Board of Public Library Trustees

Draft of Minutes of Board of Trustees Meeting of June 17, 2021 Salem, Massachusetts June 17, 2021 A meeting of the Board of Trustees was held via Zoom on this date at 4:05pm with Trustees April, Austin, Marte, Morin, Rourke, and Trustee Buckley present and presiding. Mayor Driscoll was absent. Miss Mansfield was present. Approval of draft minutes from April 29, 2021 UNANIMOUS. Mr. John Doherty and Mr. Allen Laine from Eastern Bank gave a presentation on the Trustee funds. Current Library Use and Financial reports were distributed. Miss Mansfield reported that the library reopened to the public on June 1, 2021 and resumed normal operating hours Monday through Saturday. Miss Mansfield reported that Salem was fifth highest in NOBLE for circulation of physical items in April and sixth highest in May. Salem was third highest in April and second highest in May for Overdrive/Libby circulation. Discussion of the library closing for Juneteenth followed, and the Trustees expressed disappointment that the holiday would be unpaid. Financial reports were distributed. Miss Mansfield noted that Peter Avila was working on the annual accounting for the Trustees, and that the fee for his services would deplete the reserves left from the monthly distribution. Miss Mansfield requested $3,000 be transferred from the investments to the checking account for the purposes of supporting the summer reading programs, activities, and crafts. Trustee Morin made a motion to transfer $3,000 from the investments to the checking account for summer reading activities. Seconded by Maria Buckley. UNANIMOUS. Discussion of reinstating overdue fines followed. Miss Mansfield recommended continuing to waive fines since the library had recently reopened. Discussion of accepting donations in lieu of fines followed. The discussion will be postponed until the September meeting. Miss Mansfield reported that the library’s FY22 budget had been approved by City Council and that the budget meets the Municipal Appropriation Requirement and will allow the library to return to full certification without a waiver. Miss Mansfield reported that the main door and entryway restoration was scheduled for the third week of July. Miss Mansfield noted that she was working with the City to try to get a ground level book drop installed since the book return will not be accessible during the renovation. Discussion of the Poseidon Fountain followed. Miss Mansfield announced that the City Council had approved the Community Preservation Committee recommendations and that the fountain restoration project would be awarded $80,487 in CPA funds in FY22. Trustee Morin reported that a meeting was scheduled to take place at 5:30pm with Tom Watkins to discuss the steps needed for the public bid. Miss Mansfield reported that Library Architect Robert Farley had officially retired and had recommended Architect Ray Guertin as his replacement. Mr. Guertin worked closely with Mr. Farley during the library renovations and is very familiar with the building and its history. He created the etching on the Salem Room’s glass door. Trustee Rouke notified the Board that Mr. Guertin was her brother in law, and that she would abstain from the discussion and vote. Trustee April made a motion to appoint Ray Guertin as Interim Architect with authority to proceed with library projects. Seconded by Trustee Morin. UNANIMOUS with Trustee Rourke abstaining. The Trustees would like to meet Mr. Guertin at the September meeting. Miss Mansfield distributed communications from patron Margaret Crowdis. The Trustees duly noted the suggestions. The Trustees discussed obtaining City email addresses. Miss Mansfield will submit a ticket to the City’s IT Department. Meeting adjourned at 5:30pm.