[music] Uh good morning. This is the Wednesday, December 17th, and this is the Lakeville Library Board of Trustees meeting at the Lakeville Public Library. Uh I will let the board introduce themselves. >> Ruth Gross, trustee. Library director
Jennifer Jones, >> Nancy Lefay, Trusty, >> and I am Patrick Marshall. Uh, we have Lake Cam recording. Is there anyone else recording? No. Okay. So, we call the meeting to order at 8:36 a.m.
And we will begin with the secretar's report. I hear anything. [snorts] >> And once ready, I would take a motion to wave the reading of the minutes and approve the November 24th, 2025.
>> So moved. Second. >> Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? I >> I all oppose extensions. All right. Uh finance report.
>> So we're tracking pretty well say for it's been a little difficult to get books on time. So I seem a little behind in spending on books but it's we because order in but Ingram is still a little backed up because of the Baker and Taylor issue. So,
>> is that just because of being a new >> So, we're not a new customer with them. >> Oh, them, but I think it's just this year. Yeah, they did put out an email saying that they're running like 4 weeks behind. >> Oh, I had >> in the warehouse. >> Okay.
>> So, yeah, I put a November fiction and non-fiction order in. Theresa's put in a um children's and YA order in in November, and we haven't gotten anything from November yet. So they run into the ketchup all of a sudden now. >> Yeah. I said to Pammy, you might get 12
boxes at once. [laughter] >> But it is it does affect, you know, it looks like we're not spending as much in books, but the money has been sort of spent. Um nothing else to really report in terms
of you know we did get our as far as I know we got our state aid and um the gift funds and I haven't been able to catch up on the status yet so I'll do that. Um there will be a new treasure
collector I believe Paul has been appointed to the role treasure collector Erica Korea is leaving. Oh, so we have a new treasure collector coming in, I think, in January. So, we'll I'll try to work on what's going
on with Zavis funds when she's settled. And then for gifts, we did have one from October that I I forgot to put on the list. It was um a memorial donation from Janice Tankum. We had um a
gift from Jillian Knox in honor of her friend. She really likes to get children's books. So, we have um Teresa picked some children's books. We're just waiting for them to come in. And then um Christine Widmire gave us a donation of $100 again this year. So, I
did send off a thank you to her. >> That's it for financial report and gifts. >> All right. Any questions on the financials? Hearing none, we will move to director's report. >> All right. And I didn't put it on my
report, but just a quick note, we are in the process of interviews for the library clerk vacancy. So hopefully I will have a good candidate that we can um hire soon. >> Did we get a lot? >> We got about 10 or 11 or 12
applications. >> That's very nice. We are interviewing six, excuse me, six people currently. So, um, for collections, we are working on weeding out the CDs, DVDs, and audiobooks, knowing that eventually
that's going to, you know, be a defunct format. So, we're just continue to whittle them down. Um, and I actually have a volunteer who started, his name is Michael. He um is coming once a week and he'll he's been helping out with
weeding the collections. So, it's been helpful to have a volunteer doing that. >> A student. >> He's not a student. He's an adult. But since we did our volunteer policy, we had some interest and we have our first official volunteer who's not a student, but the students from AONquit, the
special needs students would like to come back and volunteer. So, that's also in the works. >> Good. Um, for youth services, holiday story times have wrapped up. They had good attendance. [snorts] Um, they're going to wrap up on Thursday, actually. And then Teresa plans to take January to
plan and prep for spring program. So, story roses will resume in February. We also have Playing with Purpose returning in February, and Music Time will return in March. Steam Afternoons also returned in February. And this um this program has had a good consistent
audience, but it does require a fair amount of preparation. Bookworms um met earlier this month and they discussed the Polar Express. Coding with Dash brought in second and third graders to learn coding and we have the issue that Sphero, one of the um more advanced
robots that you can code with, is not holding a charge. So, it might be time to look at some new equipment. Um the first ever family Lego challenge had a great crowd. Families were challenged to build a bridge that spanned 11 in. and the bridges were on display in the children's room. And
another challenge is planned for January. We may have a new therapy dog. Louie may join Remy at some point soon. I believe Louis completed his training. And um kids love to read to a dog, so it'll be a great thing for them. And
then we had third graders coming in from Asaws that they finished up their class visits, their usual annual trek over, but they had to make sure the weather was good to walk over. So, um, card making with Tina was great. We had 18 participants come back for the
rescheduled dates of 20 seats. So, we're going to look at spring dates for her. Lisa Sorus came in with her partner and sang holiday tunes. It was a small crowd. Um, we meet next month to discuss for trending topics non-fiction, how the world really works. And novelties is
kind of having a what book did you enjoy most in 2025 meeting next? um right after Christmas, so not next week. And then family crafts on Saturday, just before the snow person jubilee, we had about 50 people come in and make some of
the crafts. So for something that was thrown together really quick, it worked out really well. We have a bunch of upcoming programs in January. It's weird to write 2026 already, but we do have um a local author. I believe
Tammy has scheduled a local author for every month through April. So, >> great. >> We have a [clears throat] nice slate of local authors coming up. And then we have um Colleen Suckliffe wanted to return um to talk about why it's important to lift heavy for women to um
maintain health. So, we had another slight issue with the alarm for buildings and grounds. Um, on Saturday, I guess after the program ended, Teresa had come by and the fire department was here, so she managed to get the alarm turned off, but [clears throat] it was
another water flow alarm. So, this is in over here in the boiler room. So, FSI came and looked at it and said there was an older sensor that isn't the style they use anymore that could be disconnected because we have other equipment. It's a redundant piece.
So that is perhaps what will happen. They didn't disconnect it last time. So either there's a leak in the system or it's that piece of equipment. So if they disconnect that piece of equipment, we have it again. We'll have to know that we need to look at the system because
there might be some sort of problem [snorts] somewhere. >> So they did disconnect it then. >> Not yet. >> Not yet. >> But they're come they're supposed to come today, this afternoon to um take a look at it. [clears throat] We >> That was my joints cracking. [laughter]
>> We expect to have our annual fire alarm and sprinkler inspection in January. DPW has continued their work on the grounds and the gardens, so we should be able to see the lawn out back hopefully in the spring. Standish was out due to problems with the boiler. Somehow the
water valves to the boiler were shut off and not turned back on, so we didn't notice it for a little while. And all of a sudden, I'm like, it's really cold in here. >> It's a little odd. [snorts] So, when they went to turn it on though, it caused a problem. They needed to put in
a the plumber had to come out to put in a backflow pretor on a particular pipe. >> Oh dear. >> Um, so it took a little bit of work, but now we're back up and running. However, we are running a bit warmer than normal. So, it used to be around 71. Now, it's
been running at like 76. So, I still need to get advanced air out here. So, I'll put in a work request for Paul to address that. And I believe there was a buzzing on one of the the fans, so we might need a VAV box looked at, too. And then we have had word that the well
project will be moving forward. >> Do we know where it location is going to be? >> I do not know. >> I have a feeling it's going to be someplace in our backyard. >> So, maybe no point to seeding the lawn back there. So, um I met with Dr. Starky with Teresa to
talk about collaborations with the school. Teresa is going to send information to include in their [snorts] newsletter and we'll see if we can work out some school visits for summer reading promotion. [snorts] And I'm also looking into a potential internship. Dr. Starky talked
about how she had done this in her last district where there was a, you know, very responsible high school student who would get credit for a library internship at the public library or um and so looking into that and writing up
a framework. I'll probably bring that to a future meeting for approval and see what we can do. But I'm thinking and I to check with sales and they consider sort of an intern has um so-called skin in the game. So that for privacy reasons as long as they sign off on the privacy
agreement that or confidentiality agreement they should be able to use workflow. So we'll be able to give an intern a full experience of working in a library. So that is a potential that we have discussed and I'll look at were I
writing up some sort of framework that's you know I did ask if there was some curriculum related framework they use so that I can sort of match that uh upcoming [clears throat] closings December 24th and December 25th for the Christmas holiday we close early
on New Year's Eve and then we will be closed for January 1st. The friends resumed meeting on January 5th and that's when they'll be playing golf in the library and tea in the library. Open house was great. Between gingerbread housemaking in the open house, I'm pretty sure we had over 200
people in the building. So, um, it was very good. And then Elsie's exhibit comes down the end of this month. Deian Joyy's Patriot Hearts Patriot Heart American Story Quilts goes up on January 3rd and it will stay up until Friday,
February 20th. And we start the student art shows. >> Has uh Deian's um exhibit been shown elsewhere? >> Yes. Yes. and unfortunately she is in the process of moving and she's from
near Boston. So she is not going to have a reception but we're trying to get the word out to the veterans um group the COA who people who might and the fact that they can come anytime in January is
helpful instead of working around story hour. Yeah, >> that's all I got. >> All righty. Policy list review. Quiet. >> So, oh, I realized I didn't put in the old
policy, but we do have this mostly takes what was from the old policy. We did add a couple things. I formatted it so it follows our usual policy statement. And then give a a little bit about what the rooms
can hold. And we did add about covered beverages and personalized snacks because we know that people get a little hungry when they're they're in the quiet rooms. We just want to make sure that they will put the trash in the receptacle and let
us know about spills. Um, so we will probably, you know, post this up into the quiet rooms once it's approved. >> Does this mention not opening the windows? >> No. That might be a good thing to add.
Not that everybody's really going to read it, but they might. Okay. We don't have little signs that say thank you for not opening the windows or anything like that. >> Not in there currently. I think we need more like if you open
the windows, an alarm will sound something like that. [laughter] >> You get one of those things. Um we did add the bit about it not being completely soundproof. >> People complain. Um, one person who was very sensitive to
noise did ask if we had any like noise cancelling headphones or >> Oh, that was nice. >> So, is this a person inside the room or outside? >> It's hard because the desk is so nearby. So, when the desk is going to filter over >> considering this library, that's a
pretty quiet area. It >> Yeah, it usually is very quiet. Considering this library is not the library of my childhood. It was very quiet. >> Yes. >> I don't think any library is super quiet anymore. >> No. No. Well, there's a lot of there's a lot more things than just coming in and
getting a book and leaving. >> Even the machinery when you [snorts] can hear when the machinery stops at like when the HVAC stops at night and everything. It's so quiet. >> It's pretty funny. >> Like you don't realize how much background noise there is. Machinery.
Okay. So, are we going to vote on this at the next meeting? >> Yes. So, this is kind of just a introduction to it. So, we're getting far in on our list. I think we only have a couple more to go >> and then we'll just the current slate.
[clears throat] >> I am going to >> I found this very interesting to read the next section. >> Oh, the memorial benches policy. >> Yes. I was >> so I did my you know to Florida, >> Colorado.
>> That's where I'm going this. >> Oh, that's funny. >> Yeah, that's so sweet. >> This the city of Apaka was just the first, you know, when you type something into Google, that was the first result that came up. >> Well, that's the letter A. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> There's that.
So that one >> I went looking around tried to say mostly like there's one Colorado but it's interesting that most of them and they did a little summary at the end. So most places set the 10year time period
as the useful life of a bench. >> I know. I thought that was interesting that 10 years. Ours are sitting starting their second 10 years have started and finished their second 10 years. The ark benches are 20 years old >> except for the one that's broken.
>> I'm over to the side. >> This is a very good um block to the AC. >> Yeah. >> Until somebody turns it around and sits down on it. >> Oh, it's completely mangled right now. >> Oh, yeah. >> So, I moved it over by the um
>> But I wonder I mean it was turned around >> and they turned it back and sat on it and broke it more. That's what happened. >> Yes. Oh, >> during the arts and music festival. >> Oh, I didn't know that happened. >> So, it's kind of like what do you have
to do? >> You have to put um caution tape from one arm to the other and they don't sit on it. >> Don't touch it. I mean, you would think that would be common sense. However, >> they must have thought we forgot to turn it around correctly. [snorts] So another thing is that they do not
take responsibility for damage or decline. >> So natural replacements are kind of on the donor >> if they want to replace the bench or have it repaired, right? >> Yeah. And this a lot of places provide
for just minor like we did with painting. It's a minor repair. Well, well, I think painted upkeep is a whole acceptable part of our responsibility. >> And then some of them give options to, you know, at the end of the 10 years
replace the bench or purchase a new, I guess, time period. And then [snorts] some will return the plaques that are attached to the bench. >> Yeah, I think that's appropriate. >> And there's always the right to remove the bench at any time for any reason,
>> right? I I think um after 10 years the bench may be removed or replaced due to wear, space needs or site resign or redesign is a nicer way of saying it than saying donation period would last for 10 years
and then it's out of there. I mean same obviously we have 20-year-old benches that are still there. So I think it's it's a nice nicer way of saying it. The um gazbo benches are
intact because they're protected to some degree where the others are the UV light and also the >> wet cold and freezing and thoring is part of the problem. >> I wonder if they make benches out of >> teik material.
>> I think that would give you probably get give you a good 20 years. The thing is whether what they look like, you know, are they going to be >> white? I feel like the tenure here must be a liability or insurance >> maybe >> for everyone to have the same >> I know it's [clears throat] interesting
to see it come up time and time again. >> What do you do at the end of 10 years too if the bench like you're saying the bench is fine there's nothing wrong with it. >> Yeah. >> My only thing would be why would you get rid of it at that point? >> Yeah. Unfortunately, ours [snorts] are teik which were then stained white,
painted white and then painted white and so they've had a certain level of protection. I mean, we have a natural one over at the historic townhouse which has been out all the time since it was given in honor of Mary Fuller and that one is still in really great shape for
teik. It's only been oiled about four times and it's older than these benches. In fact, they're the same bench. >> Yeah. [clears throat] Well, I Yeah, I just my point was I think it should say the bench may be removed or replaced.
>> May. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> At the discretion of the library. >> If we decide to go tracks, I think you're limited to whatever colors they do in tracks cuz I don't think you I don't know if you can paint them easily.
Um I think if we went to some other long-term material like TX uh that um >> granite >> composite material gray is a great one because it doesn't show miloo and you don't have to paint it >> you know um >> right
>> and gray goes good well being shown off against the building the benches because they're white have a tendency to disappear so they don't visually and the one [clears throat] for instance for Kathy's good fellow's memorial is actually metal. So that whole thing with
the statue and everything is metal and that should have unless something falls on it or drives into it or something like that, chances it will last indefinitely cuz I know the one in Rochester which they have at their library is older than ours and looks
really good still. So So you could always go with a metal bench as long as it's not as long as aluminum which won't rust or something like that. But if you go with an iron bench, then you're going to get rusting and failure, metal failure eventually.
>> To think about I mean at this point, are we we thinking about replacing any of them? >> Well, one of them's mangled. It's >> Well, the one that we're using is a a blockade. >> It's not even a blockade. It's more >> a collapsed blockade. >> It's totally collapsed. >> Okay. So, that one we need,
>> but I have the plaque in my office. >> Okay. So, it's plaqueless. >> It's plaqueless >> in Lakeville. So, are we going to replace it? >> Is that our responsibility? >> Well, we have to have a policy before we can >> Right. We need to >> We need to think on this.
>> Does Warhead have a similar situation? Do you have any benches? >> We don't really have any benches out. We have a number of memorial trees, but >> Well, that's the thing, too, is we have memorial trees, right? >> We have what? >> Memorial trees. >> Yes, we have memorial trees.
So, I'm thinking maybe we should combine this whole thing. >> I think all the memorials really because at some point in time some of the cherries are not going to be a they're going to outlive their >> lifespan, you know. >> Yeah, >> we only have a few. We have the weeping
um Asa pel made them the maple as rich's fathers and then >> the one for um >> um Rhonda Merrill's husband. Yeah, those are the ones. >> And then we have we have some stuff at Well, we have the granite bench which will last forever too. Over here that's
a [snorts] memorial over there which is a memorial. >> Yeah, but that would be cuz I know like with us we have one tree that succumb to something. I mean it died. But then I know that we have in other libraries
too. you run into and I don't know if we do it here but like shelving was donated by but then as time went on that shelving became obsolete like what we've done in the children's room so what do you do with that because that was donated by Joe
John Doe and but now that shelf is gone do you >> well you can always take the plaque and put it on the new shelf if [snorts] there's new >> what if we had like a menu if somebody wants to donate something but wants a tangible item
and they can look through that. Do you want to donate a >> sofa? Do you want to donate a a carol? Do you want to and then if that becomes broken or obsolete, we notify the family
that we've transferred it to another item in the library already. fits. >> But I I kind of like on a lot of these, I forget which one I was looking at, there is the time limit and that's it. If that piece is still in good shape and you're still using it, it sounded like
that's still that donation is done. And then the families, do you want to donate again to for another 10-year period or >> I think if it's in good condition, you >> I mean, I'm not saying it'd be hard to do that, but like if >> we take your plaque off unless
>> Well, that's what one of them was saying. I'm just saying like so like say we have a circ desk and we donate somebody donate money for the circulation desk while we decide well we need a new circulation desk and I come in I'm willing to donate the money for a new circulation desk you can't really
take the plaque off the old circulation desk put on the new one that I'm donating >> right >> unless we want yeah so somehow politely say if the item has been
replaced after 10 years. >> Well, that's what I'm thinking. Like I like in here somewhere. I don't necessarily say like at the end of 10 years that thing is done. And sorry Ruth, you're your >> Well, I'm like are we going to go fly at the same time there should be something
that says yes, we honor, we respect, we appreciate, but >> if at the end of 10 years the object is no longer >> I mean we'll keep it going but maybe we're replacing it at that point. Yeah. That's not your object anymore. >> I think it's >> that sounds harsh, but
>> yeah, we have that stuff in here. So [clears throat] maybe we need to revisit the gift policy and put in language about memorial things like the benches, the >> Yeah, that would be part of the gift thing, the memorial, >> the areas or the the shelves or whatever
physical thing we [snorts] >> and then we can give it that time limit and say, >> you know, we may remove it after its useful life, >> right? Because I mean sometimes like the
the granite bench is very lovely and it's [snorts] much appreciated, but the library has needs beyond an extra item. So if we had possibilities
for them, it might spark them to [clears throat] support [snorts] what we need or not, you know. >> Well, I had thought it might be nice to work on some sort of brochure like leaving a legacy >> and talk about they can do books, they can do
>> Yeah. you know, the bench they could do. >> Cuz even with the book donation though, you know that I donate $500 for the medical collection. Well, I hope after five or six, seven years it's not on the shelf anymore. Like newer
>> medical stuff that things like that with science with is always updating >> and even history too, even fiction, right? >> Yeah. I think um yeah I think it we have to work on
the sensitivity issue is also but the practical [snorts] part representing the library too. So we have to balance the two parts out >> so we can revisit the gift policy and maybe add some of this language or >> look at adding we'll have to think about
what we need to add. Memorial benches would fit under gifts. >> Be under gift. Yeah. >> And then >> we just didn't have a policy before because they were still young. >> We didn't know things wouldn't last more than 20 years. >> Well, I think that when we were
installing them, we we said we wondered how long they would last and we were going judging from the other one at the other site that it had lasted a very good time with very little care and had had no damage. But it's been able to dry
out and and and these were painted. So then you're encapsulating your wood and that sometimes causes problems. But yeah, I think some of this is stuff we figure out because we've been around 20 years, >> right? >> Or they have been around maybe a lot longer doing stuff like this.
>> Well, there's a lot that's not like even the trees or something. If you donate, I mean, well, now we're looking like we're getting a new well. What if there were a tree in that spot? I mean trees were donated but they weren't memorialized [clears throat] donations out back. >> Well, what I want to keep us from having
to do is replace everything because it's got a plaque on it, >> right? >> Even if we don't need it, like if somebody >> had put in the young adults room had um donated the different parts that we're replacing because we're renovating
the room. We don't want to have to take those items and put them elsewhere or buy exactly that or whatever. That's >> I think if we're doing something like a shelfing unit, a shelving unit is a
shelving unit. It does the same has the same role and use for us. So that would be okay to move a plaque from and notify people that we have doing it and why we're doing it. But it still is is a shelfing unit. But I think that if it was something totally different, it
would be hard to do that, >> right? >> So, let's not have any memorial chairs or anything that could have a shorter lifespan than 10 years. >> There was a plaque in the YA room. Wow. >> Or I should call it the teen room. It's teen room now.
>> The teen teen room. >> So, it's it's for computers, >> right? >> And that's not >> they don't exist anymore. They can but that can be moved to where the computers are, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And it's is it just at the entrance? >> Yeah. I think
>> Yeah. I think it's and an entrance thing just says that something in the room is given by this group of people for this memorial. So I think that that could actually stay there. It doesn't have to move. >> Okay. So we have some things to think about. Huh?
>> Yeah. >> Okay. Before are we going to do we have enough times or should we do this for February? Um, I think the quiet rooms we could do January and then the memorial bench if I have
more time to work on the gift policy. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, we would assume perhaps it will be on if >> we can stick it on the agenda just so that it >> thought is there do much with it. Yeah.
>> I can put it on for January discussion and just put it as the for the sketchy. Yeah. FY27. Wow. FY27. >> I know. It's so unbelievable. >> Budget draft. >> So, I gave you all the documents that I'll be submitting.
Um, except for the salaries, which are just level funded, and they actually didn't include the staff increases yet either. [snorts] So um they said level service budget but level
fund the wages. So I ended up going level funding for operating as well because I know that we will be above the municipal appropriation requirement and knowing that there's a very
difficult budget season ahead. Um, if you want me to make any changes, I'm happy to, you know, make some changes. >> Do you think there'll be a hiring freeze? >> I mean, hiring and wage freeze. You
haven't said anything yet. So, I'm still moving forward with my vacancy. Okay. At a department heads meeting, I did ask and the answer was, well, we'll have to see. I'll take a look at it and I'll get back to you. So, I haven't heard anything yet.
>> When is it due? December 23rd. >> December 25th. Actually, [laughter] >> Christmas present. >> We hope you will make sure that you do that. >> My only concern is if it's level service and you've kept even I I understand
you're holding off on wages to see what the town >> Yeah. >> is discussing with that. But with utilities, it's like your electric bill going to be is your water I mean service. >> Water is a good question. We don't know about water. It depends on the well.
Honestly, electricity is tracking where it should be. Okay. Um, we had added 6,000 last year to keep up with the rate hike and the usage
>> and we only ended up using 20,276. >> Okay. >> And it does increase a little, but I think it should stay within the 23,000. heating fuel. Um, we've kind of been running right around
that. Um, if I were to add anything, it [clears throat] could probably be into the heating fuel line. Maybe up it by another 500 or a,000 just in case. Um,
buildings and grounds. I don't. A lot of it goes to Paul now. So I do pay for some things, but a lot of it comes out of Paul's budget. [snorts] Office equipment covers our PC support,
so that is still within the 2,800. The rubbish removal should actually be a lot less because we have a new contract with Harvey and I think I'm paying $85 a month with the COA. So it's like about
160 170. Um so that should stay within the 1,800 well below. Um other contracted services I could up that a little bit more because we did spend 4500 last year. So
that takes care of our security. The >> what does sales come out of again? >> The [snorts] >> where does sales come out of? >> Sales is out of dues and subscriptions. the network fee. >> Totally missed that. Okay. >> Yeah. And that that should cover it. 175 [snorts]
should cover it >> even with the increase. >> So when when they sent the revised one, it should. Yeah. >> Okay. >> And I don't want to put more in the line in anticipation that next year it'll be more. But I did mention in my memo that
things will be going up next year. Well, the problem is that whenever we have to hold the line at the previous year's expenses, we nobody informs our vendors, [laughter] >> our support services that they need to hold the line, too, because those are
the things we have no control over. >> So, the only thing you can do is affect the stuff we actually can control, like how much we actually spend, right? >> That is not something that we have no control over. >> Well, I just don't want to see us
I appreciate the diligence knowing that the budgets for the town is going to be tight, but I don't want to see us willingly put us in a hole, >> right? >> Um, in keeping it at level funded, but
if you think that it's >> fits in there, then I mean, I'm okay with that. I trust your opinion on that. But I just that's just my only word of caution. knowing that the waterfall has gone off
and I I could boost other contracted services by a little 200 or 300 and then the heating fuel. That's the only two that I really have questions about. >> Okay. >> Paying for in the future. But most of them and in the water service obviously
[laughter] you look at last year's number and it's like wo that's crazy percentage more. But um >> well water that's kind of a unique I just want to make sure like I said I not beating a dead horse but just making
sure you're not putting yourself in a hole here because >> yeah I don't >> you're keeping >> I mean I don't think we will be too much I don't think things are going to increase too much more than what we we have. >> And then how will you know since the
deadline is what 2 weeks? How we will when will you know or how will you know as far as the salary lines? >> I won't know until they put out their information. Um so right now that's in
so with HR and Andrew are working on the salaries and they're also they have a contract to negotiate for next year. So, everybody's contracts are up. I think police, fire, um the union, [snorts]
um and then I think a lot of I know my contract needs to be renewed and then I think a lot of department heads contracts may be up for renewal. So, they don't really have a sense of what they're going to do yet. I don't know.
>> I think until they know about cherry sheets and everything. >> Yeah. And the insurance is also a question. They've been working on that. >> Well, we do know that we do have the money that we receive from the state for the grant. So, we have that and we have been very fortunate to receive some
generous gifts, but usually those things go for not operating expenses, which is what we need. The town needs to show that they support the library in order for us to qualify for future grants from the Commonwealth, you know. So, >> so what I can do is boost the heating
fuel uh I guess another 500 to be a conservative. I think I did boost it. Maybe I didn't. I think it had been lower last year. I'd have to look at last year's budget and
then the other contracted services put that up by maybe 400 to make it 4500. So, another 900 to deal with the contract stuff. Okay. If anyone has any other questions or if
not I'll take a we've always to be conservative and yet withhold uphold up what our responsibilities are because we don't like going to mass board library commissioners and county to explain why the town is not treating us fairly.
>> No. and the board of select people and the town administrator at that time that went did not want to ever have to do that have that experience again. So, it's not a great thing to do. >> I move we accept as amended.
>> Okay. Is there a second? >> Second. I have a first and a second for approval of the FY27 requested budget as amended. Uh any further discussion hearing? None. I will
move for a vote. All in favor? >> I. All oppose. Absent. >> All right. >> I like all the descriptive pages too. >> Oh yeah. So using what Jamie had written up about the requirements was great,
very precise. And then it was nice to kind of revisit some of the things we've accomplished, too. So it's nice to have that in there. I don't they didn't send out a template for that, so I just used whatever.
So >> all right, next up, holiday calendar. Or is it really FY27 or are you looking at calendar year 26? >> Oh, calendar year 26. Sorry. Well, it spans FY26. >> It does [laughter] partially
>> FY26 FY27 calendar [clears throat] 2026 holiday calendar, I should say. It looks pretty much standard [snorts] what we >> are what we've always >> what we do.
stuff. >> Yeah, we have the um the way the holiday falls for Christmas will be closed Saturday, December 26th because the town hall will be closed on Friday. And then we have five dates that we have
that are different from the town because we are also open on um Saturdays and also we [snorts] have a tradition where we have done Memorial Day and Labor Day the Saturday before we are closed and also we are closed the day before
Thanksgiving because we're open on the Saturday after vacation after the break. So yeah. >> All right. >> I move we accept the calendar of holidays. >> Is there a second?
>> Second. >> First and a second. Further discussion hearing none. All in favor? I >> I. All opposed. Extensions. All right. Carnegie. I can talk. Carnegie Corporation.
>> Okay. So, we wanted to revisit this from last time. So, I did talk to Andrew about the Carnegie Corporation gift and he wanted me to just go ahead and send in the W9. So, I did and I hadn't heard
anything and then I revisited the email and it says, "Your library can expect to receive a check in January 2026." So, I guess we just wait for check. Check. >> Yay. So, we're going to re um we're going to if the chair will allow, we will um enter a motion to reaffirm the
vote of November. >> Do we wait till we get the check to do that or accept? >> All we did was to accept >> the donation. >> Motion was to accept the gift. >> So, I move that we reaffirm the vote. Second,
>> we took it at a November meeting to accept the Carnegie Corporation of New York's gift of one $10,000. >> Is there a second? >> I second. >> All right, I have a first and a second.
Is I was going to say, is there a third? [laughter] Uh, >> all in favor? >> I oppose extensions. All right. If >> there's anybody out there who would like to give us another amount of money, it doesn't have to be 10,000. It could be less or more.
>> We would gladly accept >> to know that um Andrew [clears throat] had sent the um information to Nate Darling and he was very excited about it cuz I know he loves being in that building >> and he was interested in maybe like getting some pictures and when we get
the check maybe we can highlight some of the history of the library. It would be nice to have um >> I know nobody from New York is going to come and hand you the check, but be nice to explain what might >> Yeah, I think if we can put together a nice little newspaper article and send
some pictures to like the match hit week and maybe the Standard Times, we have some >> Yeah, there weren't many Carnegies listed when I looked at the website there. >> I think you said something about there were 13. >> Well, just for this area, >> might not be aware. Yeah.
>> But um >> well I think what they did was they have a whole listing of all the ones that initially been gifted but whether or not they still exist in some form of >> I mean residents of the town might not be aware that it's an original car library. >> Right.
>> And I think that's why he was excited. He wants to take some photos and >> some sounds like a possible >> gra some of the old photos. We probably should think about the historical commission looking about a possible Carnegie plaque as part of our 120
175th anniversary celebration with a designation that would place someplace on the building so the public would be able to know. There's nothing on the boat. Yeah, it should be >> teens space redesign. >> So we uh sent the quote over to Andrew's
design. I still have to send it to Manny at Demco and then it will be ordered. Manny at Demco said they can hold the furniture for 6 months without cost and then >> before we're ready for it, they'll ship it and have it send boxes. >> So, and then
>> put it in a closet somewhere. >> There you go. They they'll store it for a while and [snorts] then I'll let them know when we're ready with paint and I I have to send over the work requests to Paul to get and me to come over and then to get a quote for painting.
>> He has one or he's going to get one. >> He's going to I I'd rather work through him cuz he knows people and I don't know a lot of painters and I guess the one we did use for the benches is not available. >> He's got people. >> He's got people.
>> He's got them. circulation computer replacements update. >> So, I don't have any quote from Bob yet. I did write to to Green River Associates and I haven't heard back from them. So, I'm just going to send them another little reminder
email. >> So, we're waiting on quotes. >> Yep. The sales quote I think has expired. So, we'll have to probably get another quote from them. >> Snowerson Jubilee. So, Saturday was
great. I don't think the crowd was quite as big as last year for the second annual Snow Person Jubilee, but they had a nice turnout. [clears throat] >> It was cold. >> It was cold. >> Sorry. >> But um we had Santa and Mrs. Claus out in the gazebo
and um they did coco. >> Yeah, they live at the North Pole. >> They had Coco at the historic townhouse. >> They Yeah, they had Coco actually. They put the cocoa by here and then they had a fire pit over in the parking lot >> making uh s'mores. >> Making s'mores.
>> We had the audio ready to go for [snorts] Sue when she made the announcement, but I don't think Dave was here at the time, but she did say that they raised 5,300, >> right? >> And it's going to be matched. >> And it's going to be matched.
>> And it's going to be matched. It'll be 106. It's really good because I think the focus is for veterinarian services is is one of the big things that costs them a lot of money and even though they get a discount, >> it's cuz some of the animals that get
picked up are in really not great shape. >> Yeah, I can imagine they're in tough shape. >> Great. >> So, it was it went really well and we had a great turnout for ours. Um Sue has a lot of ideas for next year and I'd like to help her out if that's okay.
>> We should continue >> just helper. We know how to plan programming and and um >> it's got the idea down about how to secure people to support the snowmen and if we can show [snorts] how to balance
help with what we do what we do well what you do well for us. >> Yeah. making sure the audio is all set and then getting people here for crafts or something. Yeah. >> Nice. >> Yeah. >> And it the idea was brought up about a tree. I think maybe having a tree on the stage. >> They had his tree last year on the
[snorts] stage. >> Yeah. Some somebody loaned it. >> I think Lorine Carboni loaned it. >> It was a 12ft tree. >> So after Christmas and Facebook Marketplace might [laughter] have one. So,
I don't know who would be the one responsible for getting that tree, though. I don't think we should. >> No, >> no, >> it would probably be somebody um else, not us. Um >> Yeah, >> Dr. Memorial.
>> So, Phil, um Phyllis and Doris um Kushi stopped by um took a look at it. We're very pleased. Just wondered if we might be able to add another manipulative on the wall. >> And do we want >> There's space. >> Do we want another one?
>> I Another one would be fine. >> Yeah. Okay. >> One of the colorful ones. >> Yeah. [snorts] So Doris was going to go back to see if she could get a little bit more money from the group. So I haven't heard from her yet. Um, we were going to send her
also a list of books because she was thinking that maybe um, some books would be good to add to the collection. [snorts] And there was discussion about maybe having a thing, but nobody really had a date for me yet or didn't ask
about a date. So, I don't know. after Christmas. >> Yeah, I think it's tough time of year to >> maybe after the first of the year or something. They'll >> and Doris had said some of the the former staff may be back in the area soon, but so she'll contact them and see
what >> So, she's thinking of adding another one and um trying to get some more money as far as I know. >> Nice. Uh, anything else we need to do before we set the next meeting date?
If not, all right, next meeting date. If we go back to our fourth Tuesday, that would be January 27th. >> Works for me. I should be Is it >> January 28? 28 >> 2 Oh, Wednesday. Yes. I was looking at
Tuesday. >> So that works for me too. >> 28th [snorts] >> 11:00. >> Are we going to back? What time will we meet? >> 9:00. >> Do you know about any advanced meetings you might have? >> Uh way back into January.
>> Sales. I don't I don't know if they have a meeting in January. Is it a board meeting or >> they would be they wouldn't be that day anyways. The third day the third. >> Okay. So we would >> What time? 9:00 >> our usual. Yeah.
>> Okay. >> Although I do well with these 8:30 ones evidently. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> You're on time. >> Um All right. So hearing nothing else, I would take a motion to close at 9:27. >> So moved. >> Second. Second.
>> All in favor? I I And we are. Thank you. Yes. All right.