This is the March 20th, 2026 meeting of the Kushner Public Library Board of Trustees. We are being audio taped and videotaped. We do have a quorum. Our first item on the agenda today are the minutes from February 12th. Does anyone
have any clarifications or questions on those minutes? >> Motion to accept. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Thank you. Next we have uh the budget.
So um very briefly our salary lines are so patron service supervisor and director are exactly where we should be at 68.9. Um so our library technician line is down because of of the vacancy we've had
since October. Um and that is at 62.7. um that will go up because um I have a new um tech two on payroll and I'll introduce you later on in the meeting. Um what's going to happen is the
children's room assistant um position is now vacant. So that will start to uh it will remain flat for um hopefully not too long. Um and the other item which is under operating
is the energy line. So this Wednesday I uh did my presentation to the finance committee uh for FY27. Um there was a comment about the energy line. As you can see right now I have the energy at uh 21.6%
spent. I have only received bills to uh up until November of last year. I have not received December, January or February if February is out. Um so at the meeting it was said that we that the library has spent $700 and uh $7,700
in energy. I haven't seen those bills so I can't break that down for you of what they were for the the months in the winter. I have uh emailed uh twice to get a number and I haven't received a reply yet. Um
and the other big thing that happened uh in the past month was I've used up my our material line. Um so as you know I do have to spend 16% of our budget on materials. I mean this is just a
fraction of what it is. Um but I was able to spend that that line. Um, and I will start using state aid to pay for materials um to in order to to get
that 16% spent for state aid. Um, what else? So, right now, um, without the the update to the energy lines, we're at
a 68.3 uh 68.3% spent. Um, and if the I did the calculations, obviously, I'm not going to add it to the expense budget here because I I want to see the invoices.
Um, if we were at the 7,700 spent in energy line, that total spent would bring us to 69.7, which is pretty good for where we are in this fiscal year. Um, any questions about the the current budget?
>> Why is it taking so long to get our energy bills? Or do we not know? >> There's a holdup. I I Okay, if you watch the it's it was mentioned in the FinCom meeting. Um there wasn't an answer to it
or a clear answer. >> Is everybody having a problem with >> I don't know. >> I'm just curious. >> So what happened is we I used to go to town uh to to town hall to my mailbox. There was an ever source bill in the my mailbox. I would pay it. >> It was now switched to um that I would
see it online. It was inputed into an Excel sheet and then there the files were there. So I would just print which is fantastic because it saves me a trip. Um, but the there hasn't been anything updated since November. >> Okay. >> So, they're paying the bills but not
notifying you. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> That's what it sounded like at the meeting that they've paid $7,700 around it, I'm sure, in energy, but yet we haven't seen a bill since November. So, I don't know if that's like an administrative thing. Like maybe I mean
Jamie's doing a lot at the at the um at town hall. She's got a lot of things going on. So I think that just that probably just hasn't >> hasn't quite made it happen. >> It hasn't happened yet. You know what I mean? Um so but hopefully >> I don't really think it's any big deal where we have a pretty good idea.
>> Yeah. Right. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> But it would still be nice to see the >> Yeah. that number for this meeting. So that way I could, you know, cuz winter months are hysterically we we pay a lot during >> plus two, if you see the bill and it's
either too little or too much, then you kind of go something's something's not right here. Like but if we're not seeing the bills, then how how do we know you know what's happening? >> Mhm. So hopefully we'll get an answer on that soon. >> Yes. I mean I you
maybe I should call. That would probably be the next step. I think >> when you find five minutes right >> amongst the other thousand things we have to do. >> All right. Do we want to uh vote on
this? So does anybody have any more questions? >> Motion to accept the budget. Second. All in favor? >> I. Thank you. Okay. Next item we have strategic planning.
>> Um this will just be a brief update on uh where we are with the strategic plan. Um so after the meeting that we had with the strategic plan committee uh committee on uh February 4th um I received a report uh on the uh Catherine
from the the consultant through MBLC or Massachusetts sent me a report of everything that was discussed um laid out beautifully and then uh we had a Zoom meeting in March to discuss the report. So we went
through it um each we went through each item. Um it was uh good to see that the report um the items that were discussed at the strategic plan committee meeting and the feedback that I've been receiving to patrons there's a theme
arising. Okay. So, um, right now it's just a matter of, um, it it I'm sort of putting this on the back burner for just a second while I, um, re, um, start the
processing of rehiring for a children's, uh, library assistant, uh, children's room assistant, sorry. Um and uh right now we're also dealing with schedule conflicts between uh staff uh vacations, personal time use um and planning for
summer reading. So it's in my mind. I have been getting uh a lot of paper surveys from uh town hall. Those surveys were sent in the census. So we've we've been receiving a ton of feedback and I've been putting those into um a Google
form manually. It's just very timeconuming, >> right? >> It is relaxing because it's not you don't have to think. But um I just I'm putting that all online so that way it's easy for me to take all that information and figure out what to to how to put together the strategic plan. Um the
feedback door is no longer there. Uh I took all those results. Those results are also in an Excel sheet. Um and you know that gathered uh opinions and input from everyone. self little ones to, you
know, two adults. Um, and so I'm just periodically going to town hall to grab the the paper surveys. Um, and I will start soon hopefully um doing a rough draft of the strategic plan. Um, and
that's where I stand with the strategic plan right now. Any questions about the strategic plan process? I think just putting it on the on pause while you do the other stuff, it shouldn't affect the timeline and the end result. >> Not at all. >> Yeah, I didn't think so. >> Not at all. >> I didn't think so.
>> It makes sense. >> I mean, the work is there. It's now I have to put it all together. So, that the heavy lifting is done. >> Sounds good. >> Yes. >> Anybody have any questions? >> Okay. Moving on to the FY27 budget. So,
in front of you, I provided um the MAR sheet that explains MAR. I'm not going to go over that cuz you guys know. And then um the budget um this is what I presented at the FINCOM meeting on Wednesday of this week. Um
the budget request um so a there was issues with um the salaries for myself and the patient service supervisor because of our contract ending. Um and the request B was the level funded or
close to level funded. We can't be level funded because we need to meet MAR. So request B is what the town requested regarding uh salaries using um the outdated contract. So my contract and the patient services contract is
expiring at the end of this fiscal year. And then right now the text um their contract passed town meeting but is still in limbo somewhere. I I don't know exactly where but the rates there are
the step increases. Um so with that and then everything else is bas it nothing else has changed. Um everything else that's contractual
remains the same. um our our number that we ended up with for request B leaves us above MAR. So I I I believe or uh request B was the I don't think they vote on it. They
didn't vote on it, but that's the the one that they will probably push forward. Um and then I did explain at the meetings, you know, request A was ideal. Um but I understand um the limits behind
it. Um and I explained why at the meeting we have to be we can't be level funded because they wanted level funded. Um and we just can't do that. >> Um so the feedback was great. Um it was positive. So um that's where we are and
as you know fiscal the the budgets uh will probably change again sometime. uh before town meeting. Um but I just wanted you to be aware of of what happened at uh the finance uh the final meeting this week.
>> That was really what we expected, wasn't it? >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> The only thing that I would be concerned is how close the 310 and the 309 are. >> There was mention of and this is where
the energy conversation came in. The town administrator brought up that the energy needs to be bumped up. I didn't know our energy yet, like how much we spent. So, I don't know what's going to happen if they're going to increase the energy line. I I I don't
know. So, there is >> maybe talks of it if if I'm um if before it gets to Tammy if they um explained or push for the the higher energy line. I I'm not sure. get us high up until 310.
>> Yes. >> Yep. Um >> plus two, if they negotiate any of these contracts, it's going to be added to the salary. So, we're at bare >> bare bare minimum salaries. >> Yep. >> Yep. And then they would if anything that they would add, they would they know that they're not going to subtract
to add. So, they would just add. >> This is So, regardless, this is the bottom. The the three the 310 is the bottom. >> Yep. That was that is depending on the contracts and if they increased the salary then but everything else they
um there was no uh there was questions about the sales expenses which is what we paid to be in the network. Um but other than that it was mainly the salaries that were that were different that were off. Um so any questions about
FY27? That was good. >> And it's on YouTube if you really want. >> And and the and the the members of the FinCom were all wellversed in our >> they all understood what was happening and everyone so she um and I like it
better. I think >> yeah it was really good. I I I think they appreciated it and they understood it and it was you know it was it was very good. >> Okay let's see moving on to new business. We have a donation. So, I
received an email um uh about a donation on behalf of Suzanne Bernard's family. They are looking to give a gift card to Barnes & Noble that uh and this would be given in her memory. Um so, this what
they want that to be used towards children's books from grades kindergarten to 8th grade. So, um, if the trustees approve of this donation, I will take it and, um, I'll save on shipping and I'll physically go to
Barnes & Noles and and and buy um, I was thinking maybe additional copies of summer reading materials. >> Um, or you know, sometimes we have a damaged item and we need uh, pretty fast and
unfortunate and growing takes forever. this would be something I could just go over there and grab. >> So, if the the trustees um approve of it, um I don't have an amount though. Um, so if if the trustees would approve it,
then I would take it and use it for >> So, um, would the books that have the donation, would they have that plate in them or the same thing that we do for all the rest of the donations? >> Um, if I could get in contact with the family, I can do however they would
like. Um, I could do in memory of, um, a donation by, however they want to see fit. But I, that's absolutely easy peasy. Okay. Mhm. All right. Does anyone have any questions or thoughts on that? >> Oh, that's great. Very nice. >> That is amazing.
Can we get a motion? >> A motion has to make a motion to accept the gift. >> Second. >> All in favor? I thank you very much to the Barack family for the U Barnes &
Noble uh gift certificate uh donation to the library um in memory of Suzanne. Thank you. Our next order of business is a new hire. Um so we have a new library
technician too. She started this Monday. Her name is Alexis Ferry. So if you are in the building um please introduce yourself to her. um she started on Monday and I lost a staff member on Friday was the last day for a children's
room assistant. So the day I uh offered the job to Alexis, I received a letter of resignation um from our children's room assistant. Not related at all, just that's how life is. So um she is wonderful um and we're
really excited to have her here. >> Excellent. So that that's that one, Alexis. It's very new. So yes, and I've been training all week with her. So it's um it's it's been good. >> Okay. >> And then that brings us into the
resignation, which did you want to say more about that or? >> Um I just kind of tied it in. >> Yeah, I tied it in. I said her la her last date was on the 13th, so it was last Friday. I received notification of her leaving on February 17th. Um and uh
she'll be truly missed. Um it's a loss to our community. Um but we wish her the best and um right now I have I immediately started the process of hire um posting a job. I did you know
protocol in house at town hall um and then I posted it on our usual medium. So I did Simmons uh job line. I did MBLC website and it's posted in-house and for the first time ever I posted it on our social media
>> and I will say I don't know if it's because of the social media and it's reaching more people that are actually looking for library jobs you know they might not know about those websites it's reached it's been shared a a lot I have
received as of today 17 applications >> fantastic >> absolutely um I have six or seven that I will reach out shortly to start interviewing. >> Wow, that's great. >> So, it's it's last time we had the vacancies. When I started this position
was vacant. Um it was it was a little difficult to get applicants, but this time around it's something's changed and um we're going to start this hopefully next week I'll start interviewing. >> So, um Fantastic. >> Yes.
>> Yes. So that's where we are with that right now. >> Oh yes. >> Yep. >> Anybody have any questions or comments on that? >> That's probably your reputation. >> I think that's what it is. >> Well, I will say um unfortunat you know during we've been having such great and I've mentioned this. We've been having
such great numbers at story time. >> So I I actually spoke with Jen about this and I'm going to do story time starting a uh April 1st. I'm not a children's librarian but I'm going to do it. Um, so I'm adding
another task to my long list of of items, but I am looking forward to it and I have been prepping for it and I've been going to do a letter of the week series. So, it's simple. Start with A and then go through the alphabet. >> Um, and then hopefully it won't be long
and I don't have to go through 26 letters. >> Well, at least you gave YOURSELF A GOAL THAT YOU KNOW THAT'S not too bad. >> ABC. Yeah, I don't think I you sometimes. Why?
>> Sorry about that. >> I think it's I think it's great. I think it's, you know, it's good to keep the people coming. I think it's good. I think you're going to be just like you're good at everything else. And I think I mean, look, I mean, >> you're solving maintenance problems with groundhogs and toilets and every I mean,
what's what's story time? You do this. >> I know. >> And it's fun. I get to dance and sing and you know do a craft here and there and >> I think it'll be fun. >> It will be it'll be relax. It's just the prep is it's of course the most time consuming. It's like when do I prep, you know, so I'm going to bring some books
home and read to my pets. >> There you go. Thank >> you. Look at all those little faces looking back at you. >> I know. I know. And they do come in here and I interact with them at the desk or in the children's room. So, >> um, it it it'll be and I have done it
for Little People's College. I know it's a little bit more informal, but you know, >> it'll be fine. >> Excellent. Um, let's see. We have the modification to the study room policy. So,
I received an anonymous survey um with a uh that brought to my attention the the language in our study room policy. Um I am looking to remove the word citizens because I do feel it might be misleading
um to replace it with study room users. So it would read, "The Kushna Public Library provides study rooms for quiet study and tutoring to assist study room users in succeeding in formal education, independent learning, and personal pursuits. Um, if you have a better word
than study room uses, I was going to put patrons, but I use patrons all the time. >> I think study rooms." I mean, okay. Yeah, I think it that works fine because the policy really outlines who who can
use it, who they have to have a sale card. >> Yep. You have to have a sales card or an ID. And you know that word is misleading because um >> it can be taken in many ways. So, um I just want to just put it as broad as possible and change it to that. And that
was it on the study room policy. >> So, I just need a >> Anybody else have any uh questions or concerns? All right. Get a motion. Motion as >> I second. All in favor? >> I I thank you.
>> I'm surprised it was only twice. >> Okay, moving on. We have the ongoing plumbing issue in the bathroom. >> Ah, favorite P word is back on the agenda. >> So, let me set up the story.
on it. What's this? It was a Wednesday. Yeah. Actually, I didn't even put the date. I just put Actually, so on Wednesday, March, it's okay. It It was in March. So, on Wednesday, a patron came up to the desk
and the toilet's overflowing. There's water everywhere. I'm like, "What?" And it like, "It's not pretty." I'm like, "Oh, here we go. Disclaimer. >> Yeah. So, I'm ready to get my latex gloves, you know, prepare myself. So, I
I went to the bathroom, open the door, and there was water everywhere. There was brown items everywhere. >> And um it was clogged. So, you know, I went there, tried to unclog it. Nothing. Wasn't budging. >> Could be a story time.
>> A story. We could do potty train. >> You could do a story. That's a buck. >> So the So it wasn't working. So I know this is not my first rodeo with the plumbing. So I know it was more serious
than what I can handle. So I called a maintenance foreman to see if maybe they he could unclog it. So okay, this is more we need the the professionals. So I c I contacted Bass Ready uh Ruda and
they came in within 2 hours. They were here for about two and a half hours um unclogging it. Long story short, the the report um that we receive when they come here, cuz they use cameras in in the
pipes, which is fascinating, um is that at 5 ft from the cleanout in the basement uh to the foundation of the building, there's a bad joint that has slipped. So, the pipes in the ground have slipped. We don't know if it was
because of the weather or when they installed the pipes the wasn't last year, it was two years ago at this point. If something Yeah. >> So um Matt reached out to the GPW and they are going to look at um the
blueprints for the pipings that were done. I believe they're at the department the blueprints are at the Department of Health. um because the ones I have are just so the pipes that go outside to the septic um to see if the DPW can dig and then he was also
going to reach out to I think the town uses Suns Libert or Liberty Plumbing um to see how much it would be to replace the pipes that are in the basement and as you know the the pipes that are in the basement they're at a a 90° angle so
the things just accumulate at the bottom And now with the pipe slipped, it's getting caught in between. >> So I I I this is an ongoing process. You know, the ground was still frozen when this happened. So, you know, in the
spring, we probably will have another plumbing um situ or or fixing the the pipes in the in the ground. Um but when I get more information on that, that will be on the uh future agenda. Um, I
will say that the invoice for the for for them to come out uh was $91. Um, and I used the library gift fund for that. Um,
I'm hesitant to know I I didn't write it down and I'm not 100% sure. Uh, but it it has been paid. I know that. But, um, so that was an emergency. Um, and it was it it's been taken care of. Um, it's just now they need to fix
that pipe and the pipes out there are fine. It's just now closer to the building. >> Um, so we'll see if we can do it in house. >> Um, and that's what M Matt's working on with me with this. Um, so yes, that's
what happened. And what you know, the pipe slips, it was just accumulation of of toilet paper. It wasn't anything. >> So, it's going to continue obviously to happen. >> Yeah. And the last time um I called them was last June. So, it takes a while.
>> Yes. So, it's been longer than >> So, hopefully we can get it fixed before we have to call again. Right. >> Correct. Correct. So, um just be aware we will have something coming up in the in in the future regarding this meeting again. >> Ongoing.
>> Excuse me. I think you need um you'll probably have galashes in addition to the gloves pretty soon. >> So I when I went in there the water splashed all my pants and then when they were done I went in there like okay
let's see so you know I want to have this bathroom back and running. They didn't it it was brown everywhere. They didn't clean up well. So I had to clean that night before I left. You have an apron, you know, like you should have a plast.
>> No, I need a bubble. >> I know. Right. >> No, I we actually do. We do have aprons of that. When I was part time, we received aprons and I love them, but they're so cute. I wouldn't want to go. >> No, I don't mean that. >> Oh, like a rubber. >> Oh, I know. No, I only have gloves. >> I should have one.
>> I think so. >> And get blotches and just >> I think so. Then you would, you know, at least stay. Yeah. >> But the bathroom was up and running when before I left. So, right, because >> it it wasn't like, oh my god, I need to shut it down again. It just needs to be cleaned.
>> Cleaned. Yeah, >> that was Yeah. And they went home and not want to eat. >> Well, thank you again for your other duties as a sign. You're >> welcome. >> Honestly, your stories on construction and maintenance. It really I mean it really
you you're almost in the edge of your seat going where is this going to end what is she >> how is this going to end >> I mean imagine if I remembered everything that >> do we have any other business that's not on here that you have that you want to talk about
>> um we do not just the director >> so then we'll move on to the director's report then So um just a few items I want to highlight. So um on Friday uh
and I forgot which keep written my wrong days. Anyway um so the friends um purchased uh the nudes shelves in the children's room for the graphic novels and behind us our TV has been installed
that was purchased by the friends and a donation. Um, and that was installed by Best Buy. Um, they came in within 20 minutes it was up and running. Um, so we've we've used it ready for a movie.
Um, and we've used it for a presentation with through a laptop. So it it's great. The sound is amazing on it. Um, so I'm really looking forward to showing um kids movies on it because it looks really nice. And then the shelving units
in the children's room were uh installed by two or installed and put together by two students from old colony under the supervision of Matt. Um so that was actually very quick. Five minutes it was incred. They were done. I was like, "Oh,
I thought this took longer." But they brought them in here all assembled. So the children's room now has an expanded graphic novel section. And um I'm I'm I'm going to purchase more items or complete collection or volumes that we have of some series. Um so I I I thank
the friends for that. Um what else? I already talked about the baking position and how that's going. Um I I just want to give once again a major kudos to Matt and the crew for cleaning
the library during the blizzard. our parking lot, our walkways, everything was done uh when I came in um the three days after we were closed. Um and they did came to check to see if we needed
salt and and and stuff, but um it was, you know, we had a lot of snow. Now it doesn't even look like we had a winter, but um it I just wanted to thank them for that uh effort um on on behalf of the library. They've really done a good
job all year. >> They really have. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. Um I do I already have like a a list of things for the spring, but I won't reach out uh give him a little break for a few. Um and then I'm just going to talk about
some um uh events that are coming up. So, tomorrow I'm doing a DYI drop in pine cone bird cedar craft and a seed bomb, which is literally it's just newspaper
with um flower seeds and you plant them. >> And then the bird feeder um is a pine cone and you put peanut butter or lard. You kind of just it's very self-explanatory. You just paint it with that and then roll it in bird seed and you just hang it. So, it's something for
for anyone uh tomorrow and that will be uh from 11 to 1. And then I just wanted to say uh we do have some uh spaces left for our a free watercolor class with Lana Quan. Uh we're they're going to do
spring mini abstract florals and that start and that will be next Saturday, March 28th and that's from 12 to 2. So all you do is just bring yourself. everything's included. Um, and these are really popular. We also will have another one in April. And then the last
thing I already mentioned is that story time will resume on April 1st. So, we're taking a two week break from that. Um, and that's it. >> Any questions about >> questions or comments? Anyone?
Okay. Our next meeting will be Friday, April 10th at noon here in the library. And if we have no other business, >> motion to adjourn. >> I second. >> All in favor? >> I
>> I this March 20th, 2026 meeting of the Cush Public Library Board of Trustees is officially adjourned. It is 12:10. Thank you. Heat. Heat.