, in that. [clears throat] >> Thank you. >> It's good. I think it I mean, I think it's where it needs to be. I think it's where it has to be. I don't think there's any wiggle room. >> No. Well done. Thank you.
>> Definitely. >> Thank you. >> It's good that we have the telephone line going. >> Yeah. It's uh you know and I keep checking just in case there's a bill online. [laughter] >> There's nothing there. I know it's >> been more than half a year. So, >> does anyone have any comments or
questions on the budget? >> No, it looks good. >> All right. You don't need us to vote on that. You don't need us to vote on that. I don't think so. >> All right. Um did any um communication
about presenting that to the town yet? >> Nothing. No. >> Okay. Not yet. >> No. And I will discuss the department head meeting about the budget, but there was absolutely nothing yet. >> Nothing coming up. Okay. I figured probably in the next month or so. >> Okay. Um and then anything there's
nothing else, right? We just have the director's report. >> Just the director's report. >> All right. Director's report. >> All right. So for the director's report um so actually regarding the budget um I went to a department head meeting with the board of selectment in the finance
committee on December 16th. Um this meeting was um to inform um town and employees how the budget process works. Um so it was filmed. It's all online. Um and
um it was uh good to see everyone in the same room. Um and then jumping into children's room. Um during December, Lori did take a break from story time, but she did have a special winter holiday story time
that had uh 25 people in. So it was it was really wellreceived. And then earlier this week, um the elementary school first graders, uh a representative came and picked up over 100 library card applications. So once
we receive those, we will process those and then Lori will go to the school to uh hand out the library cards and to do a little uh story time. Um the big excuse me the big uh strategic plan big
scary strategic plan. So process uh it is is it's moving along with it. Um a few things that have happened since our last meeting. Um you might have seen it online. You will see it in your census. I was able to contact Pam, the town
clerk, and I was able to come up with a brief survey that will be inserted into the town census census that will be mailed out, I believe, later this month. >> So, in the census, it's very brief. Um, it's just asking about if you use the
library, um, if you do, what do you why do you use the library, what what type of items do you borrow? Um, and it also asks what we can do to improve. So, if you do receive it, I would appreciate it if you could fill it out and send it back with your census and then Pam and
her crew will take them out and I can go grab them um once they are sent back. So, it's one way for us to receive feedback. >> Um and then the survey is also mirrored online. There is a link um on our web
page in the library um on social media if you wanted to just you know quickly answer the survey online. So far we have 14 responses so it's really helpful >> and then um and I've been consulting
with Katherine uh um who's our consultant through the Massachusetts library system. So some of the items I did change upon her feedback. Um so it's um you know I I have help with that. So it's been really really really good. And
then uh our new item as of yesterday um is the feedback door. So, one of the items I discussed with Katherine um was some libraries have a board that you can go and put a poll or you can put, you
know, your opinion on things. And I was like, well, we have doors. So, I created the feedback door. So, with the help of staff, especially Sandra, uh she put it on paper and we have our doors that are now decorated with what you can what you
love about the library and what you wish for at the library. And we've received a quite a few responses. So, after the meeting, if you guys want to go fill a thing out, please do. Um so all that feedback we received will help us when
we do the strategic plan when we meet the first time which would be January 28th um with the the strate strategic plan committee um you know your opinions will help shape the future of this library.
So, you know, no opinion, there's no right or wrong opinion and anything is is of value to us. Um, and there's no age restrictions. So, you know, if a little wants to write something, please do please, you know, allow um and it
it's moving along and I'm working on the for the first meeting. So, I'm working on right now the environmental scan. So, I'm compiling information about the town. I'm compiling information about the library and uh trends in the library. So, it's um it's it's going
along um [clears throat] uh it's going along pretty pretty smooth. So, knock on wood. Um and then on top of that, I this week I finally sat down with the uh resumes that I've
received for the vacant position. I have reached out to three people. I have three interviews scheduled in the following weeks. Um so that is um also ongoing. It's um I've received over 48
uh resumes. >> Yes. Yes. >> So um lot sorting through um and um I'm making progress with with with that on top of it. And then the other thing that I'm starting to do is the
annual report for the town. I know it's usually around this time that they ask for it. Um but I'm just preparing myself ahead of time. That way I'll have it done um prior to um the deadline [laughter] cuz sometimes they just get dropped on
us. So um other than that um you know just my regular everyday duties um you know we have been short staffed um due to sickness. Um, so, um, uh, you know, you know, sometimes it's hard to do your
your, you know, duties at in my office because I'm needed at the desk. >> Um, but, you know, hopefully when we get a new new person in here, that will ease some of it and, you know, maybe the weather will be better, less people are sick.
>> Um, and then I believe that's it for the the the the director's report. Um, [clears throat] any questions about the director's report or anything? That >> 48 seems like a lot. Is that a lot?
>> It's a lot. Um, I will say this is the first time I put the a job on Indeed. >> Okay. >> So, I got a lot of applications there. I mean, I did get applications, you know, through my email. Um, and also over the
phone, like, uh, people asking about the job over the phone, but Indeed, um, it I had to put a stop to Indeed because I was, it was one day I had like 30 people and I need to stop. >> So, that [laughter] lesson learned. Um
but it's um you know [snorts] hard to get a li a job in the library. So people who are are either in library school or wanting to move to to the to the library field it's difficult to get it. So um
but we'll we'll see. So, um it's it's still I'm fairly in the beginning stages of this. Um and um that well I think the first interview takes place next Friday. So >> good. >> Yes. Yes.
>> Well, you've been busy with non maintenance issues [laughter] right now. >> Not gone up to the H. >> It was making noise. >> Oh, but there's ice all over it. >> And the other one melted except for this one. So, I don't know. But, um, but
yeah. So, uh, yeah. Um, yeah, things were fixed this month, so it was good. All right. Well, that's good. >> Maybe we won't have any building maintenance on our agenda for a month or so. We'll see. >> We'll see. >> Anybody else have any questions,
concerns, comments? >> All right. Um, okay. So, our next meeting will be Thursday, February 12th at 11:00 a.m. Um, and if we have no other business,
anybody? No. Okay. Then we just need a motion. >> Make a motion to read. Second. >> All in favor? I >> I this January 9th, 2026 meeting of the Kushnet Public Library Board of Trustees
is officially adjourned. It is 11:52. Thank you. [music]