##VIDEO ID:ZLuY_0EDx5Y## call the meeting of the wage and Personnel uh committee at 6:04 on Monday December 16 2024 um the uh meeting is being recorded by Zoom anyone intending to make an audio video recording of this meeting should notify the chair at this time items may be taken out of order at the discretion of the chair the wage and Personnel Board does need a third member to be appointed by the finance committee if anyone is interested or knows anyone who's interested and join the board please cont contact finance committee or the board of select's office um the uh anything for the good of the group I have nothing sir okay um first appointment is Tina uh Betty the human resources manager uh Keith is not going to be here to discuss the salary of the new veteran higher above step three of grade five so before we get started I am going to ask a question um I when I got the email from you it was stating confidentiality the person's name and offer letter and so forth is all in the selections packet so do we have to stay confidential we don't have to use her use their name but um but um it's there okay all right I just wanted to ask because we were trying to be respectful I even asked if we had to go to an executive session to discuss it but not case so the floor is yours sure so um we are looking to hire um a veterans agent so a little history you all know um how the veterans agents came to be ining Personnel at grade five um when we uh you know we had an administrative assistant in the Veterans office for many many years um and then an additional man assistant in the Veterans office for a handful of years two of them tag teamed the office the last couple of years um and they both decided to retire on learning about that this is probably year ago now um learning about that um we spoke with this candidate or this candidate um approached us um about doing a um District of the positions between Kingston and the um community that they are the veterans AG in now so a number of years ago veterans AG position uh was very to become a full-time position so if you had someone in the position that wasn't full time grandfather did until they um retired or left when that happened with us we uh went the model of admin assisted because they were excellent um and uh connecting with uh the town of Plymouth as more of aaon type thing not partnership U the of P never really went to put to get anything sign so um we looked at joining with this other community to have one agent between the two uh communi you are allowed to do allow to do um we thought that was we were going to go in and then Community never responded so uh we went down the RO of recuitment and uh I didn't know we hired someone and then um found ourselves moving to recr again and so that candidate or that um employee of reached out to us uh do want to still work for us um didn't didn't move forward with applying officially the last time we had to really for the full time uh one because of salary but also um just wanted to stay my production there um so that's who we are here to discuss now so this candidate um is a vets agent has been a vets agent for the past three years fulltime status um has worked with veterans 10 plus years obviously these themselves um in addition had a chance to look at their resume their volunteer work is um all veterans based um as well as being appointed to various committees uh through government entities the additional piece that I found interesting was um there they have a shine certification so typically how I've dealt with shine is um not chair s today but yeah um is shine representatives are usually um the senior population deal with and so um I was impressed with the fact that this candidate went out and do on their own understanding that that's um not as right now now you know we have a set we have veterans that are throughout the age grade the age ranges um but this particular candidate as a that's agent does work closely with um whichever Community populations um hiring at step nine the employee or the community originally um you know they're looking for a certain dollar amount uh based on based on what for U what the vet's position alone brings in across the communities so again you have a grading system so the position in Lake um like functionalities of of jobs get created together and then the average of all those positions salaries with our communities our comptable communities um that that's what makes the grade right so you might have five different Physicians and grade five a vets agent and four others all of those salaries combined to make an average but if you look at just the V agents Alone um the salary is closer to what this employe what this even I feel that they um warrant it you know we understand that we've come to you before pet agent and you're looking for a higher salary of SE as well um you know this particular candidate walks in the door with the experience of being there at the vet agent not being the admin for the vet's office that's also the um so we've had we've had candidates in the past that have been admins in other communities in the vet office similar to what our for ad was pretty much did the job but wasn't the agent themselves so wasn't the department head wasn't the person depart um whereas this person has been we've spoken to them about no there's no ad support this position stand alone you know only and this candidate has that experience as a vets agent um prior candidates haven't had that experience haven't ad or some type of other support um question yeah uh what did you say her experience was uh so she has um three years as a vets agent she has 10 years working with vets and then she has her volunteer experience that are um American mass mass veteran service Officers Association she tell rep that uh Governor Council for women veterans um but I'm not seeing this yet you're not seeing what these experiences and is the volunteer activity Yep this is this is so this is this is sum um so there was vets agent in one Community from 23 a present there was vets agent in another Community 21 to 23 and then the Vets agent that's what the job is in those house um and then under that is um umun veterans Club Municipal jobs these top ones these are municipal but the ones on the after that non municip thank you very much I think that I wrot that have you myb all right all right so basically she's walking in it looks like from January 2021 to current as y does she have a support does she have admin no which is why about's no ad Jim um a couple of questions um obviously step nine causes me to be a little concerned sure um what are you going to do with step 10 like in a year when she goes to step 10 she done that's what has to happen right okay so you know the again I you know there are certain positions I've supported where uh I think it you know the finance director I agree um and so forth um I I basically see this person with four years experience which is the minimum you wanted for this position why we're talking about a step nine I'm just not seeing so um the we don't even have to talk about salaries in those other jobs because they're readily available and I looked at them and um and this is a big jump based on what what was in the first town and then in the current Town how am I doing with the town of s okay so um so I have a real issue with it that and the fact that I think if I'm not not mistaken there's only like 62 or something like that in the budget for it where's the money coming from I at that I thought it was higher it was 72 I thought it was like 62 might have been 64 but I thought it was 62 but so this year correct the rest of this year um and I don't know what the budget is for next year okay um obviously they're working on that um the uh the um I'm trying to be careful with my nouns here the veterans Club I won't say the name of it um is a non-paid physan um and uh you know I applaud that um the amount of veterans that are in the previous town is very similar to ours um and almost to the number and I'm just curious ious why um you know again salary wise we're talking about a step n um you know I mean I understand what's you know your the discussions in the past have been part of them I I've supported them um I I just have a hard time understanding why you know um this candidate is the Veterans agent of veterans agents my head so to me honestly based on what I saw yeah on experience and so forth It's a step one so that's just my thought process um based on what I read and what I saw and even that based on some of the other facts I've gathered are uh is a a fairly substantial increase um so more so and again I'm only coming at it from the standpoint of fair fairness to because that's our charge fairness to all the other employees I can make an argument to somebody about a finance director because of the qualifications involved and so forth I'm just having a hard time with that okay um so if there's something else that convinces me I'm hope you I hope you know that yeah yeah I know um so the thing about the veterans agent is um because they have to view that are right and then even when we spoke before about um six months ago um there was a change in terms of what they have to be certified as sure um and so without those certifications we can't put in for any of the reimbursements that we would get from the government um so that's an additional piece that these recommendations are now going through right so our applican tool even from before um are people that are are veterans and have go through these various certifications in order to do the work that they need to do um so by nature of those things my feeling and my understanding just this that in the last round is that is what in high salary um you know the skills that has to be there theed has to be there we had a couple candidates the last around very interested in but what we were looking at were um people that were retired from from a municipality so they have liit hours it has right so um so there was that um there's a lot of factors in terms of what this us basically we saying work as an exempt position at least 35 hours a week um make sure you are military person and here certific I don't know giv up the other other positions in 35 um you know we don't fire that from any of them um you know all of these you know there CDLs that have to happen which you know the get paid additional STS for um you know the well don't forget when that was done this was not a require the the um accreditation not a requir so that's that's a new yeah and you know I think the last time we talked about um you know are we looking to do some type of reass I don't think that's happening now um but maybe we look at that in the 27 um but I think we have to really get someone into position for us to kind of understand like this is what all that and why it's warranted um I I and to be totally honest you know um there's some good press out there on this candidate um and um including from the previous agent who retired in the town of that town correct um so I I was kind of looking I kind of looked at everything to see what I saw and um but I to be honest with you I understand the points um and I understand the fact that they have to be certified um I just I'm a little curious but it's not the job here why we couldn't make something work iny where that person was um there wasn't okay was from from the person but anyways okay well um you have any other questions yeah I do have one question okay yeah hypthetically she's she's yeah okay and pathetically let's say she's at 71 that's what this recommendation what happens come July one does she go up to SK no she will she will be here six months she that she's at that rate not that rate she's at that step so if you guys DOA she'll get whatever Cola is for step time um so she's not going to get anything July 1 not even Cola no she will get a cola because if you guys do a a set n in general will change because will get apply to it so get what right but a step will happen until July I just wanted to make sure that she wasn't gonna go bump in later because no that's okay now we know that's where we um sorry Jim when everyone talks at once you can't hear anything on this end just to that's okay I don't know what you guys were saying thank um yeah you know it's funny um so if I'm looking at just appc right just we don't get this app Mark or whatever um you know this time around we have even just a white people like no you need to be that okay let's get R of that you know I mean there's a lot of um parameters on who can do this job in what environment can do this job um I don't know it's a department head level they so they considered the department head was the movement between your first note and what we're talking about tonight in terms yeah the note that you sent out yeah was grade 10 it was um tell me what happened yeah so ke and I talked about it and this candid wants a certain dollar mon right um and they did before and you know honestly the candidates from last time around SAR all asking for you um but that's not certainly what we did no um but in anyway so you know in speaking with it you know I discussed it and I said you know there are other factors that could bring that person up to where they want to be but doesn't have to put them the step um we looked at the they're not going to get a step and then once they get the step in 26 they're going right um you know so we decided to go with um the Step n so we're not trying to just like throw money at any they to walk the door you know what I mean like we are looking at all the factors of it things now now um like I said it's it's you know again it's the be you know be that work at Le 35 hours a week be a department head no support um we W get a step for another year and you have to haveit you know and it's I mean this it's I will tell you this though in the interviewing of this round the round before like poust is very supportive of their vets and it sounds like some other communities are not and um people are very appreciative of that and uh you know people want to come to work here but they also have to so yeah what's the U the internet code here you like password yeah uh I don't know um we got we had a rush to get here so I never had time to connect I just want to look for email and okay Kim you don't know what it is do you uh you know what I don't recall it's probably saved in my computer Wii I have on my laptop wi uh not that's what I'm trying to get on is there something I can look up here for you Jim just give me a second so um lorine if you have some more questions please is there not I'm I'm trying to find it here this is a Microsoft machine put in play the last minute and oh okay I'm struggling he's going back to this so I'm on um my phone is on public yeah that's okay basically I'm looking at the Scot for the last the last agent here is1000 almost how did they how do 10,000 so the candy had four was acting as EV agent and because they were event were in their past job yeah that we hired the V agent we hired in the past job was acting as the agent to do so because they were a vet but was not okay they were't acting agent no they were an admin or something yeah okay that's I did say acting but not yeah to me when you're acting somebody you have pretty much all of the responsibilities for that no that that Community sorry that Community had V AG but their [Music] admin right yeah I'm just I was just trying to figure out okay what is the what's the value between the last one and this one that's what hard to figure out what it makes them that much different I me the way even I see it is this candidate has been true ancient for towns that are similar to us um again you know only dep of One agent you know um in a similar size in simar size okay and and we were willing to pay that person let's say for I say 60 now it's no no no no no I'm saying the person our candidate today MH has been the agent in in similar towns with no no you know Department of M all of that whereas the agent we had before it was it was it was a department to and I think was similar size it wasn't betray that way but I think basically description and the posting they wanted four years of experience and we have a lot of years AG experience it's it's I think it says job and Andor education it's either for or um experience ET right you know so you can it's a combination It's a combination right but I'm looking at the four and it's like right we already down a stitch but um there there is other experiences and um previous veteran information seems to have been doing a lot of a lot of work of the Veterans for quite a while um she's a commander one of the posts from 201 2012 um executive board M so her her credentials are pretty different decent um but I'm still still kind of puzzled about the $10,000 difference when their their credentials are really all that you know this last person didn't have another another admin didn't have an admin in their previous no current the previous Defence agent was [Music] left um here did not have an ad in her what she what they came to us from there was an admin and an agent they were the ad so person didn't have that so the person coming in now or the person who's been uh suggested is Sim is is very familiar with not having right so there's really no no explanation to pretend pres they that's well so I here's how I look that so because our admin because our vet office is Department hand department head agent Standalone no there is more put on that L they just this they have to run the budget they're doing the payroll they're doing all it and it's not just like all pay fund because we pay we pay we pay out bets that's right okay so um so I think when you not just department but when you come from department and you have a support or you are the support you're not responsible for things that are done public department right so this person like myself or any of SC standing partn everything from let me run the budget let me in my case let me put the offer letters together let me do all the admin type of stuff in addition to the strategical stuff the stuff this particular position has to um be certified for you know being uh talking to the having that world and being able to talk to that you know uh I think when you have the department more than one you kind of not taging but there's like here's a position that does this there the other position that does that right so our former EV agent was I do this and I know how to do that and he said come do this and do it all I think this position is used to doing it all this is used to doing it all they walking into position I I don't think we're asking do anything take more than other that's right but my point being so why it cost that's my question and honestly the reason I'm is there's a lot of talk in town about overrides all this other stuff so um you know if I'm going to sit there two things if I'm going to sit there and recommend a salary um based on you know the recommendation that I'm getting I want to defend it number one and number two I still go back to bringing somebody in is a step nine and if the assistant to the fire chief who's also a step five wants to know how come this person's a step nine and I'm a step five or step six why that's not fair okay so you know I'm I'm just using that as an example I was looking at the schedule to see who the step who the who the fives were yep and um you know you know and you can probably sayate to each one oh that one's under contract that one's other stuff I get it but if they weren't tell me that conversation because we are supposed to be fair and I that's the problem I'm having in addition to the other things that I've outlined and the one thing that I'm then is very consistent so um I and I understand the fact that it's not an easy job to fill okay because of the requirements but um I I do think though that um based on what I saw of average salaries for the position in the state of Massachusetts even the previous one was at the high side if not was definitely above the average and this one is way above the average so um you know so and I'm talking about towns that are bigger you know the town the the the vent hand okay makes $10,000 less than what we're proposing here mhm and that's a much bigger population so square that Circle you know and I understand this the CATE in front of you this is how we had to get there this is what they have to qualify for um but at the same time you know so I'm I'm wondering if part of it is again not this conversation but you know as I said this position isn't perent right none of these other ones are I knew you going to no I looked at that but that's right but but you know uh two are in public safety and are important in public safety the assistance to the Chiefs yeah okay so um you know I again the compensation study tried weigh positioned based on criteria including some as you would say art not quantita okay so so I can understand that and and and truth be told Tina there's no um uh right answer that's okay and and you know um looking at what I looked at I'd love to have this but not because of the other issues I have with fairness with what we were what we pay a veterans agent MH new employee with not a lot of experience some and um so I'm I'm just not there so and I can appreciate that I do weigh I weigh prate on the department head and so unlike the Public Safety assistance the Chiefs they're not making the decisions right um even by base of that there are incumbents in these positions who are well over step and because of a lot the way the way the way to study prior to that they were no I right but the point the point is there is that that this is what we got to deal with I understand you know and and two three years ago which is what we're talking about that's ancient history okay um it's it's the going forward and and with with all the other facts that I'm hearing in terms of um you know I knew this day was coming sure and I told you it was coming okay because I just said look guys I you know um my feeling is based on what I saw and and uh it's great candidate good press that I read um recommendation from the previous veterans agent in the town that was in who retired but um uh just don't see the that price and and and I just don't and I and I think it's from the standpoint of fairness from the standpoint of from the standpoint of what's required and what you're getting to that requirement if this person had 10 years experience something like that and you were coming to me and saying well look you know they're at the top of the scale this person is basically four years of experience okay in the vetan um I like the fact that this person was a Shan counselor yeah we have one um here CP so um they come here from yeah but it's good to you know it's it's definitely good and it would be a service uh to our veteran you know but um I just can't see this out I'm sorry um I don't I would say again you know I whether it's or um when I look at the incumbents in a particular grade I have to justify myself as well um you know given the incumbents and the other positions that are all hourly um um you know not by step but they are making with that um over what we're looking to pay this person there's a handful of them that may don't make as much over time as War um and so they might be in a similar or slightly lower grade at slower lower um St um but are making similar and the positions that do get a lot of overtime in here um one reason or another are well again that's incumbent information which is I people chairs um so some of the people that are Mak wom I know don't have an answer because it's very specific but uh is the average uh employment like four years where these people that are making the same money or more um or do they have more than more experience than Bo are they in this position and they 10 years doing this job and they're making about the same money so then the argument could be well this person is a agent is a department um to me that that just kind of blew my mind begin with but that's that they're considered that or that they are that in that know that they are considered the department head and they want to treat them as department head and what would why is that surpris just because no no just because I I was not aware that they were department head I thought they were middle management not a department head right so when I see a department head I'm talking about uh like the treasurer uh the town those are department heads Department of Public own they have a department hit yeah they may or may not have a whole lot of people but when I see department head I'm talking running they're running every and that's every single so that's what they're saying that that's why but I just assumed it came in that was assum yeah but considered or this person this position is considered a department head like the other [Music] department I know like I look at Department as a department head you've gotten to that level because you know the subject matter that right and there are things that you do make the decisions on there are things ons that I there are other things I'm like this is my recomendation because that's the decision um and by nature of the uh vets agent world or the Vets Services World here again you know the of one but it's at a caliber of the I need to know right no one else knows them I need to know all the I get certifi El certified I have to be able to talk to those else is talking those like that's that's how I see it as all things um did the offer letter it did but they're continu offer letters and one of them is um um no negotiation so my world not your world toward step one instead of Step uh I do have a question um the negotiation is it possible I don't know this particular question but um do you have the ability to tell us what her recommended requested salary was she came in and wanted to step and other and others did as well um okay well you that's how it's also print that way job the salary range say the highest I understand that totally nobody wants to get paid it's funny right because um sorry for me I don't know for lunch tomorrow um so where's it going with this right so um is because of um contracts but fill it into all all the positions we always list the BRD do it put it on right but now massach a you have people that it was public rec not the private but it is public rec um and so yeah so right I obviously the range is there you're going ask what top the range um well no not obviously I I have had a number of people here and I was my personal or my professional life where you you know you know we all want to make more money but you're telling me you know you're telling me a position pays $300,000 but you don't have the experience ask that because you're not even um okay so if there's no more questions um I have one but I don't think I I can okay um then uh you know I'll take a motion so the what I would do is say that you're uh uh making a motion to hire the Vets agent at above step three grade five that's what the request is so that would be the motion so it would be over it's above step three grade five so what you're saying is you're making a motion to approve the hiring of the Vets agent um at a higher above step three grade five as outlined by the presentation from or not or not but I'm not comfortable with the 71 I understand that but what what I'm saying is if you if you phrase the motion in a positive and just and you vote no whatever okay it's the motion but at least they have an answer and a recommendation from us I would not make a recommendation for a motion to change whatever they're doing because that's not what they're coming from no they're just asking us for a recommendation and that and bottom line is I can't recommend that I can't so uh would you accept my proposed motion uh okay so I move to uh recommend to the board the uh hiring of um the best agent the yeah the veterans agent hired above step three and grade five second you good okay line all yes I'm sorry a yes or a no B to the to the recommendation yes so you're recommending that they higher above step three step three grade five yep you're you're saying to do it it's not about step three the recommendation is uh the Town Administrator has come personel to say you want to make a high step three five right that's thew the question is are you good with that or not not about step nine not about what n it's like I'm very comfortable letting them go higher than step three you want to do that that's on but for me I can't do it so I'm very comfortable with the step three grade uh the grade three step no no step three grade five no the the motion is you're you're allow if if it's approved yeah then they can hire above step three grade five Yes No Limit no is right that's up to them right and the uh if you vote Yes for it that's our recommendation if you vote no for it then it defeats the recommendation yeah no I I I support the recommendation to to uh okay recommend this this person at a uh step three bre five no higher than step three higher I sorry that's that's the word that's the word I apologize Kim yeah the motion is to higher above step three that's what they're asking that's what I'm that's what we're doing and you saying yes it's okay to higher above step three gr five that's yes that's what I so her votes an affirmative yes yep and my vote is a no okay so a TI vote means it's a no vote okay all right update but I think that's the right way to phrase with Tina so that you guys you know have the direction you want all right good I apologize for that confusion no fine I just wanted to make sure you understood what I knew in my head what I I understand what you trying to do I have a problem oh you're so good all right um have to too much um so working on the bylaw request that came through to Kei um our line was last month November 22nd I think um and so he and I are going through what they actually Mo forward um likely um there's to be two new positions put forward VES um a clean up of bylaw for another position and potentially two to four and then so two to four positions for reass and two new position are they in the BW two new positions no really are they want a treasure collector H okay so will we getting rid of positions in the uh I don't think we have treas collector in there now or collector so we have to add that one the one together and then um possibly yes uman the specifically what islean um there is is a position that was in the study with wasn't aded and now that department asking for that I sent you the email I do have her um possible have you riew the documents still yeah okay this is what I needs to based email [Music] discussion okay and then so we're looking for our less part time public health nurse um and the director of Del Affairs search committee met but last week um we've come up with people want to contact for interviews interviews likely won't happen until week J on the books got um any questions no none none whatsoever other than you know please get those to us uh the next item is review draft of w and Personnel bylaw um prepared by executive secretary incorporating change fall meeting the remainder of two fy2 and that refers to an email from Jennifer those are the changes to schedule right and I changed the date on the cover page yeah yes to the David special so I would right I would uh just um basically take a motion to approve um the legion person by the executive secretary incorporating changes to the fall to meeting for the remain of25 okay yes J yes okay second draft board annual report 2024 that's an email that went out December the 15 um I'm not mistaken that is those I the report last yeah I think the original author was way back way way better but it still works thank God can recess for a minute yeah why don't we just take a quick look at it so we're all on the same okay all right let me I'm just going to we'll be back in a minute or all e e e very much okay we are back personel just sub um looking at the uh draft board annual report of 2024 um that was by Jennifer um I don't see anything that I would change in it other than the board held T meetings over 2024 other than that the rest do you have anything you want to add to it nothing was fine was fine thank you I would then U approve a motion make a motion to approve the report of the wag of Personnel Board for 2024 as presented by um the executive secretary so okay uh yes Jim yes okay uh review by Amendment requests receive um just that's the only I justed so I looked out I looked at her schedu C grate and applied 2% m and but not to the counsel well you know counselor counselor that's what the question is that she's she's recommending she saying no to the coun right position a minimum wage requirement that's what she wants so she wants to keep that position at the minimum wage at the minimum wage yes and not get a cola at all okay I just wanted to make sure I wasn't lost I haven't lost my mind no you haven't lost your mind okay wonderful all right so other than that yeah it's very straightforward this year yeah that's the only request we've received but the deadline is until that's our requested date so I'm going to push off any movement of that to the next meeting oh no I I I didn't expect you to act no just just an update okay um next item is there any mail no other mail than what's been sent out to everybody okay and then um review and approve the minutes for November the 12th I read them um I don't see anything in them that you know I wanted to make any issue with I don't know about if you had any questions the only question I had was when we at that time we were scheduled for the ual 3rd 2025 now subsequently change to April 26th so I think In fairness that we everybody was using the Assumption of the May the 3 and we count back 130 days that where it is if it's if it if it's off a little bit at least um we don't I don't want to change what we told well the deadline would be today right yeah with with the April 26 right yes right but I'm saying leave the deadline right based on the memory you sent where it is so I'm not suggesting that they change the deadline what I'm suggesting is we have minutes that indicate we're uh having a meeting in main but well that's what Tina told is there anything that we can is there I mean that's what said the Mee oh I agree I agree 100% I think in the minutes of this meeting it will show the revised date and I can we do that I'd rather have it for the record yeah yeah and that we I'll put it under new business okay and then we we also discussed um the deadline for submission prior to the meeting and that we would leave it where it was based on the May third dat so that will remain the same and we're just going to change the date for the correct correct okay excellent thank you thank you thank you thank you so I would uh move to approve uh the minutes of November 12th 2024 has written so okay lorine yes Jim yes okay um next uh agenda date for us would be January 20th um I do need to look at that that's it and I'm oh away okay yeah I'm not back until the 21st and it's late so yeah um we can either do the 13th um or we could do the 27 we want to stay board select we asked them to submit their documentation on the structure not in February but remember we asked January so we pushed into January 13th that might cut at least this will give them two weeks if we if we go to the 2 go to the 27th giv them two weeks we're not shortening it for them enough uh the P Street they asked for February said January because we have especially considering what's coming our way with the RO classes and positions so we went to the 13 you know so yeah I think that so our proposed date January 27 at 6:m thank you I'll I'll make sure we can yeah subject to obviously getting I don't want to cut them any more than we have to I I agree with that that's the okay anything else for the good of the group uh not Rec anticipated be discussed 48 Hours against the meeting that's where I'm that's fine okay all right anything else we uh just to confirm that uh po um again I think we should put that on the agenda for the January 20th meeting for discussion because I'm not sure what um administration's planning right so um it was said that based on right two years ago on contract right I mean by contract cont but again the um nothing says we're g to make that decision today i' like to hear you know if there's any discussion to the contrary or you know both ways more or or less okay thank you now tin had some other items that she asked about remember we put all those off they were just kind of like housekeeping things other other byw such as oh for example that form that employees have to sign the acknowledgement of receiv that adding the position would be and I think yeah that's and there were some other things we discussed briefly that very briefly email it got taed got T so want the tabled items or do you want me to let you know what the tabl yeah why don't why don't we bring up the tabled items in a short list and then we'll decide um you know what we can reasonably accomplish at that meeting yeah but but leaving us enough time that if the um uh DPW Highway Department Street streets Parks discussion comes up as well that time you should have all the other correct correct I hope so I hope so and you know that better and getting some already yeah that's what I'm working on this week my I was to work on it last week but you know getting the way so I won't be Christmas shopping tomorrow afternoon all the year is an expression about um I can't think of it it's something like you know you try to do the best you can but it doesn't work I can't you know what you know that's it you do the best you can with what you know okay anything else no okay I would take a motion then to end the meeting at 7:07 on December the 16th so move okay yesim yes thank you thanks Tim --------- ##VIDEO ID:JEqu00utk2w## we would like to call to order the December meeting of the Kingston Public Library trustees at 602 um in attendance we're going to move around the table and um give our names Emily curon Carolyn brage Matt Donahue Jen clush Lee Lewis Nick couis Donald cologne Library director and we have with us this evening um to open the meeting the Kingston 300th committee some members if you would like to introduce yourselves yeah Ken I'm one of the directors one of the directors I'm jimell project phographer Pho edor thank you so much for coming um we have it here on our agenda that you will be opening the meeting so you can begin whenever you're ready do you mind if we kind of uh not display but U pass some of the photos around for that now exhibit we also have a a few handouts um one for those of you who have not seen our prototype um of the forthcoming book which is going to be published next September and also I don't know if you all or received a copy of the um our proposal for then to now exhibit and the speaker Ser I did send out the copy of what you had if anybody would like to cop phots they painting or just print it on canvas I guess have some other figer pieces that we if you'd like maybe start introduc it and then um want to yield the flo very quickly to our project when I got the um I was trying to figure out what I could contribute to it so my thought was we have incredible incredbly challenged people in town that do really cool things my Approach I'm a commercial photographer i ph um I like to photograph artists in their Studios because I think where they do what they do is as important so we started working on that how to do that so this is the this is the gener ation with the Farm Stand yeah got that and um then obviously Peter he used to make the furniture at the plantation now he lives on Landing Road and that's his Studio that's his Workshop which I think is just really cool and then uh we wanted to acknowledge um people and we're working on this too people in town so we got a shot fire as many as we could couple of them were out on and we're working on doing the police and some others too and then we wanted to talk about the water can can tell you better what this boat is about it was a restored uh 100y old boat uh built the original I think it was J 1898 yeah we went from ship building into small boats yeah and we also have shots of oyster farming and then these smaller ones I don't know exactly who was this sver sver the one dep depart shivil war and so we got that this is a closeup of a beautiful drawing that we're working on it's about this big it's all done in pencil and this is just a small part of it and it shows main main street Main Street right found these in the archiv yeah and then when we took a picture and put it on computer and then we could kind of zoom in and you'd be amazed at the things that by zooming in you can see the details that some artists we unfortunately his name is there but we can't read it but it's this is only a very small portion of this two sides of the street exactly this is a really small but this little little story of all these people doing things you have to really look at it and then this was a again a belt buckle and then we wanted to show the oyster Farm too so the bottom line of what we're doing is we'd like to exhibit these along with the book and the proposal I had to do this we can do these fairly economically doing them on canvas as opposed to having them framed in glass which I'd love to do but that gets very very expensive when you start matting things so we put this together with an idea of of taking highlights from the book and some outakes for an exhibit and that's how they would be probably presented and just to pan back a little bit um so two things tonight you're you're seeing um know two proposals then and now photo exhibit and also a speaker series less time on um so excited about both uh meeting with Donald and Nick last week Donald suggested for the photo exhibit um potentially um three segments month long in the back Art Gallery section terrific um we can help draw people in of course and to pick topics or themes if you will for each of the three rather than trying to have first we were kind of like is it one event is it at the atam center where's the venue how does that work multiple days but they have three and so um one topic which um you know these great photos of recent Veterans Day dedication speak to um would be likely on the um the tradition of service and sacrifice in Kingston and the way kingstonians um remember or commemorate uh um those who have you know foughten Wars and our Memorial Day you know parades everything around that um kind of a big bucket there that goes alongside there a major portion of the book it's called generations of service where we feature some select tributes to Veterans um you know somewhat far past and more recent let's say um lots of Photography from varied eras so then and now we you know Ed and I and others sort of thought let's first start with the incredible archival material that Nick and Jan know and deal with all the time that's across the street from our um 1900s photographers um primarily I draw from that and Nick will help select them I'm sure and we'd love to work with him on that and then match those you know thematically with contemporary ones so that generations of service is just one of those big topics and and U there others that were suggested but to give you an idea so that could be potentially a month long um and bring people in and we feel just a way to engage kingstonians easy accessible for the 300 help celebrate um the birthday and it doesn't have to be a lot of text you know for those photos text will come with the the book and other sources but captions but just visual visual Learners families with their kids can come in so we I'll I'll stop there but Ed may have more or any anyone this thing could probably never end the way you look at it we're always finding different things I was at to mall photographing another sword and we're going to be shooting some stuff on Friday here here there's a vat that we're doing and um we have some other characters that we'd like to there's a gentleman Roger I can't think was last name duck who I photographed a couple months ago I'm working to get a shot of Christian marant people not everyone needs to be a celebrity or needs to be a success we're looking to balance it out with other people that are doing really great work behind the scenes so the photos would be a combination of that I'm taking them they have to edit them you know so but we want to make sure we we cover this broad contemporary historical fun stuff creative stuff so that's where I'm trying to work on that so it's um it could be an ongoing project for a long time yeah we're really excited about the the breadth and scope of the book I mean the last comprehensive book that was done of the town was in 50 years ago darus Johnson's 250th so we think this will be a real Keepsake we have brought in a professional designer it's going to be a really um we think a really classy looking book be 250 Pages all in color and just a mix of fun stories and history so we're really excited about just trying to get it out there and exhibit like this I think would really help to raise your community awareness for it and hopefully the the Prototype gives you a little feel that's not literally perhaps the cover but some of the design elements are there and um you can see some of the features and just a little sample um one other thought of some of the the photos um you know the towns um Maritime tradition and other crafts people um just um an an industrial uh you know the the Mills of the past that may be that may form an umbrella you know working Traditions um for another topic but you can see there's already a lot of contemporary um photos of that and agriculture that's ongoing or aquaculture obviously cranberry Growers Etc so hopefully that that that ual look at it helps I love the idea of using the gallery space in the back I think I envisioned also using the Adam Cent which I love the Adam Center but the patron foot traffic in the library and the different people that will be exposed to what you have to offer if it's if it's displayed in the gallery that's great we were applauding that we were talking the other day about you know we can do a wonderful show at the Adams yeah but it's not open all time right and what's the point of doing this you know like people could maybe come to the opening but if it's here for a month and how it's divided up up to you folks but um we we're trying to get the fire department police department we're looking to get some of the people that ran the old older restaurants and get them at the early bird around the counter having coffee you know people that restaurants that maybe some of you remember some of you don't so we're trying to tie that in visually um with the photographs because um it just it works and it's just we're going to do the luminaries on Saturday and um like I said this could go on but it's fine it's all good uh timing Donald you would mentioned uh windows in 25 we had been thinking you know 26 the year but it could start in 25 so I mean it's however it works for on your end yeah I think that um you know I thought that when we had our discussion that we were looking at 25 going into 26 um so we could definitely do something in 25 um you know so if it's a matter of just doing like a singular one um you know in 25 to kind of perhaps work out any kinks that may you know come up in that process so that during 26 you know there can be more of a focus on the you know couple or how many we do um so when we met last week there was a lot of ideas and we would basically need the MFA in order to do this exhibit the way with the great ideas they had so I had suggested that maybe do multiple exhibits with the specific topic for each one yeah um so I had checked um you know with Gail who's does the um you know the art gallery exhibit you know reservations and things like that so we there were month multiple months for next year that were available so I had sent them to Ken and um you know he wrote back about you know something in 26 as well so we could definitely you know do that we could play both you know because it is you know a um a great project you know and it is you know um something that I think that would be beneficial to you know both sides so yeah it's a wonderful way to learn um history and in the school system they don't have time now to teach local history and so so that it's it's um this is a great way to Lear doesn't make me different what age you are the other thing is this is really going to help the archives because it's going to be a vener now and look what we have hiding across the street and um me Po neck is going to be it will help uh the archives it will help Nick's uh exhibits and so forth that he has there because this is a an enticement it's really I'm excited about it all those 10,000 pictures that we have over here we won't use all of them I will say if I might speak up just for a second uh the part you mentioned about local history I thought was really interesting I was talking with a friend of mine who also lives in town on I think Thursday or Friday and we were talking about town history things like that she's very engaged in that kind of stuff in Kingston and I even mentioned at the time you know well I as nice as schools were I didn't learn that much about it in school because we live in Massachusetts most of that stuff gets subsumed by Boston history and to a slightly lesser extent Plymouth history and so to see something that's more kingst Focus I think like you mentioned is a really interesting touch it's something that you don't always see even living here but I think it's kind of neat l picture going around of the um recent veterans uh we had there is a picture of World War II veterans standing on the bleachers down at the playground and if you just pair those two pictures to see true we didn't have pictures for the Revolution and the Civil War but this town has sent a more than proportion of people to serve our country and it's just a a great way of putting the two things together does make me wonder if as the themes get set and the pi are selected if somebody would be able either from the schools or who has sort of that um age group you know I feel like it's like that Elementary intermediate age group to be able to either make some kind of a little like scavenger Hunty like if you find these three things you're entered in a raffle or your teacher gives you extra points or something because I mean I know my kids would love it but I think it is that little niche of history that could make the sort of big history very very personal like I remember being a kis and finding Kingston op in the games cabinet during indoor recess and that was about it for local history when I was growing up I sayal history that's a terrific you're right I do remember that to some of those social studies folks I bet at ke and kis be more of we went went up to Silver Lake and uh thinking that we could get some um contributions through some of their Reading Writing courses and so on but they were all enthusiastic but they had no time and Carrie Elliot Maas is the librarian the and she was an archist here so she knows the the continuity and the connection I wonder too if like the eighth grade civics class would be Point contact are there any questions about maybe the book project as a whole or more on the Photo Expo idea that help GL toar um well I'll briefly speak to the the speaker series second part that's on the on the back side again some out here you um I think we had you know for now this is I feel like it's really fluid and we're we're really looking forward to more ideas we keep hearing them from the ground up that's been our whole method if you will while we've been you know researching the book and compiling it on maybe six topics there um and oh just just it's hopefully clear on the Photo Expo we are not seeking any funding from the library um the speaker series probably could use some help if there's anything available in the budget for um speaker sions they could be pretty modest I just through some initial Explorations for 200 to 250 but not everyone's going to even ask for anything I put in there just a rough budget I think it's $1,200 um and that you know again that the list of um and ideas will grow um I think organically and we just wanted to kind of hopefully get into your wheelhouse as you're you know eventually as you're thinking about 26 and and your speaker series Etc um those are just some and I think Donald had you know rightly questioned what's are you striving for a general audience late people or more specific and Technical initially we had a couple topics that were a little more of the latter definitely a general audience and maybe maybe there's a you know eventually there's a few uh tailor you know presentations that that arise from that but but starting out um the top one I put on there and this was historical commission um had suggested that um not many people know this but Kingston is part of the Southshore Irish Heritage Trail um and Jan could speak to this a lot more but there are some components of the town's past that that relate to early immigrants and and and the early um areas of the town where where Irish lived and what they did for work etc that's just one and we are part of that trail it's a formal network if you will this historical commission was involved with it it's not I'm not to overblow it it's not a huge huge thing but there's there's a lot of points of interest in there that could be one where you're probably going to have a lot of people who be interested in that um but just for one example I will say I appreciated the specificity in the third example um the spring the Allerton property okay because it's good to know you have tapped or there's somebody who can speak to it yeah um yeah that because that I feel like that was fleshed out so that I could see it from start to finish yeah so that one looks very interesting to me and Professor Zim's gonna contribute something on that to the book as well but but you know shorter whatever um yeah you do anything with the hes like um de now I live in more than happy to oh okay we are uh I mean there so many speak a lot better about selectively but then and now is that's that's a theme throughout the book we're having a lot of fun little sidebars you know sometimes just short text visual just to engag so it doesn't have to be super long but I mean some of the Merit more we had some pictur it is that have given us great stories of their houses and some of them going back to the 1600s it's an interesting I just think people love they [Music] do well thanks so much and thank you this is fantastic all the work You' been doing and put together that's very exciting it's an interesting um way to present things um I know your dad is a framer and they're light so they're easy to hang right and they're so easy to transport places yeah I would think without without glass that much less fragile and I'm not saying there it's a lot it's more inexpensive to do but the thing I've been a photographer for a long time and this process started and the canvas started to bleed through and it made look like a mushy photograph and I go well you know there painting and there photography but now that I find and I don't know how they do it it's more of a it goes over it so you don't you're not getting the C seeping through and so you keep you keep the sharpness of it almost more like screen printing sort of yeah I gu I hate to say they're done in India i' like i' look to get someone to do it here that's just really really expensive but they hold up really well and like I say they're easy to hang so y I'm having a blast he is having a blast we're having a blast well I've lived in Kingston for 50 years and I'm learning stuff all the time yeah so it's um and that's what I think to infectious about this is is um I didn't know that that kind of thing so thank you for your time appreciate it so much okay thank you for this appr Friday morning 10 o' yes 11 o' yeah the next item on our agenda is actually minutes approval but we're going to do the minutes from November and this meeting at January's meeting so moving beyond that the next item is subcommittee update do you want I wasn't at the meeting the last minute sure I'll take the lead of this um so at the last um subcommittee meeting there was um we did meet with the um designers for the furniture and selections had been made for um the pieces of furniture it went quite well I think that the group um you know was fairly worked worked really well um you know in um making decisions about the fabrics and the colors and so forth you know with the Lo Lobby design um in mind and and the functionality of the um you know Library obviously you know we need fabrics and materials that are going to be easy to clean and um you know that are going to be durable for you know years to come and so forth um you know so the selections were made for that um the found is looking to um write a grant to fund that project um so there will be no further movement until um you know that process is completed and a decision is made which I believe is going to be in February um you know so that's um I believe you know kind of where we left off with that and they did send around just to they so I give them credit for moving things along that quickly because the whole thing can start to finish with just no it went by quickly yes yes compared to what you used to deal with when you're making decisions about structural decisions like the bathroom slower yeah this was our rest but this will I think the end result's going to be amazing looking um okay with that said the next um item is luminaries which is rapidly approaching yes so luminaries is this um Saturday evening um if anyone is available to assist us in passing out food that would be wonderful um we as indicated in my monthly report um we had done a partnership with the Parks and Recreation um Department in order to create a cohesive um poster and flyer um what we created you know with the poster it has a it has all the um organizations that are participating um you know listed with a QR code that will bring folks to the town's website um which gives a history of luminaries which I thought was kind of cool um as well as the handout flyer which has a map that indicates the street closures and lists all the different organizations that are participating the times that they're participating and the details of what um you know is happening at TH those events um we will be having um you know I found out just found out today that Mrs Claus will be joining Santa Claus so we will have an added celebrity in the building um so we have a huge drop yes range security yes um so so we'll be doing that um there will be crafts in the children's room room um we will be providing um food and drink as well as um you know various displays Inflatables um photo Ops and and things like that um it was um I did do a basically a tour of the churches in town um delivering the posters and the Flyers um you know which that the groups were all very thankful that you know we were able to do this um I know that it was noted at one of the selecton meetings that it was brought up that you know we had done this and um they were thankful about that um because it's been something that folks have been trying to get um for quite a while um there were a couple of bumps with things in it um you know what we've learned is that definitely like next year we will have hard deadlines for organizations um because unfortunately at times of being asked information with given information but then things kind of grew um you know details about um how many offerings of something you know changed perhaps the timing Chang reduced due to you know not enough volunteers for that full time period that they originally gave and stuff like that um so definitely um we would do that um you know that way set the you know set a timeline um it was actually the town clerk's office that set up the web page with the info with the QR code so we're thankful for that the printing of the posters um because basically I made enough post had posters done it weint today for the participating groups um and you know limited number of Flyers because the goal being people will want to be using their phones to you know use the QR code to see what's going on um it was not a heavy cost to us at all so it didn't need to be you know this big expensive um you know hurdle or anything um so yeah so um we're just Shing for that if you went into my office right now you'll see all sorts of you know holiday fun going on I see that the high is 33 for Saturday so it's beow it's gonna be chly yeah well we'll have snow anyways it will snow here our own snow yes we make our own snow here um and stuff so yeah so it will it will be a good event so obviously with the cold um you know and I think he has since I've been here you know it can be an indicator for you know um high volume of you know attendees um you know wanting to stay in to you know warm up or otherwise you know folks will venture out as long as it's a clear cold versus being rainy and wet and you know yucky out um so we will see what happens the time frame for people who wish to volunteer um so they are actually closing the roads at 5:00 okay um so we are schedu we're open from 5:30 to 8 um for that for then um and you know we just have ongoing events um you know other organizations are doing timed events um but we have just kind of ongoing you know crafts and music and food and so forth um the next item on the agenda is the 2025 meeting calendar we were going to try to knock it out in one block um given that supposed have a certain number scheduled in advance I think we were just thinking of looking at the entire year and trying to put some dates down correct correct um so I don't know if you want me to run down the dates individually or um what I looked at was the third Monday of the month with the exception of the months that have Monday holidays as um you know having Mondays as those holidays we would then move it to the fourth Monday of the month so right off the bat January's the 4th right because it's correct January 27th correct correct so I have and correct me if I'm wrong January 27th February 23rd I the 24th 24 okay that is why you correct it all right so then it will be March 24th as well April 28th I'm not fast on my phone hang on one second I don't text as quickly as my [Laughter] but I'll write it down and then put that paper somewhere I wish I put it in my phone okay so March 24th March 24th ail April 28th May 19th June 16th July 21st August 18th September 15th what was the August dat I'm sorry the 18th then September 15th um October October 20th November 17th and then December 15th if the board chooses to have a December meeting which is something I'm open to discuss because says every every year since I've been a trustee when December rolls around I think why do we have a trustee meeting in December because there's so much going on now I realize operations of the library don't slow down in December so this would have to be a decision we make in conjunction with the director if you think we can perhaps for go a holiday season trustee meetings next year I'm open to that motion I think the timing for I think the timing is fine because I think anything budgetary you know we have the introduction in November um any true discussions about the budget will come after the the beginning of the year um once the Departments meet with the finance committee and any discussions with bard of Selectmen or whoever um you know so I think that to offset it the one month would be fine well then I would take a motion that we eliminate a December meeting or do we even need to if we're discussing this as a group and setting the calendar I don't necessarily think that you need a motion then I guess I will open the floor is there anyone who desperately wishes to meet next December during the busy holiday season to discuss lever business I would say it's at least my gut to tell me that unless there's pressing business to which we need to time yeah like almost an emergency type meeting unless something like that pops up so maybe we just sort of right hold the 15 but no we probably won't have yeah schedule through November and just be comfortable with that yes okay so if those dates work with everyone it should okay I think this start ter will remain six I'm not I I personally like the earlier start term I don't I'm to bed early to rise person so the six o'clock meeting works for me if it's still okay with everyone okay great so then I do think we have to make a motion to set the calendar right Le we having the past to yeah so I'll take take a motion to accept the calendar as laid out by director cologne do we need to go date by date uh I think we can say as laid out by director colone and then I'll make a motion to set the schedule in accordance with director cologne's suggestion second all in favor I I anyone opposed don't see that's perfect um then we are going into the director's report okay well I just had just a couple things that I just wanted to highlight um one is is that we have finalized the implementation of assabet which is the new online calendar and museum pass reg registration system um of all it has been working well um there hasn't been too many issues reported to me um and I don't believe that um you know patrons have seen much of an impact um you know from their end um for signing up for either or um activities um we did receive a donation from a former Kingston resident um in in the sum of $1,000 that donation um was submitted to town hall and it was submitted to the board of Selectmen for their approval um to accept the donation as practice um any donations over a certain dollar amount has to be voted in by them um and so we will be looking at um you know a use for that funding um you know as I'm concerned because it is basically funding that goes into like a general gift account so once we start Co mingling money it kind of gets you know um you know confusing at times and so for any kind of future you know use of the funds I just assume we spend it once we get it um sort of thing um there was a question um asked by the mblc concerning our financial report there evidently was a file that I sent them that they couldn't open and they just just sent me an email saying hey we couldn't open this file um so we were not the part of the first and second round of state aid um recipients but we will be in January um you know it was a and I'm not exactly sure why you know I email the documents months ago and I would have thought that at that time people would have tried to open files to make sure that they worked um you know but that wasn't the case um but we are fine um so they you know just needed basically an updated um financial report from the Town showing what how town meeting voted for our budget um which was easy enough to get from the um you know accounting software um and you know I mentioned that I've you know I'm sitting on the hiring committee for the COA director you know we kind of had our first meeting the other day um so this is an interesting experience for me because I'm learning you know I have my own hiring Styles you know um and this is kind of enlightening to see may I ask who is on the committee um so the so HR is part of the committee but they don't make any hiring decisions they're just there to facilitate the um the the group um so it is made up of myself the director um of pox and Recreation the health agent um a select person and um and thr around the table that we had um and a member of the Council on Aging um director as well as um a member of the selectman's office um and so you know we R viewed we'll be interviewing soon and um you know we'll move forward with that process um I was asked to serve on the town's website redesign committee um I think more so because an email went out asking for people's comments and I gave feedback and that's what R will be exactly you know um you know but that will be beginning in um January we are working with the same vendor which is Civic plus um you know so basically it's just a change in theme ideas for Content you know um and so I'm looking at it as more of a because they can get counts for um page access and stuff like that to look at it is like okay what if folks really going to the town's website for you know and kind of making those the highlighted um you know kind of things um and then lastly um well actually two more things I know I know I only said a couple things but um the LED sign update um a fix was presented we were given two options one was for the LED sign company to come out twice a year to provide maintenance at a cost or the other was the option that's listed in my report where that they actually come in and encase the panels basically you know waterproofing them sort of you know kind of thing um which why that's not the standard I'm not exactly sure why so they um came in I did reach out to the foundation making that as an ask of them um you know the the LED sign was a purchase that the foundation had done I think like six years ago um and unfortunately we've had issues all along with it um and so um they they have agreed to it so we're just now you know working out the um accounting side of things and scheduling that the the repairs um I was happy to see that last week's rain didn't affect it though I know I know and know um and then the last thing I might you know um report is about um the other day that that we lost power for a bit um during the day and it affected basically Summer Street 3A um going into Plymouth um and it was approximately an hour and a half or so that um it was out um I conferred with the town and there is not any type of existing um you know power outage policy um and some you know some libraries I worked at had specific you know verbage for a policy um rather than just um a judgment call I do think that you know and I'm just bringing this up because I'm sure that there is a going to be a call to try to formalize a policy from others um that we we remain with the Judgment call um because it basically was a situation where we were having discussions about it and not even 10 minutes later the power came back on and it was at that was at 1 o'clock in the afternoon and the hours were until 8:00 pm that evening so it would be had to you know explain to Citizens okay it's 2:30 in the afternoon sorry the staff went home a half an hour ago whatever and the power came on just a little while ago well the tricky thing about that situation is it was a sliver of town it wasn't if it was a widespread outage in town exactly so everyone without without power so I think people are more understanding when it's across the board versus these smaller areas yes yes um it did bring up another discussion because since so since I've been here so the three years plus um there was one other power outage um briefly that had occurred and there was discussion um about the building getting a generator um because basically the library the atam center Norther read have generators so there was has been discussion about that um so I will be talking to facilities about um you know possibly you know pursuing that um you know and perhaps if it is that if that is a capital ask that if we were to group it with you know the wre you know that to collectively you know whether this group purchasing or whatever for the three that there'd be some kind of you know savings um even on installation costs um you know just as a future um Capital project um but did anybody have any other questions about my report so you want to talk about statistics now yes since I always forget it's right here try to slip the P I'm trying not to read theine words all right so um so year to dat um you know I will report that so year to date we are at a 12.23% increase over last year um so last year at this time we had 9,498 um trans circulation transactions this year we had 10,000 um oh actually that was for November that was just for the month that wasn't for the year I apologize um so for the month of November we had the 12.23% increase um you know and and looking at other you know libraries withinn there was the majority were negatives um so there is constant you know Improvement in that um there has been an ongoing when we look at the statistics there has been been an increase in usage overall with Hooper so we are kind of monitoring that um you know with the um you know with with the funding um so what I did do this time was because I did um learn how on Hooper to just do the fiscal year so the numbers that you see here are you know from the July to now um you know statistics for July through nov M and um so you know during that time per period 2,189 items had been downloaded at a cost of $555 58 um you know one benefit with the Digital Collection obviously is you know shelving space that that these items are not taking up physical space and with um Hooper it is a service that um multiple users can access them any time as well as um there isn't an expiration of titles as would be with our overdrive collection I was a Libby Enthusiast and only used Libby and then I kind of directed a little little to and now I found myself on hoop more and more so I feel like I wish I just because of the availability and the length of time that you can borrow the material yeah and they visit waiting lists that's the that's the thing that wasn't the list um you know and um you know so the two Services comp complement each other we will be looking at overdrive um as one negative that I will say um that I was contacted by um the chair of the overdrive selection committee for ocn um in that they'll this we get the members council at the director's meeting in brain tree they'll be doing a presentation of overdrive statistics and purchasing and you know it's a situation where there are a lot of libraries that invest very highly in overdrive and we historically have not been so um there'll be a presentation that will show that you know we that our patrons rely on a lot a lot of other community items um you know from the Shar collection um so you know for some directors that kind of irritates them when they spend tens of thousands of dollars um like literally some $50,000 um obviously our budget you know we can't do something like that um so that will be brought up I have spoken to the Librarians for as part of their collection development you know practices to look at and see you know where um our Patron needs are because one of the challenges is that a lot of times when purchases are made it's not necessarily done for the local community but it is for the network so they may like for example if you looked at a a a waiting list on a title and you say oh look at there's 80 people but there's only four Kingston people how many copies do you really buy you don't buy 10 copies because it'll make the list go longer um sort of thing but another statistic that I looked at was the fact that you know for our November statistics 34% of our um circulation was nonresident based which means that we provided physical print materials to residents of other communities so my point for that meeting will be that you know I don't think that it's wi you know data can be dangerous I don't think it can be wise to take resources and start powering them out so like for example another library with network in November provided more services to non-residents than their own residents and I'm pretty sure that they will be in the same situation that we are so I'm you know going to bring up the point that we need to look look at resource sharing as a whole because some of the bigger ones that do do the resource you know overdrive sharing you know their non-resident percentage was only like under 10% so I think as the discussion you know unfolds you know um it will bring up a a bigger discussion and I don't know how this impacts it but the student patrons of the library all have the access to sore right which is through their accounts in the schools Y which are their audio books ebooks that they can get that way so and I know they can borrow it's not just a school year yeah um it's something that they can use that their school address throughout the calendar year yeah yeah so we are looking into different options um one thing that we're going we're looking at for this upcoming summer reading because we're already looking at summer reading is um at one point the Council on Aging um had donated some um Kindles to us and so we're looking at the possibility of downloading the summer reading list titles on to each of the devices so that you know middle schooler or teen could have you know so they can have all the books you know preloaded um you know as an option so we are looking at the challenge that I'm maybe facing is that the Amazon account that we have is um a government account that is done through the town and um so I have to see what the workaround is for us to be able to do it just for these devices um because we don't want to be a situation where you know somehow others can purchase titles on our dime you yeah um yeah but those are the statistics and thank you any questions for doll I'm not seeing any of the staff reports went out with the statistics and the director's reports anyone have any questions or we have Nick right here [Laughter] you okay not seeing any then moving on to the foundation update which actually uh Deb gray sent to me so I just have to pull it up um she wanted you to know that the sales for the L kits were amazing 87 in total were sold and that's an increase from last year and they'll be using the proceeds from the sale um to pay for weather proofing upgrades to the e sign it's all come full circle um the Jano Warf prints are on sale $150 there are only eight left um the QR code to buy them is near the circulation desk and on the flyer so if people are interested um then it's posted up there in the front and that that's like a history um relationship that we've had with those Del Warf prints that have been floating around for a long time um but they were brought out of storage um and the foundation took them over as a fundraiser and I think it's been fairly successful considering how many we started with um the fall appeal letter went out in October and returns are just a bit lower than last year and those were the three main things and then they've been doing a lot of work um the subcommittee with um pulling together the lobby overhaul obviously and I think that was it from um the next item is bills and as far as I know we have no bills a good old business the only old business that I would bring up is that the um the budget has been submitted and I did create seven additional budgets as a t um to ref any tear cuts that could occur Just Whipped up seven addtional it up um you know in hopes of none to be used Yes except for the original ask lock them away to see any new business not seeing any and we know when the January meeting will occur we'll do both sets of minutes then so J NES and November's minutes and then I'm sure an update on The Luminaries and whatever else comes up between now and then but I will take a motion to adjourn I move to adjourn a meeting this evening at 6:59 I'll second all in favor