Library Trustee Meeting Minutes

Richard Sugden Library

Trustees’ Meeting

October 19, 2020

In Attendance:

Cheryl A. Donahue, Director

Katie Smith, Children’s Librarian

Mary Anne Slack, Chair

Alyson Russo, Trustee

Lynn Dobson, Trustee

The meeting was called to order at 4:30 PM. 

Alyson made a motion to accept the minutes from the September 21, 2020 meeting. Lynn seconded the motion. Vote was unanimous.

Children’s Room Report:

• Due to strict guide lines, Community Connections is limited in its ability to provide services. They have provided kits for our library to give away.

• Continue to use Constant Contact to provide weekly story hour programming. 

• There were no sign-ups for Amy’s virtual book club but she will continue to offer the book club for 3 months. If there is still no interest she will reassess the book club.

• The Halloween mask making kits are almost gone.

• Using the library’s website, children are able to assemble 3 virtual puzzles.

• Katie is still waiting to hear from the Cultural Council regarding rescheduling last year’s performers for this summer.

• Katie has applied for the upcoming 2021 Summer Reading Program.

• Katie has attended meetings to discuss the library’s boilers, gutters and HVAC and also attended staff meetings.

Director’s Report:

• Programming for the library continues through Facebook, Constant Contact and remotely.

• Cheryl, Katie, and Mary Anne met with Tom Gregory, Town Manager and Utilities and Facilities to discuss issues in the library. 

• They were informed there is no money to fix anything. Payment by town to Performance Plumbing was unacceptable and Town manager will speak to town council re: making a claim against installer and the designers.

• Insurance adjuster inspected both boilers. Boiler 1 is not working, boiler 2 was fixed by adjuster.

• It was recommended that the library have a needs study done. 

• The Automatic door opener installation is scheduled to be done by reopening date.

• Staff meetings were held on 10/2 and10/19 to discuss reopening to the public.

• Discussion for a limited re-opening of the library to be determined when new data from town is provided to Cheryl and Trustees. Tentative date for re-opening of library is Nov. 16, 2020 depending on the data. 

• Lynn made a motion to put some of the money from the sale of the Sugden Block into a CD account depending on what is available for CDs at this time. Alyson 2nd the motion. Vote was unanimous.

Meeting was adjourned at 5:34 PM

Next meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 16, 2020 at 4:30 PM.