WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=D1rglTf2mss

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: D1rglTf2mss):
- 00:00:10: Welcome, Correspondence, and Public Comment Introduction
- 00:01:35: Public Comment 1: Supporting Biodiversity and Aaron Jade
- 00:02:43: Public Comment 2: Environmental Awareness and Meadow Use
- 00:03:33: Public Comment 3: Supporting Aaron Jade and Environment
- 00:04:05: Public Comment 4: Biodiversity Crisis, Grass, Lawnmowers
- 00:06:06: Public Comment 5: Procedure and More Public Input
- 00:06:55: Public Comment 6: High School Project and Erin's Impact
- 00:07:28: Transition and Introduction to Presentation by Aaron
- 00:07:56: Presentation: Indigenous Land, Slope Stabilization, Conservation
- 00:11:57: Biodiversity Crisis, Insect Apocalypse, Pollination Systems
- 00:15:17: Bird Population Declines, Host Plants, Native Grasses
- 00:17:34: Past Efforts, Public Education, Community Involvement
- 00:22:35: Littleton's Landscape, Native Plants, Restoration, Conclusion
- 00:24:14: Public Comment 7: History of Science, Climate, Consultant
- 00:25:50: Board Questions: Communication, Volunteer Policies, Liability
- 00:35:29: Adjourning Public Comment and Transition to Library Issues
- 00:37:41: Approval of Minutes and Building Update Question
- 00:40:08: Treasurer's Report and Friend's Meeting on April 15th
- 00:44:53: Assistant Director's Report: Staff Changes, Programs, Budget
- 00:52:32: Charter Committee, Scholarship Committee Update Discussion
- 00:58:14: Strategic Plan and Library Director Review Initiation
- 01:01:50: Goals, Training, Performance of Library Director
- 01:02:53: Library Director Contract: Changes and Approval Process
- 01:07:03: Meeting Rooms, Vincent Cooper Series Vote and Update
- 01:11:10: Library Trustee Officer Slate: Elections and Assignments
- 01:23:43: Maintaining Library Trustee List and Updates to Schedules
- 01:28:50: Trusty Updates, Town Meetings, Library Advocacy
- 01:36:18: Different AI Policy Views, Middle Sex versus Harvard
- 01:41:34: Open Positions, The Hill, Future Programs, Committee


Part: 1

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Okay. Hi everyone. Welcome everyone to the library trustes meeting. Today is Thursday, May 14th, 2026 and I'm going to start with uh correspondence. >> Yes. So, um, I've forwarded these to you

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already, but we received three emails. Um, one from Dustin Neil and Jeffrey Yates. Those were both today. And one from Janine Wood on May 11th about the importance of the slope, the hope that trustees keep it as a town resource as a resource for the town and support for

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Erin Jade um, in her role as continuing as a volunteer for the SL. >> So, you guys have those Sorry, that's okay. This public comment will last for 10

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minutes total and people are allowed to speak for no longer than two minutes. Um is going to time that and we as a board are not actually allowed to respond any. So this is just you making comments so we can have them on the record. Um and then um then we'll move on from there.

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So that's where we are here. There are multiple people wanting to make comments. I think we might need to organize. Would anyone want to make a comment? >> Please put one and then two. Is there anyone else in

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my mountain 104 Boston street? I am Aaron Jade's partner. um overflow. Uh I am here to support Aaron but also to support all the work that has gone on on the slow and the pollinator garden and biodiversity garden that Aaron has

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developed over the last several years. I think that uh knowing the feedback that I have seen or receive and that I see when I are here come to the library I think it become really val important and and beautiful part of the library and

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it's an island of biodiversity support in a world of ever collapsing biodiversity that we have set up here that can be used for education for people to see what can be done and like inspire kids and adults to do similar in

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their yard. And I would just like to throw my support and I hope that you all enjoy the presentation that Aaron has put together and that you think about the future of the garden and the slope as a whole. Thank you all. >> Thank you. >> Jordan 161 Hartwell. Um I just wanted to

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say that yes, I'm completely behind Aaron. Middle Sex County is the most backwards county in terms of environmental awareness and education in my experience in working with different environmental groups. And here you have this opportunity, this beautiful meadow

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to take advantage of it and and use it. You could you could become leaders and use this meadow. And don't lose this opportunity. Don't come in with a landscaping company and just weed whack it. Treat it with the respect it deserves.

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listen to the people in the community who are smart about natural landscapes. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Would anyone else like to speak? >> One over here. >> Russell 73. Sorry. There's one over

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here. Okay. And then he'll come here. >> Charl Russell 73 Foster Street. I'm also here in support of Aaron and this project. Um I'm interested in the environment of Littleton. I've seen a lot of change in the 70 plus years that

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I've lived here and I'm very proud of the conservation spaces that we've managed to preserve and the volunteers um that help maintain them. I think that the poller garden is in keeping with the educational philosophy and purpose of

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our library and it's a great resource. Melissa Cranmer, 255 Tahadan Road. Biodiversity depends on all of us. It really scares me how I drive around and all I see is perfect grass and no

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gardens with those little caution signs everywhere. It's really scary. We are in a crisis right now for insects. If if you don't think it's that big a deal, Google it. You'll see.

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We all need to start planting gardens. Get rid of the grass. It doesn't do anything. It's a waste of time, money, resources, and it pollutes lawnmowers, blowers, and in fact, the noise

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pollution it I've had it. I've got a neighbor that ms every single day and it's like I moved out to Littleton so it would you know country and I come home from work and I got to listen to

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mower every day. I can't hear the birds. I hear mower. I get PTSD hearing mower. I mean it's it's horrible. I want to hear birds. I don't want to smell the exhaust from a blower. It makes no

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sense. these poor foot lawns. Please, if you got, you know, we don't need to grow grass for nothing. It's such a waste of time. Everybody needs to have native shrubs, trees, wild flowers. It's

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so important for the biodiversity of this planet and this town. I'll pass these out. What was your last name? >> Craner. Anyone up? Yes. Hi,

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>> Andrew Long Lake Road. I'm also here in support of Aaron. I'm I'm not going to reiterate any of the points that have already been made. I just think from a point of procedure since public comment is being made before Aaron can give her presentation. Uh, I know you guys can't

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comment and I don't expect you to respond to this, but I don't know if there would be a way maybe for uh have more public input after Aaron speaks um before any decision is made. Seems a little backwards from that aspect. I don't know if anything can be done or not, but it's just a point I wanted to

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raise that we're all kind of giving these comments before she speaks and might be a chance for us to have them for a complete discussion after she speaks. that would be appreciated if that's possible. Thank you. >> Thank you.

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>> Hi. Uh Satie Roberts, seven Sarah Nua. Um as a student at the high school, A&J has been integral to our campus renewal project. She has gotten rid of the Bradford Parish and it is super important to the high school's biodiversity. It has also been a very important learning environment for us.

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We have started traditions. We have grown as a club. I'm in the environmental club. That's why we're here today. um and her support has made our campus so much better and I am really grateful to her and her education and knowledge and the fact that she can share it with everyone is very important

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to me. Thank you. >> Question. Can I speak for my husband? He wasn't able to be here. No one hears you. >> Moving on to the presentation, Aaron. Okay. Hi everyone. My name is Aaron. This is my son Otis and my partner Chris

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and one of my friends. Um I live here on Foster Street. I've lived here for almost 12 years. I'm a teacher and a mom and a homeschool mom and on the conservation board of the conservation trust. I'd like to begin by acknowledging our

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place here on indigenous land chief Tahadawan's noe which in 1654 became the praying Indian plantation of the Massachusett nation. Land stewardship built on reciprocity and respect provides the foundation precolonial

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cultures who once thrived here with abundant plant and animal life. When the library was built in 2021, the permitting process required Japanese notweed mitigation and sto slope stabilization due to wetlands proximity.

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The conservation commission and Amy Green, our retired conservation commission agent, recommended installing plants to support at risk species of native insects based on the research of Dr. Robert Jiger, a professor of biology at UMass Dartmouth, who studies the

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conservation of native pollination systems. Despite the fact that no management plan was created and no budget allocated to the care of the grounds, they are all thriving. They are doing their job stabilizing the slope with deep rooted native grasses

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and shrubs and hosting at risk native bees, butterflies, and wildlife. Going forward, the plantings need specific maintenance, although minimal, to ensure their success. They are perfectly positioned surrounding a

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public library to lead by example the plant choices and practices that support our environment. They have the potential to be leveraged to attract support, build programming, garner financial resources, and provide an extension of

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our library's mission. In 2021, as you can see here, I am a native plant grower. Um, Amy Green actually introduced me to the work of Dr. Robert Shagir and his plant list and I was off and running. So that year I began growing plants from seed at home.

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Each year I grow around 30 to 50 species from his list to both sell and install in public and private gardens. In 2022, you the board were concerned that the seeding of the slope was unsuccessful and that you'd have to defend your warranty. So, the garden

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club and I were recruited by Amy Green to add plants to the front near the parking lot. Amy advised on the plant list. The board was unsure how to proceed. I flagged seedlings on the slope to show that the seating was successful, but there was no unified

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plan for care. So, at that time, I bowed out. At this point, I sought another location to install a Jakir based habitat garden on conservation land with good public visibility. So, I started the garden at Bumblebee Park on town conservation land

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and included our group of homeschool kids with the process adding plants over time. It is still a work in progress. Here is the habitat garden in 2025 coming along. Here are blooms from that garden last

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summer. Back to that one. I began tackling invasive plants with my dear friend Rick Finley on conservation land as a volunteer land steward and board from the Littleton Conservation Trust and found it very discouraging. I also

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witnessed native plant populations being mowed down because of lack of knowledge. So growing native plants offered me and offers me a concrete way to contribute to the conservation of native biodiversity. We are living in a human-caused

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biodiversity crisis and amidst an insect apocalypse caused by habitat loss, pesticides, and non-native insect diseases. Natural habitats have been cleared for human endeavors. Insect populations persist on small, highly

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fragmented, isolated islands of habitat. I do have an article, only a couple copies about that. This is Dr. Robert Jakir, who some of you met in 2022 when he consulted on the plantings here at Rubenhore. He's also

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come and speak several times. Most of the bees you see right now are one species, bombas impatience, the common eastern bumblebee. People see a lot of these bumblebees and it gives them a false sense of security. Problem is that abundance does not equal

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the abundance of only one species is not a diversity of species. As recently as 2015, there were 11 species of bumblebees in Massachusetts. Now there are nine and three of them could easily disappear in the next decade unless we

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act now. So the kind of unicorns that I'm looking for in this habitat and any that I put in are the all yellow bumblebee bombas fervidus which has been seen a great deal on property in Southboro where he has a research garden and and bombas vegans. So I'm out there

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studying and looking for those imperile species. The losses of native bees can have devastating consequences for native biodiversity with cascading impacts across the ecosystem. The diversity of bumblebees impacts the

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diversity of native plants. In turn, these native plants provide food and homes to an array of insects and animals. We call this pollination system preservation. I am a member of a subcommittee of the Metro West Conservation Alliance with the goal of

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installing pollination system support habitats in as many local communities as possible. What is a pollination system? It is the combination of both floral traits and the animals that respond to those traits, visit and facilitate

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pollen transfer. And what comes of pollination? Plants, seeds. Pollination makes plants. That is what we're aiming for here at Ribbon and anywhere we put in these support gardens. I will pass out this. I did not laminate

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this. There's comments from the original clip with Amy Green. This is Dr. Robert Jagir's list. When I first saw this, I was a little scared of it. Now I'm really used to it. Um, but everything you see check mark is here on campus. Nad

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pollen is critical because it is food. That is what bees feed their larvae and nectar is fuel. And then host plants support caterpillars. Caterpillars are the laral form of butterflies and moths. We aim to provide plants that meet all

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three functions from April to October. Everything you see is here. The release of the 2025 US State of the Birds report produced by a coalition of leading science and conservation organizations reveals continued

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widespread declines in American bird populations across all mainland and marine habitats with 229 species requiring urgent conservation action. The report comes 5 years after the landmark 2019 study that documented the

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loss of 3 million birds in North America. Billion birds in North America over 50 years. Now you've most likely heard of the host plant milkweed. That is where the monarch butterflies lay their eggs and

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eat. That is their host plant. The one plant they use all different species of milkweed. Well, there are a lot of other host plant relationships. This these are pictures of native caterpillars, I mean native butterflies

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and one moth that are all endangered here in Massachusetts. And these are who we're trying to support with the grasses with the native grasses. Native grasses serve an essential food source for larae of numerous skipper and moth species. See these p these pictures

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here are grasses that we have here. Little blue stem, big blue stem, switch grass, Canada rye, purple love grass. They also have deep fibrous root systems that hold prevent erosion, improve water infiltration. They are drought tolerant.

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As I've said to many of you, they require no mowing, no blowing, no fertilizing, no uh anything. They're incredibly self-sufficient. This is another plant we have in abundance on the slope. It's called baptisia tintoriia, small yellow wild

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indigo, and it's a support for a bunch of um butterflies and one moth and provides nectar for those two endangered bees. Birds need thousands of insects a day to feed to their young. Insects are keystone species to for the web of life,

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and this garden is providing for them. This is a big reason we we leave stocks and leaves intact because many larvae and even adult butterflies overwinter in leaf litter. This is why we don't blow leaves hopefully.

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But in August of 2023, I was asked back to help by Sam and Mark um with the idea that I would just be speaking to Sam and not be confused by mixed messages from the board. And so I started tackling weeding the front um taking out plants

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that weren't doing well. And then I moved down the slope and it's big. Um and I weeded and I selected cut and I added in plants to the front. Is that my alarm? >> It is. But Erin, how much time do you have for the last

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>> three minutes? I'll talk really fast. Okay. So, I also transplanted >> I also transplanted a state listed plant. This is me. I'm working in the rain on purpose because it's really dry and it's a walk back and forth to the

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water. So, this is a state listed plant there's an abundance of on the slope and it is endangered. It's really beautiful and I took a bunch of it from the back and moved it out front so it could get better visibility. Public education is vital to this project. The whole purpose of this

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project is that it's here in a public space. So, I made signs. You see some of them. They I only laminated them, so they kept blowing down. I would like to have better signs made. But I also made um weatherproof labels to label the plants in the front. This is my friend

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Priscilla, who is a former owner of Pumpkin Brook Organic um gardening. She was supposed to be here today. She's a co-founder of Hager Homestead. She has been doing all of the pruning around the building for three years. And if that

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wasn't done, it would be scraggly falling into the walkway and terrible. Um, no one has really met her or thanked her. And I'm here advocating for how amazing she is and she has offered to continue to do it.

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This is part of a circuit of tours through Sbury Valley Trust. So, I did a tour here in 2024. You can see that there's also tours in Chilsford in Southboro, Moralboro, Lincoln, etc. And I did another tour last year. Here's a picture of my first tour in

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2024. I had 25 people. I had plant information. It was great. It was informative. This is me last summer also with an information table and lots of engagement. I really believe that this space is for

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education. These two groups helped me dig out black swallow wart. It is not fun. Um it has the deep roots it's in. Um unfortunately if monarchs lay their eggs on bees it's toxic to them. So we

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had to dig it out from the side. But first we had to move multifllora rose and bittersweet. It was rough. Rick helped. John Bailey helped. Melissa has helped. and pass it around. That's just a black swallower info sheet. But I had a church youth group help and Middle Sex

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School group um did this really fun task of digging out black swallower. The Littleton High School environmental club representing here. I'm going to go back to my site so I make sure I don't I mean my paper so make sure I don't forget anything. I feel it is a really

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important educational experience for kids to be involved, for students to be involved, for anyone to be involved. So these this campus is not in isolation. This is part of a townwide effort. We made Sister Gardens at Bumblebee Park and Littleton High School and now Shaker

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Lane. We just put in a little one at Shaker Lane in April. So this is a weed winter seed sewing project that we did with the environmental club. Finley Pletcher is who I first met who championed started the project. Um, and then we involved the the scouts and

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Andrew, you are in this picture. Um, which is great because the high school kids are busy. We went to install the plants in the summer. It was really it was really busy. So, trying to get more people involved. Always good.

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>> So, yes, we Elizabeth Barry is here, the environmental club leader. We had to go the kids had to go before the school board to ask I mean the school committee to ask to have the invasive plants removed. It was a lot of bureaucracy getting those removed then having them plant the plants and install them. It

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was a great experience and it's not over. This is a continued project. And then this is we just did one at Shaker Lane. So I passed some of these out. These are ideas for programming, publicity, and

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civic engagement. We could have all kinds of classes that are um centered around the campus here. Collaborators, publicity, volunteers. All right, this is my wrap-up. Littleton is a small suburban

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town with 10,624 acres and 2,000 in conservation. The other roughly 8,000 privately owned, which to quote author and entomologist Doug Talamy, personal property represents the last chance we have at sustaining plants and

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animals that were once common throughout the United States. We've forced the plants and animals that evolved here to depend more and more on human dominated landscapes for their continued existence. I see this personal parcel of intentional native plants around the building as a small act of resistance

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against the status quo because most of our yards and public landscapes provides zero resp uh support for the ecosystem. Planting native plants is an act of restoration, reciprocity and awareness. It is a gesture of kindness in a

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degraded landscape. I do this work for my own child and for all children and I do it for the thousands of other life forms who deserve to share the space with us. So let's work together to make a care plan for the Ruben rantings and

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grounds. Thank you. >> Thanks. Nice to meet you. Um, so we're going to open it up to the board to ask any questions. Um, I don't have stupid questions, but wanted to say it's really cool.

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Uh, I'm David Spanigel. I'm new to town, but I'm one of Priscilla's neighbors. And uh I just want people to know that I teach history of science and technology at WPI and I advise some of the student

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projects that um graduate students need to graduate and I've done a series of projects at a fussle of land in Clinton that I've advised. It's called um this plant now a twoacre in a little

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highly in um Russia farm former dairy bar and um the second of my project team's work to develop plans for and we worked with Dr. to his plant list

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and he's been a consultant there at at that land. And then we did a climate change adaptability study on forests on that land. And this coming year, I'll be advising yet another student team um

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examining climate resilience and how can how can they plan to adjust to changes in fields and wetlands balanced fields and wetlands. So uh

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my experience teaching the course on the extinctions challenge to freshman at WPI also equipped me to care about these issues. So, I really appreciate all of the material that you shared with us and

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it's familiar to me. >> Thank you. >> Um I I think I've had the most thinking with you given that I was on the board at the time that the building opened and was part of the trying to figure out what to do when the hill didn't seem to

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see the right way. So, um, I appreciate all this information and the education part that goes with this. Um, I think part of my perspective has to be from the library as board member and there are some

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probably things you weren't privy to that we were dealing with on our end. um you're privy to that. I may not know given the thing, but back in 2022 when we were dealing with the hill here um we were coming out of the build our lanes

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of responsibility between director, trustees and friends were so incredibly blurred it made communication hard. And so we've worked really hard since that time to reestablish this is the roles of the board, this is the roles of the director, this is the roles of our friends.

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Um and as part of that process, that's when we establish the process to have as should be um all information go through Sam and then he can coordinate with his property partners about that. So I can see how at the very beginning of the project it felt like there was no plan.

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Um and then I think we have to be careful because I know some of your timeline itself Mark Ronacher asked you to come back. He wasn't a trustee at the time that he did that. So, we're in a funny situation where we have somebody who's

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giving authority and ownership of a project and the board ourselves didn't know, Sam didn't know what that meant, you know. So, I think um we absolutely should be looking at this again and coming up with a plan. Um, and

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we need to we have to think of it through our volunteer policies and liabilities and not knowing when the plant tours are happening or when student groups are on on property which the library is care and custodian of this property um is a potential liability for the library and so to not

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know when they're happening ahead of time. >> I did invite Sam and the tours. >> So I'm I think there's been maybe some but student groups or whatnot. I don't know the timeline. I don't have anything written to say yes that happened. No, it didn't happen. How it happened in

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writing. Like those are the kind of things I think we need to better formalize so that we can assess >> um those how to engage and use this environment to engage educationally in a way that um follows the policies and

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procedures that we set up to protect the library and protect the town. >> That makes total sense. Um, I just I did I was under the impression that information was disseminating from Sam like when I was inviting him to the

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tours and asking for a table for the tour >> and asking for volunteers on multiple times because the premise of coming here was that I would be given volunteers and I have said to Sam for the past 3 years

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this isn't sustainable for me to do by myself. I could have seen that in the emails that >> right so >> we've seen over time >> there there was a breakdown >> I agree I think it's important to remember that the framework of the library libraries unlike LCT is not a

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volunteer organization so we don't have this already built um mission purpose educated and like for this task kind of volunteer base just present to pull from like you guys are all into this work knowledgeable have

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skills that add to that I can see it in the room and that and the passion that's here and I love that. Um, but it's harder for us to identify the right people when that's not necessarily the group that's present

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here and the library is a library, not a volunteer organization. So, we have work to do like relationships to build and we've got to figure out a system that's sustainable. Um, but also

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like we it just needs to be I think the hard part is we as a board need to think of it from a library lens. And I don't disagree with anything you presented, but it needs to anything that we do going forward needs to be sustainable. It really needs to be

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funded. We've been talking to Tim at conservation to understand, you know, what does this mean trying to put all the pieces together and as part of our system of this is director, this is board, and this is friends responsibility. really trying to enable

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department toart department um engagement to make sure that what is built isn't one volunteer or one trustee driven and so that if they disappear that the system falls apart. Does that make sense? >> No, makes complete sense like baking it into the programs sustainable and I I

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I'm on board with that. Um, so there's there's work to be done and I also empathize with you not necessarily even knowing what was I I think there wasn't even really good information and buy in from the start

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for all of you to be kind of to go from having no campus at all to having a huge property that suddenly had to be planted and m maintained was a little bit we were a little blindsided by that and I sort of swept stepped in and then Amy

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Green at one point told me just give up and I didn't. Um so it's it it's tricky but now the lion's share of the work has been done. Um so now it's actually established and good. So it's it's it's

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time for us to take a look at how it could be how it could you know succeed. And I know it's challenging. It's challenging for me and for Leo and I I feel that.

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So, I'm here um to help consult on that. And Priscilla, he missed me introducing you, but this is my friend Priscilla, the master gardener pruner extraordinaire. Um, and Priscilla has been on is on

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every you, you know, I was just looking at like your CV, like every and and Priscilla is a writer, incredible person. So, she is here to to help, too. So, I I understand there's it's a little

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murky right now. We also just want to make sure that everyone understands that I think as Katrina was saying like this is a big the library is a huge project and the the hill is one part of that project right and so sometimes it feels like um I think that we need to

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basically have like we were talking about a kind of a communication flow I think we have to talk possibly about frequency and like meetings and kind of and just kind of having that kind of thing if whoever we end up working with um set up so it doesn't become um a

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bigger part of our volunteer position um than it should be, >> right? And I I did write here about um this is important like collaborations, bringing in friends, some new friends um

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friends new to town who were um on the in the gardening pub or um and I also did make a maintenance um recommendation and it's probably pretty minimal considering um what has already I mean because a lot has already been done. Um,

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so I I get that you don't have the bandwidth to be a library and also take care of a giant campus. Um, and so I I I hope that we can work together to try to figure out the best way forward

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and I'm here to help. Maybe not in exactly the same way I have been for three years because it's really tiring, but um I'm here to to try to >> usher in a new era of better communication, better leveraging of this

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space um and just trying to figure out how to make this sustainable for all of us. >> Can I do Sarah Donovan? Um I do. First of all, I want to thank you for all your hard work. Appreciate it. I walked the hill with Sam, Katrina, and um Tim from conservation the other day and we are in

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conversation with Tim. We are working on maintenance plan and we're just trying to figure out like we don't want this to go away. Like you know obviously we we I just want everyone in this room to know that this is really important to us and that's why we're all here. Like none of us want it to just go away but we do and

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as you said in multiple emails it's too much for you as a volunteer started maybe asking to be paid. we just need to figure out the best plan for everyone on how to like care for this moving forward. And so we do hear you. We see you and we appreciate your work. And

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that's why we are working. We're going to work with Tim and you know and Sam and figure out the best plan for everyone moving forward. >> I'm happy to help to that end as well. Thank you. >> Someone else.

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Okay. Thank you everybody. Feel free to say contribute to library friends. Still taking over. This is a good article. deal with my

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very please join National No, >> there was never anybody. >> Let's get through this agenda. >> You're welcome. You have a very long agenda today. Okay. Issues. Um, no to report.

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>> Not right now. >> That's actually usually made yesterday. Thank you. Sorry. Okay, that's okay. Um, does everyone have a chance to look at the minutes from edits? >> Okay. Um, a couple different Mr. Crab.

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>> Yeah. >> Fine. >> Kimberly, were you on too or were you here? >> I was here. >> Okay. Cuz it says via Zoom. I think you were zooming out. Okay.

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>> Cuz I'm not I'm not on it. >> All right. So, we got to fix our attendance and then the Mr. Craft and then I thought she was one other thing. Amen. Oops. I have a building update question while

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we're on this. Um, if the elevator still calling police, >> um, I don't think so. Um, they they installed new phone A. Can you do that? >> Yes. >> No. Yeah, I just kind of I guess I just

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had those two. >> I mean, I didn't see anything else, but >> Yeah, I see three places where it says Mr. Craft. So, >> yeah, it was consistent. >> It was consistent. >> Then at the end, then it switches black again, >> right? >> I am genuine. >> Okay. So, um, whoever is the next clerk

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can update that. Um, and would someone like to make a motion to approve the minutes as amended? I move to approve the minutes from the library trustee meeting on Thursday, April 9th as amended. Second hiate

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report. All right, as Sam reported, state aid is increased thanks to our um second half of the year payment. So that is $35,37353 to use so you can copy. MMDT has $33,33410.

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Gift account is $7,278.93. Building gift is $3,640.84. MVLC grant is $686,44. Lead grant is $116,895 and the B monthling balance is1,943,1343

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um which has returned back to where it was in January and February. Great. Does anyone have any questions about reports report? uh friends met on April 15th.

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The final tally of the mini golf intake was in excess of $20,500. Uh which was almost as much as the best year, but because they spent less on food this year than last year, the net

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was more than 15,000. So financially that's falling. Yeah. >> That's great. But they spend a lot of energy in the reading about talking about the spirit being the event and their concerns that it be revitalized

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more compelling and they explored a lot of different alternative scenarios >> that mini golf or like for something else >> for something else for a mix and they they didn't make a decision at that meeting but they were really just

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trying to think very critically around like elements and options for maybe diversified so that mini golf become less stale today less attractive

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um the uh membership as of April 15th for the friends was at 111 they had 22 new people so far in 2026 they felt this is a it's also lagging a little behind they had 30 at the same

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here. So, it's more work to be done. Um they uh are monitoring the coffee cart and it's closer to meeting it's sort of routine expenses now that the initial startup cost. I mean, it was really hard

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for them to gauge. So, they're just watching that. They got an extensive report from Sam about his experience in Minneapolis, which was great. And he also gave them a wonderful report on the strategic play. I learned more in that meeting than

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>> any other work. It was it was great. >> So that was good. Um so there was um the meeting that they held but they did their book sale May 1st through 3rd and the final tally on

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that was uh a record breaking book sale event. So, previous best of them about $3,500. They sold $4,166 m in books. >> Wow.

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>> They sold $105 worth of cookies. They attracted another $210 in memberships which so the previous total so far on membership was like $4,800 and uh internet sales $61. So it's like

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more than $45. >> What are sales for that? I think the who manages >> they have a volunteer who um basically he goes through the books on like eBay and he kind of sells them clean things up.

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>> Yeah. And he takes a cut and gives the >> So that's my report from the frames >> set up the tables and the tables in that book. I've never seen they were everything on top and underneath. It wasn't a wonderful selection because >> and there was still a really good

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selection on Sunday, >> but not a selection of peace. >> A good. >> Thank you. Report. >> Um, does anyone have any questions about report? >> Moving on. The assistant driver report.

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Mike, you're out. >> Uh, thankfully I don't really have anything to report other than just normal cataloging stuff. So, I'll be quick. >> That was it. >> That was it. >> Um,

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>> all right. Um, so I met with the COA director, Liz, and um, we were talking about doing a block party together in August um, to coincide with the end of summer reading. So, she wants it to be sort of like, um, third Thursdays, except just the two of us, basically. So, we're excited about that. Um,

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unfortunately, uh, Linda Mayor has resigned effective May 22nd, um, due to family reasons. And Julie F also informed me today that she will be resigning effective June 11th. So, um, I have, well, first of all, I want to say

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thank you to both of them. They've done a great job, especially Julie F over the years. Um, so we're gonna they're going to be missed. Um, Julie will continue to stay on as a volunteer for her book club because she want she doesn't want to give that up, but um, yeah, she um, her

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husband's uh, retiring, so she wants to retire with him. Um, yeah. >> Fun. >> Yeah. And, um, yeah. So, um, I've post I've sent um, we've already posted Linda's position online. Um, and I sent

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in the I'm going to do an internal posting for Julie F's position. So hopefully one of our library assistants um either Danielle, Amy T, or Cameron will apply and then while we're doing the for Linda's position, maybe we'll

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find two pill so that we can just back film. >> What is Julie's hours? >> Uh she's a 12-hour library tech. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Um she as she is a person who's been here for quite a while. I'm hoping there's going to be some kind of revive plan for her. >> Yeah. Think about it anyway. Yeah, I

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just literally just found out this morning. >> Not yet. >> Um, MVLC reported that they're delaying the transition from Microsoft to Google for the emails. Um, they ran into a little snag while they were preparing for this apparently. So, Google was

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supposed to be a free um system for them, but Google only allows 300 and there are way more than 300 people in MVLC across all 36 libraries. So, they're going to stay with Microsoft for the time being until either they can

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convince Google to give them more free emails or um yeah, something else comes up. So, yeah. So, don't worry about uh thinning out your email inboxes like I told you to do for at least for a little

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bit. Um yeah. Um the community read was successful. We gave away over 150 copies of the um Braiding Sweetgrass and the YA version and the children's version. Um there

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also about 56 copies that got circulated. Um there are 75 attendees across our related programs and feedback from the patron was that was very positive and they look forward to another committee read. Um I attend the Springtown meeting. Good job. And uh

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yeah, >> you did a nice job. >> Yeah, >> that's something I know how to do. >> Do it well. >> Um our FY27 budget was approved, so that's good. Um we are currently winding down our budget for FY26 and uh we're

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beginning to switch um I think we've pretty much spent all of town book material money. So we've started to switch to the 15,000 you can guys give us for trustee money for books. Um, and we're also trying to wind down in other things. We're probably going to stop all

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spending at least by June because we um we aren't allowed to go past July 1st or else we have to go to town meeting for Bill's prior year. So, we don't want to do that. So, um yeah, so we're winding down on that. Um

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I'm going to start staff performance reviews next week before they are due to HR in June 2nd. And Megan and Abby went to MLA training for youth mental health first aid on April 16th and now they're both certified youth mental health health

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first aid. >> Um other than that it's just the stats. Financially we're doing good. >> Yeah. >> Uh no I did the adult first. >> Yeah. >> Uh Megan and Abby. >> Did any else do the adult one?

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>> No. Um when I did it, I did it a couple years ago and um I didn't even know what it was so I just went to it. Yeah. >> Development that would help librarians deal with people who have >> Yeah, it's the problem is they're very

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long. So it would be like a I mean Yeah, it's like a full day thing >> and you have to go some usually you have to go away to do it. >> Yeah. >> Because Yeah. >> Let us know how we can help support that. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Um, I have a couple questions.

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Okay. One is you said you're going to stop spending in June. Do you need any money in June that you don't have that we wouldn't? >> No. We We're pretty good in trustees for right now for what we have. So, I think we'll be okay. >> Um, and the other question was for community. Is there anything you might

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do differently? Like what we do differently? Um um I wish I had known sooner about um the Native American speaker we had. Well, I tried to book her later, but I

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think she would have been better at the end rather than at the very beginning. >> It was not on. >> Yeah. Not on it was >> her availability. >> It was her availability. >> Um but yeah, other than that, yeah, I think I think pretty well. >> Do you have a sense of when you might next do one? probably the same time next

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year. >> That's great. >> More questions. Can I follow up on the spending budget? All right. So, you're holding spending so we don't have to go prior years, but you're set up for everything you need at the beginning of summer reading those first few weeks. >> Yeah, we already asked the friends um

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two months ago. >> Excellent. >> And uh Jennifer and Nick have already spent it. I think they both have like $20 left, >> but it's all spare. So, please >> uh yeah, we're good.

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>> Do you know when summer reading will start? >> Uh it's um June 20th, I think. 22nd, something like that. >> Are there plans? I know. I mean, Diane's retired, so Jen's taking over the advertising of the summer reading to the schools or is

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>> Yeah, I think she was at the school yesterday or the day before. >> Jerger Lane or Street? >> Yeah, one of them. I don't know which one. >> Do you know if Susan plans to do winter? I mean like adult. >> Yes. Yes. >> Will it be on paper again or online?

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>> Um I'm not sure. >> No reason. >> Do you have a preference? >> I can let her know now >> few times in her. >> She'll probably do paper. >> All right. >> It's nice to see we hit the

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>> Yes, we um and you're online just stopping it so far. Right. Any other questions? Yeah. Updates. Okay. So, I keep listening to the meeting since I think at the last

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meeting um has met now the timeline's confused. I think the select board and charter committee had just met and I reported on that. Okay. So since then the charter committee went back um took their draft

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they've gone back they've gone through section by section to finalize their recommendations for um the charter and um unfortunately there hadn't been a new one online for a while so just yesterday

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I reached or yes two days ago I reached out to Betsy Bowling his chair of the charter committee and asked if we could get the most recent draft because in one of the meetings I was listening to they had changed wording relating to um the TA's responsibilities for buildings and

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town property. So, I just wanted to make sure we get the most recent language. So, she just sent that to me and I will share that out so that everyone can see the most recent version in case anyone catches something or wants to have questions um that we can present to them. But the next my understanding is

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they are I also spoke to her um they are wrapping up um their draft and that will be sent to the select board and then the select board will decide what the next steps are. So from once it's handed off it's kind of outwards air hands and onto

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the select board to do their decide what they're going to do with it. Whether they present all of it to go forward parts of it none of it it becomes a select board responsibility. So they're just the charter comm is getting to the end of their

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uh time. They did promote the charter process at times reading. I saw I took the handout. So there is that. So we will see how it goes. But I will share out the new draft that I just got um to everyone in case you guys are interested and to keep your library lens on it. It

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would be great. Anybody scholarship committee? >> Okay, very bon scholarship committee has good news. We had um interviews the week of April 28th. They five interviews out of 10 applicants and we selected two

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scholarships. >> You accepted them, right? >> Yeah. Accepted the position. Yes. And I think you could name them exception. Um but Aniga and Lassi for the we um chose one as a senior and one

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as a junior and so we we ended on that note and they'll be moving to work here. But our future questions then would be and and it sounds like a position we've not been in in the past. Would we limit it to only seniors next year for example or keep it open to seniors and junior?

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We had one instance where it was uh one of our applicants had already graduated but not currently a student. um and did not conceal that. I I just didn't notice it when we moved forward or maybe didn't know what year it was this year. >> Yes. Like typo or also it seems to me

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that that was this year. Um so we want language in there or a box to check like are you currently a student check? Another thought we had was about including language to address the use of AI in the scholarship essays. um because a couple people have that but we hadn't

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explicitly said not to so you know consider using that language next year. Um and then if you don't permit it um our other thought is to say like preference maybe given to seniors over two years or something like cuz it did seem to be if all things were equal that

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like emotionally that's where you would land is somebody who was about to graduate versus somebody who would have maybe a chance next year to a point again. And the reason why we have we're having this even have this conversation and trying to figure it out for next year is because the applicants were so strong. The last five well yeah they were like the last red applicants

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especially were >> the very strong anyone would be good. >> Yes. >> Yes. Yes. >> Well and I think originally we were opening it to juniors and seniors when it wasn't getting a lot of bandwidth for applicants. So there was the applicant

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pool needed to be bigger in order to find people who are um wanting to do it but I think the revamp of the program and the time frame the hours everything has and the publicity has really changed that. So I mean I think a discussion

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about whether who we want to limit to and I agree the AI piece of that I think uh should definitely be included from my p in my opinion >> and it doesn't seem like something we could decide in the moment like we're not getting a lot of applicants we don't need to limit because almost everybody

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submitted at 11:59 p.m. >> Yeah. is how this generation operates from, you know, college work to applications. >> So, I I think it's good that everyone is aware of this in case we make different decisions next year. But like I do think

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that the the committee can make that can make those decisions next year, but just want to make sure for the juniors that are selected to are they eligible to apply again as senior? Oh, I don't think we have Do we have something that said you can't do it again? We should probably talk about that soon. Yes, that should be

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>> I thought that was in there. >> I thought it does anyone have any other questions about that? All right. Congratulations to our volunteers, our scholarships, um, library consultants, strategic parents.

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>> Yes. So, um I sent out the focus group answers that um Farber did for us and uh so since then I've asked um trustees and staff to send me their feedback on what they think should be included, what shouldn't. So, um I got that. I sent it

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to Barbara and she sent me a draft um of a strategic plan that I am going to keep working with her on just to sort of um get it a little more strategic planning. Um and then I will send that to you so

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that we can discuss it at our next meeting in June because I didn't want to do it for this meeting since it was such a big meeting. Um but yeah, it's pretty much done. It just needs a little in my opinion a little twix. >> Thanks for staying on top of that. >> Yep.

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>> Any questions about that? >> Thank you for anybody that did feedback. Um I didn't because I thought strategic plan the details that I got. All right. Library director review and contract. We'll start with review. >> So

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>> yeah. Okay. Um >> wait this the reviews went okay so um has everyone had a close look at the review that um that I shared last week sometime based on all of our feedback this is

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right here um and based on a few meetings that we had with Sam um and I think that we are all um I think we're all comfortable with it um I just wanted to kind of I know we've all seen it I just want to kind of discuss Um,

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one is to um do training. Um, do a do a training that Well, it's not like this very well. Do it says one training topic, but I think they're probably going to do more than one cleaning next year, but it'll

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identify training topic. Maybe it'll be developmental health, maybe something else. And that you will follow up with dates need to be closed. Um and also that you're going to train everyone on the new system um library system. And the only thing we ask, we'll include this in the goal too is make sure you have a plan for training new staff as

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the as they come on because of course we'll have three new ones before we know it. Yeah. Um the second one uh which I think is really exciting came from um the concern that a lot of these were kind of building on Sam's um skills already and also things he's sort of

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already doing but promoting them more. uh Sophia is is going to develop a book club um that's going to meet um monthly and we're hoping people will come to it because we've done a lot of efforts to try to get people to come and chat with Sam before and haven't had a lot of luck. So we're hoping that um that was I

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think that's a great idea Sam and hope that that structure really really helps out. Um you've already kind of started this one but working with CLA to develop go programs with them. um one-on-one meetings with all staff, not just the higher, not just the heads of

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departments. Um and our part part of this that we're going to include is making sure you have specific topics to talk about with with each of them um as opposed to kind of a general like that too, but also have topics and then um become certified as a MCPPO

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um to learn more about public procurement bus and uh make sure you're doing everything right by the state. So those were the design candidates. So those were the goals um that we that Sam came up with that we uh we talked about. Um and he's had a great year really. Um

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and I just want to say like personally this was something um like we had all the goals for this year and he met all of those goals. So thank you. That's great. Um great job. >> Thank you. Yeah. Does anyone else have

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anything to say? >> Thank you. >> I want to thank all the trustees for giving their input. >> Thank you evaluation. >> Yeah, >> cuz we got a we got an array of >> perspectives. It was really helpful. >> Um so I'll just finalize this and give

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you a little or whomever is chair. Correct. Which No, it's a person that um >> I think you should contract. Yeah. >> All right. So, after working and going some back and forth with um Michelle in

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HR, um we've addressed Sam's concerns about what was missing or needed to be added to his contract um to align him to the town employees um on the um employee

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manual handbook. Handbook, that's the word I'm looking for. And so that I sent I just resent it because um I sent it twice. I'm sorry. The last one should be the one you use, but Felicia wasn't on that email so I just resent it so she has it. Um but essentially the new the

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things that changed is we updated all the dates. I think um we updated the compensation section to reflect Sam's current grade and step or upcoming grade in step. Um and then in addition we um

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added a sentence to make it clear that the library directors is also entitled to annual cola increases as all employees are in town. And then as of July 1st, 2027, Sam will reach the top of the town's current compensation grid. So we've added text to award Sam the same merit statement that other

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permanent employees um would receive. So he is in line with compensation that all employees have. Um, section 11, we did update the performance evaluation after talking to Michelle since we've been doing our We like to do our evaluations when the current board who has been

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working with Sam um can give feedback versus asking a new employee to review Sam immediately upon signing on. Um, we just removed the word June and changed it to the calendar year. uh but with the

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seat being the same as we have been doing um and that would allow us to complete roughs another months and um then the sick leave section had um an exhibit that pointed to something

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whatever it was at the time um but we pointed it instead to the employee handbook so that you continue if any updates are made to this sick um leave you continue to get whatever everyone else is getting. So, and Sam, have you had a chance to review this?

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>> Yes. So, looks great. Thank you. Thank you for >> I know some of you replied to me. Um, no one had concerns. So, at this point, if there are any concerns, I think we should incorporate them ASAP so that we can The next step is to take the clean

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copy. um we need to share it with Michelle the town treasurer so we can make sure there's money in the library's budget to cover this and then also to um we usually do a courtesy share with the TA so that they are aware of the

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contract. So those are the next two steps. Do we have to approve this or if we just I think we should before we pass it on. Should be a should we have approve the performance review with you or is that just internal sharing? >> Anyone know anyone?

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>> I think should we do it just to be safe? >> You can record there were no questions or concerns. >> Okay. I think Yeah. >> I don't think I've ever approved it as I get nervous about like approving something. Yeah, >> we all we all contributed to the summary

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that he received and we just discussed an open meeting. So, no one had questions >> for the I guess we could >> I think that's when we >> endorse it moving forward to the next steps. >> You want to make a motion? >> Yeah.

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>> Move that you you take those next steps that you just outlined with respect to the director's contract. I'm sorry. All in favor? >> I just want to say one more thing about the group because I I I just feel like this should be on open meeting and I um

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didn't say before, but I did he did reach out to um town administrator to get his back for Sam's on Sam's performance review and he said it looks good to me and for what it's worth Sam has always been a courteous professional team player that his peers admire and respect. >> Thank you. >> Yes.

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>> I'll pay him later. >> Great job. Keep it up. >> Okay. Um, meeting rooms again. >> No, I just wanted to give an update because it's been a month. Um, so from what I hear, it's going well. Um, it has

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cut down significantly on people trying to, you know, too many people trying to take up those spaces. Um, we were thinking maybe we should change it though. So to just keep it as alternate residence that's working great

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and maybe the whole how many people we can get rid of that um because people are just we we found one group that has been 20 people for like months now all of a sudden it was 14. So yeah, I think the whole low resident

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part is really the the most important part and then rest um about the whole like 15 or more get rid of that part if at a future meeting if the policy committee agrees. >> You're still looking into the insurance piece though, right? >> Yes, I am still looking.

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>> So maybe we could just make that change when we have more information about the insurance. >> Yeah. I I'm actually glad to hear that we want to reconsider the um room reservation system based on the number of people because I felt that

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after I did not explain myself well in the last meeting but once I looked at it and could organize my thoughts better um when it was diff the difference between a group of 15 and 14 was multiple meetings a year and so I appreciate that

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that perhaps could be so that it's at least are consist groups and clearly we're just going to fix people. So >> yeah, clearly we're just encouraging people to

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Yeah. >> makes sense. >> True. I mean live >> anymore. I was going to ask other business, but any other information about Sher's point or >> not yet. >> All right, moving on to vote to allow

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the digitization of Vincent Cooper snake bit series by BPL. >> I read some. They're right here. Jeff gave them to me. >> Yeah, let me check them out. I can ask a bucket. >> Yeah. So, um >> Yeah. So Jeff's been um working with BPL to digitize several parts of our

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collection. He did the yearbook collection and so he wanted to do um Vincent Cooper's sneak series, but um that's the good librarian he is. He figured out that the trustees own the copyright and so we um just need

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permission to do that to exercise them. We can we can still act. He makes a motion. We accept. >> Sorry. Any thoughts? I think it was

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>> I I mean I have no problem with it. I was reading some it's just it's definitely like someone's essays and >> and you get a little glimpse of life in you know various years. So, um, >> they're a blast to cattle up, dude. >> I'm sure they are. Like, when Jeff

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handed them to me, I was like, "Wait, these are self-published." >> Yeah. >> You know, there's there's 1998. >> They're like little draws and cartoons and stuff. >> Yeah. I mean, it's it's kind of fun like to go It was fun to like go through and

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say, "What was happening?" And like you get little diagrams of wheels on a corner. Yeah. And his name. was the right century in Union and burned his side. >> It's true. >> That kind of thing. >> They'll get there eventually. >> Yeah.

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>> If they change their mission. >> All right. Uh we have a motion in a second. All in >> favor. Um okay. Library trustee officer slate. This is exciting. Um, so we have a

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chair, a treasurer, and a clerk. Those are the positions that we are looking to fill for next year active on this meeting. Um, so we'll kind of try to have some conversation about who would like to do what things and then um do

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vote as a slate. So um is I would not like to be chair next year. >> Yes, >> I will be chair. All right. Is there anyone else who would like to be terror? >> She wants to be chair. You can take it. >> We'll wait. Okay. Thank you, Sarah. >> Thank you so much, Sarah. Um, Katrina,

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do you just want to continue with treasure card? I've had like the treasur's job is probably one of the easiest things for the most part. Um outside of figuring out what line of the to expend prep, but um I'm happy to do it or if somebody else wants the opportunity to

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learn and do that, it's also fine with me. So would anyone else try hard? Um I will be clerk if nobody else wants to do it. But if anybody wants to be clerk and it's like hey sure why not whatever then feel free but I will I will take it this year.

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Anybody else want to be cleric? Yeah. Um okay so I think we have slate. Um so I am still chair. Does somebody else please make a motion? >> Uh, let me move that. Sarah serve as the chair. Kina will serve as the treasurer.

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Kimberly Burke for 267 trusting. >> All in favor? Uh I congratulations hang out over it's not as much as but still but but

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also recently it's felt like change. So you know >> it depends on the time of year. >> It comes in wings and goes >> um >> it's not a build we're not building a building. Um okay the leazison and some committee assignments we've got the friends

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leaison and the policy committee so um David has been the friends leaison um we'll just start with that one but anybody else a are you interested in me doing it for another year or would you rather not >> uh I'm happy to continue because it's about relationship building

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people so it' be nice to >> be able to enjoy continuing that would also be it's a really grave to go and attend the meeting too. So you want to get that perspective of what they're doing and how that >> basically they need a third Wednesday of

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every month meeting >> and I they would absolutely welcome you to join them to get to know you too. So it's a great one to stop in understand. Yeah. So that just basically means that I report to them what happened here and

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then I report here what happened there. >> And if David can't make it, he asks somebody else to so I make sure that the documentation preserved. >> Um let's do that separately from the policy committee. Um I move that David

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remains friends on second. All in favor? Hi. Hi. >> So, the polic I have to do. Sorry. Um, uh, the policy committee, right, has been Sarah and Steph and Chris. Chris is no longer

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here. Um, is there anybody who is interested in jumping in on the policy committee? Sarah, can you just speak for speak to that? >> Uh, so we have we have a slate of policies that we have from the um, library and we are now on a rotating schedule of reviewing them every two

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years. So now it's pretty quiet. Like when Steph and I first came on it, like we it was a lot. >> They were had not been reviewed. >> They haven't been reviewing. And so now it's um you know there'll be some months where you don't have anything. And then so

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when there is something to review and I have a whole schedule of when they should be reviewed um then the sub the policy committee meets and we review them and then we share it with and then the larger meeting all together discusses it and then votes on that >> and Sam you advise on that as well right

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>> like meetings or the policy that's coming up here you're getting your feedback. Um, so first I should ask Sarah and Steph, are either of you or both of you interested in continuing on how strong? Yeah. Okay. Um, would anybody else like to be the third on the ball?

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>> Okay. I said that today. It is a great way to kind of get involved. >> It's also a good way to understand the policies that >> Yeah. I don't know. One, this is our our

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role, but two, it also informs us to speak by our host in a meeting. When you're looking at the policy, you didn't preview it carefully and you just have to figure out, okay, what's the issue here? >> I think I was on my first year, too.

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I was not reviewing then it's only happened once or twice in the years that I've been on that like need a policy like they'll know program policies once in a while the committee does have to create a policy and then we just try to review policies from area

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libraries and what do they have and kind of piece it together from there. So, it's really not a lot of work. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Uh, >> so we have Felicia, Sarah, and St. >> Yeah. >> Still can't be.

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>> Okay. I'm Sarah and St. >> All in favor. Um just a side note, Felicia, the ones you think you as a trustee probably want to review first, I think outlined in the orientation guide, but just yeah, the

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collection development program and some of those are those are key ones to the library >> that were outlined in that orientation >> trusty meeting schedule. Um, so we have been doing, and I get this wrong all the

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time, the second Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Um, is there anyone for whom that doesn't foresee it not working on a series of dates in the next year?

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So would we like to keep it there? Yes. Okay. >> Do you also want to choose um sometimes in the summer you just do one? So, I just I think we do that at the next meeting, but do you want to do it at his meeting? >> I mean, it's up to you. >> Let's do it at the next meeting. >> Okay.

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>> I have a I have a whole calendar of what the what has to be done, >> but you can know ahead of time. >> Well, usually we do that one July one July, August, >> right? Correct. Smoosh together. So, we do one.

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>> Yeah. Our comm the where I work, our commission skips like the month of August. going to be July or >> look at our vacation schedules are like, "Okay, this week." >> Yeah. All right. I think that's a thing to do.

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>> So, my journalist now. Wait, did I put it on? No, it's okay. >> We'll figure out the right grande and we don't need to do that sub now. Correct. >> I have on the list. Yeah. No, but if we want to do it like a month before when we did it last. Do you remember when I

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did it last? Feels >> like it was winter >> when we did which when we >> Oh, did it like December last year? Okay. >> Early stuff. Is that what you're doing?

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>> Yes. Maybe not needs, but like it would hurt to do it earlier, >> especially if you're changing. >> I have it in November. >> Oh, that's the month. Okay. Heather is now there. Yes. >> And I think part of it was Chris was absent at that. >> That's how it ended up.

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>> We just check. We had to start. Yeah. Gotcha. >> Okay. So, we need to vote on the we're doing the second Thursdays of the month at 6:30 p.m. So, I will move that we retain our trusty meeting schedules the second Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Second.

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>> All in favor? I last I never really understand this. When we vote on a number of signatures, do we also vote on who who's going to do them? >> I think we also vote on who. >> Okay. >> So, >> or do you usually vote on the number then we decide who? >> Yeah. So, you vote on a number and then

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it helps Susan to know who to send it to. >> It's done online. >> Would Susan like to still have two? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes. That's very preferable. >> Does she need three? >> She No, she don't. We used to have three and it took forever especially because

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that was before we had document. >> I had to come like I remember coming in. >> Yeah. You had to come in and you know >> so this is would uh does anyone have any issue with it being two people versus one or three?

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Figure that out. >> There has been a problem with delivering for two. Yeah. >> No, it's been that way for years. >> Yeah. I don't think it's ever been one since my first year. >> Yeah. It hasn't been three since 8 years ago. >> Okay. Would like someone like to make a

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motion. It's here. Okay. So, the vote on the number of signatures for the invoice and payroll package for FY27. >> I have in front of me. I move to um I move that we all have two signatures for the invoice and payroll packets for

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fiscal year. Second, >> you say two trustee signatures. >> Two trustee signatures. Thank you, Sam. Or invoice and payroll. Fiscal year 27. >> Oh, thank you. >> I um is there anyone who's like, "Yeah,

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sure. I'll do the same." Someone's doing it before Chris. >> I Chris and I. It's not Chris, it's me. Oh, sorry. It's okay. It's also me. >> Yes, I know it's you. >> I'm happy to um I am happy to maintain it, but I'm happy to also step down, especially after we're getting into

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summer and I don't pay attention to my email as much. >> Yeah, I'm taking on the chair. >> I think it's okay. >> Okay. All right. So, with someone taking on my signature roles, it's docu sign, so it's really easy. >> It's like two or three times a day. >> Yeah, >> I can do it

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all the time. Would anybody else like to do that? account. >> What's that? >> You should continue. Um, okay. So, it's going to be me. >> I just get annoyed at Apple's always asking me to log in afterwards. I don't want to lose.

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I'd be so much happier. >> You don't have to log. I don't want to be asked every time. The box pops up. This is super annoying. Yes. >> Okay. Um, thank you. Um, does anybody have any other business they'd like to

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share? So, I have a question. Um, I am maintaining the library trustee list which is printed and on display outside the bathroom and the last time it was updated was um, a few years ago. So, I I feel like

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we should have some kind of schedule as to how often we update that. So I'm looking for info on that when you did it three years ago at the beginning of your term. I >> I think I did it in like 2024. Okay. >> But it makes sense whenever there's a

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new trustee cuz otherwise they would have changed. >> There is a slight. It's like 15. It was $15 last time which is not I mean so I just don't know how often we should do it. I missed. So, but I think we should have some kind of schedule because it

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hadn't been updated before in like >> a really long time. >> Yeah, it was it was lagging. I noticed Mark Gronacher's end year is incorrect on that too. So, we need to update that. >> Oh, what is Mark? >> He's 22 and 21. >> Oh, I don't have a problem with it if

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it's not an issue to do it doing every year as long as you as long as the trustes pay for it. I don't want you to have to pay $15. So, yeah. Are we okay updating it for this year? >> I Yeah, I think enough people have moved

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on in the last two years that we should update it. >> I mean, had we stay stable, they're being rotating kind of quick right now. >> We were left in 25, right? >> Yes. >> Yes. So, 24.

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>> So, we didn't have a new person in 23. wasn't it? I was 22. I just want to make sure we were 23. I just got elected to Chris together, right? >> It was again 24.

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>> No, we're 24. I already was 23. >> Chris and somebody. >> No, with me, but Chris is with you. Mera. >> Mera and Mark were at the same time. So, >> but then Mark came on before Mera. So, when

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>> Mark came off, did Wendy come on? >> That was probably Wendy again. >> And then Wendy came off. >> Yes. Wendy came on in 21. I know that. >> But that's not right. We got to double check those dates because we're going to check the Okay.

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>> I'll check on you. >> We were on one year when you election year and see. Yeah, >> it's in the town meeting. >> I can't remember in 22 and Mark left in 22.

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>> So, yes, that's true. You did replace Mark C. >> Did you do um two terms before this re-election this year? >> Yes. >> So, then nobody knew was elected cuz Chris was >> Chris and you both ran for reelection. >> Yeah. So there was no new ones in

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>> 23. In 23 there was no >> Okay. That was your year that you rewrite your w. Okay. >> We figured it out. >> So I will um get that reprinted.

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>> How can we can we give her afterwards or something? >> Yeah, she just needs to submit um a receipt. Um we just can't pay tax. So you would have to tax. >> Yeah. >> Or I can see if they'll give me a nonprofit. >> Yeah, we have a nonprofit those tax

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except forms. If you need one, I can give you one. >> Can you Did you just give me the tax ID or >> No, they need the certificate. >> They need a That makes sense cuz they >> Yeah, I mean, if I have to pay the tax, it's fine. But >> I'll I'll find out and then I'll let you know if I need form.

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>> We can connect directly and see they'll figure it out. But yeah, we can put that into the trustee budget annually. >> So, I'm sorry. We said, are we doing it every time there's a new trustee? I just want to put it in the schedule somewhere. >> Sure.

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>> Just leave the current ones open, right? >> Yes. >> Yes. If there's no one new, we don't have to reprint it, >> right? Right. Because it'll still be just open, right? Do I have it? We'll be at the June meeting. So, I

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actually need somebody to clarify 10 pages. Ask for it. >> I actually need to look the June meeting date. Okay. Cuz there's an eighth grade graduation in here. >> June 14th. I think it's no. Got it.

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All right. Not the same day. So, the same. Are we changing the date or we keep >> it? I'd rather do my first meeting. >> Um, so Sarah, I'll we'll I'll hook up.

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Yeah, I'll go with that stuff. Um, does anyone else have any updates or trusty updates? >> Sure. >> Okay, great. >> I ran town meeting. >> I know. I know. >> It was exhilarating, but um I have last run a town meeting in 201 15.

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So, a little time had passed. >> I heard you were sicy when you needed to be. Yes. One woman at the historical society saw me on Sunday, recognized me immediately, and said, "You're the snarky Mr. Rogers." >> I thought, "Mr. I think that they

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compliment." >> That's true. >> You add some nice levity to the meeting, which I appreciate. >> So, it's important. Um, I think town meeting is really important. >> It was exciting because no idea what was coming. I've had no idea who the people

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were who were looking. >> We know all of them >> and exactly. And so like there'd be a question and there was an obvious person answered, but we're just looking around. >> Who do I ask? And then and then the people next to me would say, "He's trling across the back of the

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auditorium. He's coming. Don't worry. >> They're helping." >> Yeah. A lot of support. >> And um >> and your daughter the the contentious >> I know. Well, I got to sit through the premeating. I got to watch that slow train crash adjust the board. Yeah,

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>> test it go all the way. Uh, but the other exciting thing was I got to steer people through amending budget. >> That was amazing. It was pretty miraculous because speaker who made the successful motion to amend,

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>> she seemed really intent on not getting the room to listen to her. So I had to work really hard to keep her focused on the thing that she could do >> instead of the thing she wanted to talk about. >> And it ended up

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>> it was really good, >> very exciting. Um, so I want to I just wanted to share that it was good and I'm just I don't have to do it. >> Um, the person that made that motion has asked that we do a program um talking

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about in a neutral way about um those devices which is very hard to find. So, just making you all aware that I'm looking, but I may not be able to find that person to do a presentation on cuz

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they did ask my neutral person not that they're >> it's kind of hard. >> So, um instead of a neutral, you know, >> yeah, >> that be really different than usually.

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>> Yeah. So, just making more sense that was a big topic. The other thing I wanted to share, um, it's not exactly my update, but my wife went to a speaker in Syracuse, New York on Tuesday, um, because her sister's a teacher and librarian in the school district there.

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Andaga Regional Library System brought in um, TJ Cloon, author of House Sterling. >> Yeah, I know. and she thought, "Well, doesn't it be nice if she brought a copy of the book to get signed?" And there

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were thousands of attendees because >> they have a regional library system that can collectively pay for an expensive speaker >> and bring everyone from all surrounding communities. And it occurred to me this

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is a model that Massachusetts can hardly ever imagine doing. But I wanted to I just wanted to share that. Is there a way Sam for area libraries to band together to bring in like a speaker? >> They do that already. Can

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>> Yeah, sometimes. Um, it depends. I know in the past they tried to combine and doesn't always work. >> Um, there are there there actually is a group that um will do virtual

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>> type. Yeah. And that's uh $5,000. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Um, so >> library for the No, no. $5,000 a year >> a year to join the

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>> Yeah. It's just virtual. Yep. So, I mean >> um they had reached out to um Sarah Ronacher, >> right? >> And um I I've spoken to other directors and they say that people are kind of over Zoom

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>> and so that's the problem. So people are just like over it and so it's a lot of money for someone not to go. >> Yeah. >> And and friends were interested because they thought of like a fundraising opportunity. It's like not

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>> interesting. Having a great speaker that people will come here. >> Yeah. Some other people's money. So I attended BLC's webinar on current state of mass libraries. Did anyone else

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see that? Um it was it was I'm very thankful for our town and not having budget issues this year. There have been many communities around us where that is not the case and budgets get cut. Um,

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however, I do think after listening at town meeting and listening to FCOM and whatnot, um, we're going to have some tough times coming ahead of us and I wouldn't be surprised if the library gets put on the chopping block because we have community behind us and therefore we need to advocate um to

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maintain services. So, um, just keeping your ears to the grind grindstoneone, keeping a nose to the grindstoneone, but ears out there to hear anything beforehand would be good. And Sammy, of course, you're hearing things and

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meetings. But, um, I was very grateful given that the number of other attendees were facing hardships that currently the next fiscal year, we've managed to get a budget that should work um, for the library. Then I also just signed up for the

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next training which is AI policy for libraries a practical intensive for leaders. So that's coming up. The one I signed up for is in June but um we'll see. I think AI is here. So in learning how it's going to impact

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libraries is interesting. I appreciate I just wanted to can I share because you and Chris had a good point because you both work at universities. So do you that at the Ray Grande scholarship thing and you were at your university you were talking about because AI is not going away how to limit slash put parameters

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in for what how students can use it and how what they can use it for. That was actually a really helpful thing to understand was that it doesn't have to be all organic for a kid. It's all going to be right there to say that that's what they're being taught at the school too like you this

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used for this not for this or the progression and how how it is used. I I would like to share that Middle Sex Community College is a very different policy than Harvard for example because I was doing free like I was working and

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doing a class there but you know middle sexes was like use if you need it cite it and it had a three different levels of how much you could allow students to do or whatever and it was all up to the instructor. Harvard was very like you cannot use it but it was more concerned the university was

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more concerned that proprietary information would leak out that way not about like their students using AI >> was like don't tell AI anything they were working on >> interesting >> yeah it was Harvard med school specifically the the class but I would imagine like anything that they're

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working on might be comprised in like a student writing an essay >> will be interesting to see We have this library and ship. >> Um, and is are all of us automatically like put on these lists or for these trainings?

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>> I don't think I know that um >> for Felicia. I just don't know. >> That's what that's what I I can't remember. >> You have to go sign you have to go sign up for >> Is it on the orientation packet? >> I don't think so. >> We should add it to the orientation

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packet. The NBS MBLC doesn't know about us. The MBLC new trustee website would be on that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. There's a way to send us back. >> Um if you can't find it, let us know. >> They run a routine kind of orientation

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new trustees. >> Okay. And then there's Yeah. Give me the link. And then there's the United for Libraries that >> the um >> those are great >> orientation ones are open to any

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trustee, not just new trustees. It does look like they're planning to go back in person this year. Um they've been virtual. >> They have been virtual, but that meant if you signed up and had access to recording whether or not you were diligent and went every week to it.

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Yeah, that's what it's on. They're still going to do that. >> So, sign up whether or not you think you can make it. >> Yeah. Any of those screenings if you can't even if you know you can't attend live, it's great because they'll say it'll work. >> If you don't get the Q&A part, but

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you'll get the presentation. >> They are helpful, I think. And they've definitely gone through a series of like themes like we did the um you know you had your first amendment rights for a long time that was a big thing and then we're switching into more

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budgetary and AI policy >> advocacy >> advocacy for >> uh it clearly is whatever they're presenting is what's needed at the moment. So >> thanks everyone. >> I

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in line with that I did the open meeting law presentation because >> you chair I wanted to make sure. >> So yeah I I really I've done a few of the trainings and it is nice to know like oh I can't do it in the middle of the day but I can watch the recordings

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and that is nice because if you want to go back and review it you can. boxes to be checked. And you got the stuff from the town clerk of you did the required open meeting training and ethics and she said okay

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>> this morning >> this morning she beat me on Monday we're only working one home one day this week so I was like to the clerk's office I'm glad she was ready for you.

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Oh, the other thing they have a box that no one ever sees upstairs. >> You have a mailbox. >> You have a mailbox in the back. >> Yeah, I'm an email saying I usually leave my tag there as well.

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>> The keys. >> I have to um get Chris to give me her key. >> All right. Okay. You're going to file the building afterward and it's doors. Yeah. And it's great to get the tour.

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>> You should get the tour. I mean the staff. Have you been here a million times or don't? Cuz if you haven't, you probably know the tour. Like do you know the staff? >> No. Okay. Well, yes. >> It's kind of nice to get the tour from their perspective anyway and have the

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invitation no matter how children's room. >> I'm sure I have the seat closet too. Yes. The electrical room. Lots of closets. >> You can climb the ladder to the mezzanine.

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>> If you haven't done that yet, you now have a chance to visit anymore. >> We can do the hill now, too. >> We had that big and I think they all mentioned We're about to make a decision. >> Decision about what?

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>> I know. >> No, that's what I'm saying. >> Decision maker, >> right? >> No. >> Yeah. Right. >> Yeah. >> No. And Sam is working with Tim. If you want anybody else to join any of those conversations,

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>> right? I mean, that's where we are right now. Um, and so there's >> just good to do like people go. So I think the plan is to keep it a while and keep >> they think we were going to like murder

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everything. They thought we were going to go in backers eliminate. >> That's the message that they >> but it's important that we just do have a message. People ask us questions. >> We just need a long-term plan for it. That and then Sam is going to work with the departments in town to figure out um

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what the best plan is and what we need to do and if it requires a budget, we'll figure that out and that. So, we want to continue to support their video. >> 100% special. >> Um, I've definitely had lots of conversations with the various office holders on this week. Um,

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who were hearing things like we were going to just he was hearing it and but then giving our perspective like, oh, that's not the plan. >> The message was the message that was different from what we were actually. >> Um, but I do think the other piece that I think Aaron brought up today is she's really focusing on the education piece.

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um which would potentially have openings for collaborations and programs and things, but I I would like to work within our programming system and not outside of it like it's been agree done. >> Um as I think she's obviously an expert

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and very wellversed in all of this and passionate about it. Um but the the way it has been done has left the library out of the mix. Um, and I think there's it's better chances if we can collaborate and use both audiences

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anyway um to engage people. So that's my only >> and you made a point about integrating all of your too. >> Yeah, I do I I I felt bad reading through the history things. I took all the things and I put them linearly like

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here the timeline of events that have happened and I think everyone's intentions were good. Um and it definitely I know you were on the board and you're part of it. It was overwhelming at the beginning of this. It was taking on a life of his own. >> Aaron very early took um ownership of it

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and you can see it in the emails. So, >> what was it? >> Yeah. >> Oh, okay. >> Um, and and I understand that that's part of her personality and that's part of the reason why she's passionate and has pushed everything as far as it has.

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Um but I think it it's also a challenge and so like just taking that passion but directing it within a system we think is we're always going to have to do some corral uh to

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make it sure that it works for everyone and not just one group. And I love the group was here. They're clearly passionate. They're clearly engaged. Um it's just the the other side of it is was not heard outside of you know the library perspective of how this went

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down whatot was not something we could push out there cuz we have to meet to do that. So I did have one or two people come up to me and say I can't believe you guys were getting people I know you actually spent a lot of time just being like no that is not the answer that's not the

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intention. >> Yeah. So if anyone comes up at this point like get the help or or come for figure out a plan. I think it makes sense to work with an organization that's a large group of individuals because if one person gets sick or have to pick one person passed away, what do you do next? Right? And you're left back

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to square one and you have to restart the whole focus. So institutional knowledge can be passed away, >> right? And you also want to have like community building where it's realized that it's everybody's hill. It's little hill. It's not just one person's hill who's focusing on driving the effort, right? You want every volunteer to feel like it's theirs.

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>> Yes. And it's a library too. Yeah. Right. So actually I would still come have even though it's everybody's hill the library is responsible for the decisions about it. They don't want anybody come through. >> We need to know who's there if someone gets injured we now have liability and have to cover that. >> Yeah. >> And we have stewardship.

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>> We do have stewardship. >> Um and I do think if we are considering adding voices to this I think beyond the diversity of voices in that process of what gets decided I

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think matter. Um just because I think sometimes if it's only one person's vision it can get pretty narrow or you know it >> I think the this is where the collaboration piece and the messiness has to happen so that we whatever we end up doing

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can it can be sustained and benefit and more people understand the reasoning behind it versus >> so way back at the very very beginning of this we had a hill committee which is yeah so wondering whether or not we should bring that back I'm just going to ask you is it growing so big they needed

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>> and like to to be there with Sam when Sam talks to like Tim or whatever it is also to >> hopefully represent >> um >> or just witness and learn >> witness and learn. Yeah. >> Yeah. I'm just wondering if that's a >> Sam. Would you like a hill committee?

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>> I'd like to figure out when we do him first. >> Okay. So, let's not do this tonight. >> But is we are keeping the wild in the flower meadow. we were making it for >> cuz Trina said we have work we have work to do but that could be >> yes

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>> the way we >> pursue it >> it almost feels to me that like the group that came in tonight is closer to like the friends of the library and then to have a leon with them is sort of >> I was talking to various members of

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Littleton Conservation Trust you talked to Tim who's conservation agent um and just learning about how I mean they have a conservation agents. So the department they have little conservation trust >> don't have >> it's a it's a land trust so it's

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different and there's a land stewardship >> but again it's the volunteer um and fundraising kind of component of things and then there's the conservation commission >> so the the policy and the permitting not policy maybe yeah they do policy files

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and permitting and things like that so the government part of it so I there are parallels between the way we are structured and the way they are structured. Um my understanding after speaking to a number of people my guess is their lines are blurred just like ours were blurred. Um and that might

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make things challenging especially I heard a lot of hour hour coming out of Aaron and I absolutely appreciate that. I'm an hour person too. Um, but I I have concerns about the

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co-ownership of something where if lines aren't um appreciated and held. So, I just I'm wary given I when I go through my emails back from 2022 to now

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um I'm wary about how this will look forward. >> And I think we just need to know that upfront. We didn't know that then, we know that now. So just making sure that we are protecting as this board we are doing what's right library

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is important. Also feel like maybe there were two messages coming across one certainly about moving forward but one about past which there's not something that we can necessarily address right now whether or not a volunteer worked and should have been compensated for or seem like a

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separate piece that is implicating. So I like the idea of looking forward and making it clear that we are keeping the eye on fire >> and I'm not sure what we could do going back to make address you know donations in time and clearly Aaron was passionate and put a lot of time and effort and her

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own plans >> it was volunteering that was her chance >> but she was operating and the agreement was under the library's volunteer policy at that time >> but I mean she's still volunteering like you don't get compensation for volunteer for me >> and she requested compensation. I

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absolutely understand that this has been it's a job like I get it. She would it seemed over time like from last year and this year there was a request for funds >> um for payment for a time and that that no longer is a volunteer policy person were operating under the volunteer

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policy in my opinion. It is now we're getting into contracting and liability insurance but all the things that we need to think about if we had hired anyone else. Um, so I just want to make sure that, you know,

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we may not be able to address everything that happened in the past, but whatever we said for now, I want to make sure it's sustainable and it checks all the boxes and meets town requirements. And am I correct that if we were to work with a landscaping service or something

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in the future, we always have a bit or we would always hear from different people versus just bestowing. >> So it would depend on the amount. >> That's a threshold. >> Yeah, there's a threshold. >> And annually. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.

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>> She's also offered count like um consulting services too. So it could be that >> it could be but we al we need to we need to have that conversation. >> Yeah. There's also insurance requirements that they would have to have. >> Yeah. >> Um yeah, prevailing wage requirements.

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>> She is still on board. >> She like conservation trust. Okay. Not the national town. >> I want it. It's great. But it was it's a nonprofit and it it owns a lot of but

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it's its own destiny lot of land stewards who care for trails and shapes as the bumble >> historical commissions that are elected but they're >> are there those >> and it's often very blurry

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>> as real authority >> yeah it is because conservation commission relies on conservation trust and what you doing trails the conservation students >> I would say when we talked to Tim this week it was helpful to know he was going to try to connect us with landscape

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companies who do this special and that would be great because that would be great um there'd be an assessment and they'd give you this is the work we'll do an afterwards then you get like a post plan which kind of informs the next year's work and budget um we are just as

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we were talking We still have a wetlands protection permit open um with conservation. So part of our conversation was Tim was how do how does that close and when does that close? >> Yeah. >> Um and that is still open. He talked

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about coming back in June to see if we meeting any requirements to of vegetation in order to close it >> um if I understand correctly. And then as part of that permit um in pertu we will be treating for Nawi which we know

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was our best on this hill. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So I didn't mean to hijack your but I thought it'd be good to have a great Yeah. Yeah. that favor. I >> All right. Thank you and congratulations

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Sarah. Thank you for taking on chair. >> Thank you.